grandma dolittle

Thanks for your input BFP. When I was diagnosed as having clinical depression, I was sent to a psychologist One of the questions she asked me was I thinking about taking my own life. When I told her no that it was against my beliefs. She asked me to talk about my faith. Over time I realized that God would help me through this. She helped me understand that I didn't have a mental disease, but a chemical imbalance in my brain. That I could understand and when I get feeling depressed, I talk to God and he helps me deal with it and lifts me up. I do take meds for the depression. They help me get a grip and think clearly. I think it depends on who you see if your experience is beneficial or not, just as with a medical doctor.

Wasn't the reason of Ruben defiling his father's bed because he slept with one of his father's wives/concubines? That is a good observation, I don't know. Genesis 49:4 Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father's bed; then defiledst it: he went up to my couch. This was as Israel was blessing his sons. Genesis 25:22 And it came to pass, when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father's concubine: and Israel heard of it.

David was human like we are and although we know not to sin... we allow ourselves be tempted into sin occasionally, like David did. The difference being, when God punished David, he fell prostrated and begged forgiveness. He didn't try to blame anyone else or blame God for not keeping him from sin. David knew his weakness, that is why he pray to be kept from sin. However, when David did sin and was punished, he never complained about it.

Wasn't the reason of Ruben defiling his father's bed because he slept with one of his father's wives/concubines?

I guess I relate to Peter because I am impulsive and often speak with out thinking. Peter had his weakness, but he loved the Lord. However, I love John. He served Jesus longer than the others and if I am not wrong, he is the only one to die at home of old age.

I scored 95%... shows I need to read more!

Thank you for your service, and don't let anyone put a false sense of guilt on you for defending this nation. At the same time, you need to realize that some people have a misunderstanding of scripture when it comes to killing. Remember "Sergeant York." He had a real objection to killing, until he got into combat. He wasn't killing simply to harm others, but to save his fellow soldiers, as well as defend his country. Old Zimm, I am sorry to say you are wrong. You are not a criminal. Christ told us to obey the heads of our government and as a soldier you did just that. There is a big difference between murder and war (honest war... not raping and killing for the pleasure of it) Remember what Christ said on the sermon on the mount. It is all about the heart and the reasons behind the actions. God bless you. I assure you I do not feel guilty nor am I ashamed for serving my country and God in time of war, matter of fact I would do it again. In the post you two are referring to, I was being a little sarcastic.

Old Zimm, I am sorry to say you are wrong. You are not a criminal. Christ told us to obey the heads of our government and as a soldier you did just that. There is a big difference between murder and war (honest war... not raping and killing for the pleasure of it) Remember what Christ said on the sermon on the mount. It is all about the heart and the reasons behind the actions. God bless you.

I see God's humor in squirrels and man's battle over bird feeders. My son-in-law got me a squirrel proof feeder. Yet, I sat and laughed as I watched the squirrel figure out how to raise the top and crawl inside the feeder. My brother used to have a limb that stretched beside his carport and every day a squirrel would run across the carport and sail off the carport onto the limb. One day my brother cut the limb down and the next morning, the squirrel ran across the carport and whoops! One day, my dauchund ran a squirrel up and tree. The squirrel ran out on a limb and sat there looking at Buddy while he scolded my dog as if to say, 'you can't catch me!" The squirrel merrily jumped to another tree, then to another tree and ran down the next tree to find Buddy sitting there waiting for him. I wish I could honestly say that the squirrel had a suprised look on his face, but it sure seemed like he did! :24:

During the Medieval times, people believed your soul was inside your head and when you sneezed, bits of your soul was being expelled through your nose. During the plague in Europe, chronic sneezing was a symptom of the plague just before death. The Pope ordered that all the healthy people pray for the sick and if someone sneezed, he ordered them to say, "God bless you." immediately.

Thank you

Wow! A court decision in favor of anything related to Christianity!

i'll smoke me a good cigar every now and then. Ugg! I don't like cigar smell, but I love to smell pipe tobacco. I guess it would be the same with a nonsmoker around me when I smoke. I have to take some pain med and they are habit forming, are they as bad or worse as a cigarette. i am addicted either way.

Be careful where you spit. In my town there used to be a law against spitting on the sidewalk because the old men chewed and most children were bearfooted... and of course TB was common in those days.

Gary, What a post! this sure made me feel humble as I wondered about the things in my life that may not be in obedience to God. I am sure that I have some... some that come to mind... I do need to spend some time in prayer and seeking help getting rid of myself, my independence, and my will and give God complete control.

