Lavender

Hi Juna,

I've just read your testimony.  I was into a bit of new age stuff before becoming a Christian.  My sister was involved in a lot more new age stuff.  I highly recommend that you watch the YouTube channel "Steven Bancarz".  I had been a Christian for a couple of years before I stumbled across it.  I told my sister to watch it and she now knows the truth about the deception of new age stuff and occult things etc.  She is no longer involved in these things.  There are also things that may be in your house that can be affecting you which you may not know about.  I also recommend the movie on YouTube "The Gospel of John".  This is from the Gospel of John in the Bible.  I'm praying that you continue to seek our Heavenly Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.   

On 1/1/2020 at 5:31 PM, Coliseum said:

I just read your testimony Lavender all the way through to now. It is amazing how God simply takes us from where our journey begins and loves us all the way through it---and when He is ready, He shows us just how much. Through all my generations of family, none are saved besides myself, and maybe my father. We cannot force anyone to believe, but we can show them by our actions how we believe. I went over to a friend's house with four or five others to pray for him because he had hurt his leg. He was not a believer. When we finished, he broke down and cried because he said no one ever seemed to care about him as much as we did. He began to go to church. Now he loves God---and his wife, a Jehovah's Witness---became his witness, and now she is a Christian serving faithfully at the church they attend. People forget our words much of the time, but they will not forget our actions. "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only..." James 1:22a God bless you.

Thanks for your reply.  I feel for you being the only believer (and maybe your dad) in your family.  I know that I feel lonely at times but I can talk to my children about somethings.  That's great that your friend and his wife are now believers.  My Jehovah Witness mother-in-law spoke to my husband privately last week about end times etc.  My husband told me that he said to his mum that he doesn't believe the Bible is true.  I know that's not the only reason that he's not a Christian.  I will continue to pray and hope that he will become a believer one day.  May God bless you too. 

Update

I finished reading the Bible for the first time towards the end of 2018.  I talked to my husband again about me going to church.  He said I could go but I couldn't take my two children with me, instead he would look after them.  I started going to church in December 2018.

I got baptized in March 2019.  I was so happy to finally be baptized.  

My husband is still an unbeliever and won't let me take my children to church.  I teach them what I can when he's not home.  My mother-in-law is still a Jehovah's Witness.  I managed to share the truth with my sister about the deception of new age stuff with the help of a YouTube channel so she doesn't believe in any of that anymore.  I've gently talked to her about Jesus Christ and Christian things but she's not willing to look into these at this time.  My parents are still unbelievers.

I read my Bible and pray everyday.  I look forward to the rapture and being able to openly and freely worship my Heavenly Father and my Lord Jesus Christ and to be with other believers.

4 hours ago, Cletus said:

why do you have a problem with a certain type of gun?  in the very early 2000's i legally purchased an ak-47.  most of the rest of the world calls it a Kalashnikov, after the rifles designer.  I have put over 50,000 rounds thru it.  well over that.  in fact i have decided its time to re-barrel it because i have shot it so much the barrels life is almost gone.  the rifling in the barrel is wearing out.  I never shot anyone with it.  never committed a crime with it.   when children are at the house its locked up.  when i leave its locked up or with me.  I have had this rifle for near 20 years.  I got stacks of 30 round magazines, some 40 round magazines and a whole bunch of the good Chinese made 75 round drum magazines.  

the only "trouble" i ever got into with this rifle was money trouble... it gets so hot from popity pop poppin' off the pretty wood fore grip keeps catching on fire and i have to buy a new one.  next one with the new barrel will be vented metal.  

its also a great choice for hog hunting.  max range kill shot on a wild porker is 432 yards.  measured with a laser rangefinder. 

I like the part you said about automobile accidents.  lets ban cars and trucks too!!!

I have a problem with that type of gun because it can fire a lot of rounds and so in the wrong hands it can be used to easily kill a lot of people.  This is my opinion and I'm entitled to my opinion on what I would like to happen here in NZ.  I'm not giving an opinion on the country that you live in.

My comment about car accidents was in reply to a previous poster who I quoted, because they brought up car accidents.

All of what I've posted is said in a neutral tone but that's hard to get across when you're only typing.  I've said my thoughts on this topic so I'm not going to be posting on this one anymore.

3 hours ago, HAZARD said:

Many years ago when I was in High school and in the cadets I carried a 303 rifle to and from school on a train and no one batted an eyelid. There were about 100 pupils in the cadets at my school alone and they all took their firearms to and from school.

I still have firearms and I'm in my 70's and have never ever hurt anyone or anything, neither have my firearms broke out of my gun safe and went on a shooting spree.

Gun control is all about people control. People are killed by cars driven by people who are on drugs and are drunk. 

Number of deaths on NZ roads nears 200 just six months into 2018 .

Why is there no call for a car ban. How about a day of mourning. 

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/105138546/number-of-deaths-on-nz-roads-nears-200-just-six-months-into-2018

I'm not making a judgement on you.  My Dad is a retired farmer and a former duck shooter so I've grown up with him having guns.  It is the type of gun that I have a problem with.

Yes there are too many road deaths here.  The difference is that all those people who died on the road where not deliberately killed by one person.  There are also too many people who die in NZ each year by drowning and suicide.

We aren't having a day of mourning here.  There was 2 minutes of silence at 1.32pm (NZ time).

I live in NZ.  I'm happy that the type of weapon used by the murderer is going to be banned and that people who already own them can hand them in to the Police in a buy back scheme.  

Groups in NZ that typically have guns are farmers, hunters and sports people.  People walking around on the street in NZ don't carry guns on them.  The Police in NZ don't usually have a gun on them when they are in their uniform either.

There maybe a large international media focus on NZ because previously the largest mass shooting in NZ was in 1990 when 13 people were killed.  The murderer was an Australian.  

I would also only have the child over when your husband is home on the weekend to help.  Every second weekend would be good as that way you are helping out but you are also having a weekend where you get your family time too.

About a year ago, I was sleeping in bed on my back.  I then felt a sudden lot of pressure on my chest like one of my children had jumped on me and was lying on me, which woke me up.  I got scared, I kept my eyes closed and just kept repeating to myself "Jesus is Lord" over and over again.  The pressure went away.  I haven't had this experience since.  You might find it helpful to read some posts in the spiritual warfare section.

Your testimony was so lovely to read.  Thanks for sharing it.  

Praying for your son.

Praying for you.

On ‎4‎/‎1‎/‎2018 at 6:24 AM, semper.fi said:

Yes diet had helped for me too, namely giving up coffee, chocolate, fried foods, spices, and citrus. It got about 50% better. I take the acid reducer so I can appreciate a little coffee again. 

I guess you probably know that tomato based things like tomato sauces and peppermint are known reflux triggers too.  Luckily I hate coffee so I didn't have to give up that one but I love chocolate.  I only have a small amount of milk chocolate when I eat it.  White chocolate doesn't trigger my reflux but dark chocolate is a problem.

Praying.

It's hard when we lose our pets.  Praying for you and Diesel and for things to work out well with the new kitten.

Praying for you.  I have LPR reflux (otherwise known as silent reflux).  Altering my diet has helped reduce it but it hasn't gone away.

34 minutes ago, ayin jade said:

You can still contact a local pastor and ask the church to pray for you. You can also watch a church service online. The one Im going to currently is a bit small but they have their services streamed live on their facebook page. Some churches have that for homebound folks. Some will even come and serve you communion during a home visit if you wish that. 

Thanks for that information.  I don't know if things are much different here in NZ.  I thought about online stuff a couple of weeks ago and so I listened to an online sermon from a local church a couple of weeks ago.  Unfortunately I don't know how biblically sound the Church is.

19 minutes ago, Davida said:

That is a great idea Lavender.  I would give you the suggestion if it is a GODLY bible believing Church that you ask the Pastor & the churches prayers for your husband to soften his heart and that he would be able to hear the Gospel and get saved.  God can slowly turn him to God and the first thing that will happen eventually if you really go to the mat for him asking GOD to intercede for you ,  is your husband will start to allow you to take the children to Church with you!  Inch by inch it can happen. 

I don't go to Church because I can't as I explained in my post so unfortunately I can't ask a Pastor and the Church to pray for me.  My husband used to be a Jehovah Witness and left this as a teenager so it makes the issue a bit more complicated.

Praise God that you aren't involved in any of that anymore.  I have a sister who is involved in spiritual stuff.  I don't know what to say to get her out of it.  Her adult daughter has already tried talking to her but that didn't work.

Hi Darian.  I'm from New Zealand so I have no personal experience of witnessing what you are talking about other than seeing things on the news.  It must be exhausting for you to deal with these things.  Some people are more sensitive to things than others and maybe you are one of them and that's completely fine.  (I'm a sensitive person).   I would suggest that in addition to praying and talking to God that you share your feelings with others like a family member, close friend, member of your church etc.  Don't go through it alone.  It might also be good for you to have a break from social media that's negative.  If you like reading then books can be a great way to escape into a different world to give yourself a break.  I also find Christian music to be uplifting.  If you are feeling extreme depression or suicidal thoughts please reach out to someone or an organization that can help (I don't know what groups are available in the country that you live in). Hugs to you.

I've had a break from the forum and I've only been back on here recently so I only just read your post.  Praying for you.

There are lots of Christian fiction novels in different genres including historical, historical romance, contemporary and mystery etc..  You could search the "Christy awards" to find prize winning Christian books.

12 minutes ago, SisterActs2 said:

Bless you, my dear, for getting rid of these things.  We do not need "Christian" Tarot cards - we only need His Love and His Word to witness.

I had angel cards which I got rid of over a year ago.  I haven't had anything like that since.  I pray that your daughter gets better.

My sister is involved in having card readings done and seeing so called psychics.  (Read my testimonial if you want more details).  A couple of months ago she went to some gypsy fair or something and had a colour reading done.  Her daughter became a Christian a few years ago as fortunately her boyfriend's family is Christian (she is now engaged to him - thank you God).  Her daughter has talked to my sister and told her that it's the devil's work.  My sister has said that she doesn't tell her daughter what she thinks of her being a Christian and so she shouldn't comment about her and her spiritual beliefs.  My sister now knows that I'm a Christian as I didn't tell her until about one and a half months ago. 

As my sister keeps being involved in spiritual things is there a prayer I can say or something I can do to protect my family and myself from when she talks to me on the phone or we see her in person?  Is there something I could do to help her get out of being involved in it?  She has a bit of a fiery personality at times and could easily get angry at me and get into a full on argument.  I'm quieter and don't like confrontation.  Are there websites or testimonials from people previously involved in that stuff that might help.  There's no point giving her a book as she would never read it.  She has friends that are into spiritual things too including one that does reiki, readings and crosses spirits over so I will probably only have one chance to try to help her. 

8 hours ago, Davida said:

 The best way to get rid of those cards if they cannot burn them is to pray over them asking that GOD bind any demons that are attached to them &  to destroy the cards by tearing them up in small pieces.      

I put the angel cards I had in a paper bag and put them in the rubbish to go to the dump.  I hope that was okay but I didn't really know what to do with them when I got rid of them over a year ago, I just wanted them out of the house.