our3blessings

My oldest daughters pet name is just Meg, Meggy or Meggers for Megan. Not much to that one! LOL My son's pet name is Mattman or MattyJim for Matthew James. My little almost 3 year old daughters pet name is Hollywood, Hollyhock, or Hollyberry.

Okay, my thoughts are totally divided on this. I understand about the church not needing to do fundraisers if everyone is giving the way they should. And that works well for our church. I think it would be great though, if the teens were allowed to do car washes to be able to do some of the more expensive trips that they take though, so that they can learn how to manage money etc. I don't think we should let them grow up to be completely dependent on others for giving them what they want all the time, ya know? Also, about the independent group that the church put money out to charter. Our MOPS group has asked repeatedly for donations and volunteers to help in childcare, but few have volunteered and none have made monetary donations. We did hold a bake sale to help cover the start-up costs for our group. There were a handful of people who got their feathers ruffled over this. I personally don't think that they really understand what MOPS is all about. Here is the insert we put in the bullitin this last week to help explain a little better. I hope it helps to smooth things over a little with the members of the congregation who are having a difficult time with it. What is MOPS? You've been hearing a lot about MOPS lately. Some may still be asking, "What exactly is MOPS?" With this insert, I hope to answer some quesitons. MOPS is a sererate, non-profit organization that the church is sponsoring. MOPS (or Mothers of Preschoolers) is an international, Christian, non-profit organization whose headquarters are in Denver, Co. MOPS International is a recognized and respected international organization that provides access to resources, experience, and training focused specifically on identifying the needs of and ministering to mothers of preschoolers. MOPS International requires every MOPS group to purchase a charter in order to operate. This is usually done by a church who agrees to sponsor that particular MOPS group. The sponsoring organization, or church, then agrees to renew the charter every year that that MOPS group is in existence. You can think of it as if we were sponsoring a Boy Scout Troop who was then holding their meetings in the building. The only way in which this is a "ministry" for us is that the group does meet at the building so it is something that you can be involved in; whether it be participating as a mom, being one of our child-care workers, or praying that we can meet the needs of moms in our community. The eldership did choose to give us a small amount of money with which to open a bank account. Otherwise, our MOPS group is self sufficient. Each participating mom pays dues to attend the meetings. These dues are to help us pay for child care, craft supplies, and general maintenance of the group. Before we had any moms signed up we were needing to make many purchases just to get ready. Some of these purchases included tablecloths, table centerpieces, gift bags for each mom, welcome folders full of information sheets for each mom, file box, storage tubs to store toys, name tags (two per shild and one for each mom), curriculum idea books for the Moppets (child-care) program, craft cupplies, refreshments, paper, pens, snacks for the children, etc. This was the reason for asking for donations. A detailed financial report is available upon request. I sincerely apologize if anything about MOPS has been confusing to this point and hope that some of your questions have been answered. If you have any other questions, don't hesitate to ask the MOPS Coordinator or the eldership. Thank you.

What are your opinions on churches doing fundraisers? What about a group that the church pays a charter for such as MOPS (mothers of preschoolers)? I've heard some people lately that believe that it is totally wrong to do so because of the verse that says we are to give cheerfully. I don't know what that has to do with it at all though. Who says that I'm not giving cheerfully if I buy something from a frundraiser? Can you all just give me your opinions, please. I'm confused here. (nothin new lately) :wac:

When I hear this from people, my answer is always that God doesn't send people to hell. They chose to go there all by themselves by not believing and accepting Christ as their Savior. Just like I tell my children, "I didn't choose to ground you~you chose to be grounded by not behaving."

Our Sunday school starts at 9 am and worship at 10 which lasts until about 11:15-11:30 depending on how "windy" our preacher is that day! LOL Sunday evenings our service starts at 6 pm unless we attend life groups, which is a smaller group setting for Bible study. Wednesday evening service starts at 7 pm. I go to every service that I can possibly go to! I love to fellowship and learn about God. I wish there was something every single day. I am so glad that I have you all for the days I don't get to go to church!

I have always believed that all those attributes stemmed from love and that is why most of us define God as love. So, I don't think that would mean anyone is ignoring the qualities that so obviousely stem from that. Think of a dad and his love for his children. Doesn't discipline, judgement, caring, compassion, truth, etc... all stem from the one quality of a dad which is love for his child? JMO :il:

Hey! We have something in common! My hubby is a trucker as well! He is home for most of the weekends though. I am so blessed for that. I know some who are out of town for extended periods of time, and that must be so difficult. I have a hard enough time of it when he is gone 5 or 6 days out of 7. And Suzanne, I will pray for you in your endeavers. God bless, hon!

But, don't you think that maybe God would lead a believer to "save" an "unsaved" person even if that means marrying them to do so? Especially since He is so wonderous and can mold that relationship into something that will benefit and bring glory to Him? It just seems that is what He has done with us, but I know I could be way off here. Your thoughts on it make sense to me though. Probably more likely to happen that way than what I have percieved out of it. lol My brain is on overload lately. Once we establish that God doesn't go against His Word, we can see that He wouldn't do that. The thing that gets me though, is that I was NOT an unbeliever, I just had not done the formal thing of accepting Him into my life as my Savior yet. I prayed, but never knew if He heard me, I studied what I knew to study and so on. I just wasn't baptized, and had never gone up front in church. Does that make a difference, or no? I hope this makes sense.

You're welcome!

But, don't you think that maybe God would lead a believer to "save" an "unsaved" person even if that means marrying them to do so? Especially since He is so wonderous and can mold that relationship into something that will benefit and bring glory to Him? It just seems that is what He has done with us, but I know I could be way off here. Your thoughts on it make sense to me though. Probably more likely to happen that way than what I have percieved out of it. lol My brain is on overload lately.