Taylor, It is a good question, one that I am sure we all have asked ourselves. Don't confuse salvation with sanctification. I'm still learning the sanctification part. The difference is salvation means we are saved and sanctification means we are being set apart. The fact that you feel bad is the Holy Spirit working on you. Should you be worried about sins, YES. Does it mean your not saved? I can't answer that question, but if you repent (turn away) they are forgiven. Are you gonna stumble? Yes, we all do. Sanctification is a process. As far as it concerns me and my walk, a very gradual one. I'm trying to stay in the word and on my knees. As far as you feeling your trying to earn your salvation, you won't. The fact that it's still hard to "do good" is your flesh. Just trying to "do good" on your own will never get easier. Stay in the word, stay in prayer and stay in fellowship. Lately, I have even starting to cut away from those who are not believers, watching what kind of shows and what kind of music I listen to. It's not "to be saved" but its to not allow myself to be influenced by the world. I know these days preachers seem to always preach on "how to be saved" and hardly anything on "what's next". Just my 2 cents. L.J. I think faith plays a large part in the knowledge of salvation. Some people seem to be high and shout loudly, while others rise from thier knees feeling peace. Constantly talking to God and reading the Word fills me with peace and the more I read and talk, the sweeter the peace is. Living the life Christ would want you to also strengthens the faith. I know that God threw my sins away and no longer remembers them. Worshipping with other Christians, testifying, and doing whatever the need the church has all strengthen my faith. Making sure that if Christ came to my house to visit me, Iwould not be ashamed of the books I read; movies I watch; tv programs I watch, or clothes I wear. We cannot earn salvation, it was a free gift paid for by Christ.

I don't smoke because I am 14!" :24: I love that!!! Honey, I am not putting you down, but you would have to be over sixty to really appreciate the humor in what you said.

I don't smoke because I am 14!" :24: I love that!!!

I wonder how many Christians still smoke?? I do and I know I shouldn't and I have tried to stop. My main problem is that I enjoy a cigarette with a cup of coffee, after a meal, when i sit down to rest, and in between. For me a cigarette is a stimulant when I am tired or can't think straight; and a seditave when I am upset. I feel like I have leprosy when I light up anywhere but my house.. i respect others who don't smoke and if they visit me... I will smoke outside. Do you smoke????

His love is unconditional and his promises are wonderful. His mercies can been seen everyday, starting with the fact we awoke this morning to a beautiful day he created just for us and we will rejoice in it.

Oh that reminds me... when I was growing up almost all adults had authority over you. You submitted to their authority. You answered them yes ma'am yes sir no ma'am no sir. No exceptions. So if I got caught in the old man's apple tree next door (the one he told me to stay out of) he would take firm hold of my ear and drag me to my folks' who took me by that same ear while apologizing to the neighbor modified with embarrassment and once the door closed the beatings began for 1. disobeying an adult 2. for embarrassing my parents in front of the neighbors 3. general principles... Today a kid does terrible things the only recourse is to call the police.... Which reminds me of the worst beating I think I ever had and my having to work off the replacement plate glass window I broke and ran and the police were called in and we (there were three of us) made up lies and then we confessed all. Only for the Grace of God... man oh man... I was raised where we were expected to respect and mind every adult in our lives. If we needed to be 'tanned" as Daddy would say, the adult would do it. My Daddy would tan a neighbor kid as fast as he would us. Respect for elders was universal in my world. The only exception is if we felt the adult was telling us to do something we knew Daddy would not approve of and then we were to tell Daddy.

Last night as I was reading all the replies to this post, my fourteen year old grandson was reading over my shoulder. He used to go to chuech with me when he was little , but when teenage years struck, he quit and spouted arguments about there being no such thing as God. I have prayed for him and how to reach him. As he read this he said, "I thought that Jesus was God's son, so how can he be God?" I really didn't know how to answer him, then the tree anology popped into my head and I explained how God was the main body of the tree, and Jesus was the linbs reaching out in all directions, and the Holy Spirit was the leaves covering the limbs,yet they were three parts of one tree. I said that Jesus had used language and anologies so the people of that time could understand what he was talking about. Jesus could not have talked to us like a God because we can't understand God's reasoning or wisdom. He said , " God is simple and man makes it complex.' I think God has answered my prayers for both my grandson and me. God is awesome!

That is sad. She probably wasn't shown love either and didn't know how to show you love.

Jason, wasn't Jesus talking about himself?

I live in the country in the Missouri Ozarks and I was sitting in my back yard looking up at the trees swaying with a gentle breeze and I was talking to God as I do a lot. I had a thought that maybe the Trinity may be like that tree I was looking at. The trunk would be God, while the limbs that reached in every direction would be Jesus and the leaves that covered the trees could be the Holy Spirit. I don't know if that was from God or just me. God know how much I love looking at nature and all the beauty he has created for me to enjoy. I felt peace, but then I always feel peace in my back yard.