I chose my name because of my children. They have all been blessings to me and my husband, hence~our3blessings. :il:

Yep, I am also having this problem, but not with all sigs and not all the time. I don't know either.

Thank you all for the replies! It is a difficult one for me to understand. Maybe God doesn't want me to understand at this moment in my life. There have been many times that my eyes were not opened until long after my questions. But I know in my heart, that God will always be there for me and my husband. I've just been thinking about this for some time now, and thought I would ask here because most of you seem so much more knowledgable than I am about scripture. I am learning, but still have a difficult time absorbing and applying everything that I read. :il:

After reading another thread, I was wondering something. Does anyone believe that God will lead a non-Christian into a relationship with a Christian? Why I am asking is that I believe He would and has. When I met my now husband, I was not a Christian. I wasn't evil, or anything, I just did bad things because I didn't realize what God wanted of me. I had been to church in my young life, but not on a regular basis. I knew who Jesus was, and believed that He is Son of God, but had not yet invited Him into my life as my personal Savior. I feel that God led me to Steve (hubby) because He knew that I needed someone to love me through everything that I would go through. My hubby is the most patient man I have ever met. I could be a real tyrant when I didn't get my way until I accepted Christ into my life after a few years of marraige. I know that He tells us not to be unequally yoked together, but that is what me and hubby were for a time. So, this has me wondering a little. Now things have travelled in a different direction for us. My hubby is having some problems. He is reluctant to attend services. I know he will come out of this slump, but not sure when or how to help him. It seems like the tables have turned around for each of us. I am the one who needs and actually craves study time and fellowship with my brothers and sisters in Christ, and he seems to not want it even though he needs it. He has been a Christian for a lot longer than I have, so it just seems different to me that now I have become the one to encourage. It almost feels wrong because I feel like I am leading him instead of the other way around. But, no matter what, I have to keep focus on Jesus. Thanks for listening. I just wanted to share and get some opinions. :hug:

I'm sorry about your situation. I don't have any answers for you. I will keep you in my prayers, though. :hug:

When I first started to read the Bible, I started out in the NT, but found that I kept having to go back and look up things in the OT. That's when I just stopped right there, and started reading from Gen. 1:1.

Welcome! I am pretty new here too! I enjoy it here! I know you will too.

I am so very sorry that you are going through so much pain. I wish there was something that I could tell you. I will be praying for you. :hug:

Still praying. :prayer

I will be fervently praying for your friend and that God's will be done. I know that He can heal him, but I don't know when or even if He will decide to do so. Whatever be His will. :prayer

I immediately thought of Worthy and was reminded of a thread that was started some months ago so I thought we would give it another shot. Feel free to encourage our brothers and sisters and build one another up! I know that I'm new, and I don't know you all very well, but I just have to say, that I've seen alot of love, and patience, from everyone. I hope that I will soon get to know all of you much better. I have enjoyed reading and posting here for the past week. I have gotten much encouragement, and have learned many new things from browsing through the threads. I plan to stick around for long time! (as long as I don't spout off and get kicked out-lol-j/k) :il: It is really nice to have you here and I look foward to getting to know you better. God Bless! Debbie Thank you, Debbie! :il:

I immediately thought of Worthy and was reminded of a thread that was started some months ago so I thought we would give it another shot. Feel free to encourage our brothers and sisters and build one another up! I know that I'm new, and I don't know you all very well, but I just have to say, that I've seen alot of love, and patience, from everyone. I hope that I will soon get to know all of you much better. I have enjoyed reading and posting here for the past week. I have gotten much encouragement, and have learned many new things from browsing through the threads. I plan to stick around for long time! (as long as I don't spout off and get kicked out-lol-j/k) :il: I don't think you would get kicked out unless you start acting like a demon or something! :x: :oww: Hahaha, well, I can get pretty mouthy on a bad day! My kids would probably compare me to a demon when I'm fired up about something! I'll just have to keep my fingers tied up in those cases, huh?

I immediately thought of Worthy and was reminded of a thread that was started some months ago so I thought we would give it another shot. Feel free to encourage our brothers and sisters and build one another up! I know that I'm new, and I don't know you all very well, but I just have to say, that I've seen alot of love, and patience, from everyone. I hope that I will soon get to know all of you much better. I have enjoyed reading and posting here for the past week. I have gotten much encouragement, and have learned many new things from browsing through the threads. I plan to stick around for long time! (as long as I don't spout off and get kicked out-lol-j/k) :il:

Hi Heather! Just one thing that jumped out at me!! God loves you so very much! He wants you to be as close to Him as possible. So crawling up into his lap would show Him no disrespect! I completely understand how you feel though. It took me so very long to feel close to Jesus. I have been saved for 13 years, but just recently started to feel that close relationship with Him. I believe it had to do with my giving things up to Him. I wanted to have the control, to sit in the driver's seat, instead of letting Jesus be my chauffer. I still have problems, as everyone always will, but I know that God is looking out for me, and I will survive to live with him in eternity! The only thing that I know to tell you is to keep praying, keep talking to Him, and let the Holy Spirit guide you! It may take more time, but patience only comes from love, and love from God. You already have that, so just remember that God already loves you and will never forsake you! Also, keep studying His Word and absorbing it. The deeper that I dug into my studies, the more in love I became with Him and the more I wanted to spend time with Him. I hope this helps you some. I'm not intellectual, nor am I very good with words most of the time, but I hope you can understand at least some of what I've tried to explain about how I came to know Him better. I still have a long way to go, too! :hug: