lakefrontgirlmi

He put her in the car? I have issues with that one. It sounds like most at your church are trying to talk you into things 'they' think are better for you instead of worrying about their own walk with God. Pray hard about it, maybe the Lord will lead you to another church that will make you feel comfy and at home. You need one like that, not one where they think they know whats best, or trying to tell you you need it. No one but God and yourself knows what you need and are lacking with your walk. Youre being judged by them, Id sure be looking up a diff place to attend if it were me. I'll keep you in my prayers!

Im with everyone on this topic. It sounds like you arent going to go, you just needed some insite from others. Retreats dont change lives unless you bring an unsaved friend and they accept Christ there, then its changed their life, not yours. You truly dont want to go, then just say no. Dont allow anyone, even a pastor, to force you to do anything you dont want to do. Look at it this way, youre a grown adult, you dont need anyone telling you what to do. If they cant accept you just dont want to go, its not your problem, its theirs! You are strong enough to say no, I think you just needed some friendly input to remind you its only up to YOU, not them! Enjoy yourself at home with your husband and your gramma visiting!

By choice of Faith, and without it I wouldnt want to exsist!

Im feeling extremely blessed with how my daughter turned out, now going on 25 yrs old, who never went thru the terrible 2's or anything like that. I can honestly say the worst thing shes done to date was as a teen I sent her to get butter at a huge local chain of grocery stores we had in Cali, (get ready to laugh hard here)..and she came home without butter, saying they were all out of every type of butter or margarine (yea right) yet she had in hand a christian music magazine! To this day its still funny when I think about it, even to her. I homeschooled my daughter from 2nd grade til she graduated high school a year early, and to tell someone how to raise their kids is something we cant really do. I homeschooled her thru a charter school and only used christian curriculum, and she was involved in so much, they had alot to offer the kids. We couldnt afford private christian schooling, but I can say I know a few couples that put themselves first, going out with friends every night of the week (literally every night) and the kids did without mom and dad each night, and to this day the kids are very distant with the parents and the parents wonder "what did we do wrong". When you raise your kids without lecturing but talking instead, and I dont mean talk every moment you see them, that can be lecturing...there are ways of doing it, when you see something beautiful like the ocean or redwoods in california or anything God made that you enjoy together, its easy to say how great God is to bless us with these. There are ways to talk about God that arent lecturing. Make a family prayer time each night, talk to them without lecturing. By all means listen to them, I cant stress this enough. Dont get me wrong, mine is not perfect but shes never surrounded herself with unsaved friends, she constantly knows that anyone like that we are only to witness to, but to fellowship with others in Christ means exactly that...In Christ, others saved!

Have you talked to someone at your church about Small Groups? Most churches now have them, altho not all. Its to make friendships and prayer time and study time along with just fellowship. I wish every church had the ones my church has, its amazing how much the groups can help you in staying on track, finding a prayer partner, etc. I do agree tho that if youre looking for that 'high' that we all have had many times, if you have that every moment of everyday then you wont be equipped to handle when youre tempted by things. The bible tells us we will have hard times as well as very happy times. Small Groups are what really brought me on track when I wasnt feeling that "in touch" so to speak with Christ. I knew He was there, I knew I was loved, something was just off with me for a few months, and the small group I joined put me right back on track. God Bless~

Do you know of any books to help get started with this? Ive been trying to search online and Im at a loss as to what type of diet/eating style it would be listed as. There are sooo many on here!!!

My husband and I were in Sears buying a new BBQ last weekend and the lady in front of us was writing a check, you know...the old fashioned kind, no debit or credit card. Anyway, the clerk very rudely yelled to another store associate, "how do I do a transaction for the old fashioned checks where they write it and have no debit card". The woman was elderly and kept looking at us behind her apologizing and I assured her its the way the stores are being ran, NOT her. My husband was curious if the clerk was new and maybe this was the reason she didnt know, turns out she had been a cashier with them for over 3 yrs and yet had no idea how to cash a personal check for store merchandise. Its sad that its all coming down to this. Everyones in such a rush to get customers out sooner, and yet there are those like ATT and plenty others that charge fee's. Personally if youre paying with cash that should be the #1 thing to not be charged for because there is no possible returned check or bank card that wont go thru. When did this country become all about rushing the customers out, or charging us when thats why they sit there waiting for our calls to begin with, or even things like rushing our kids to grow up way too fast. Ive been blessed with the opportunity to live overseas in Europe while my husband was military, and we travel to Canada alot....these other countries arent like this. Why are we? Im not even sure who can answer this.

Very good article! And it is amazing how little most people actually know as to who is the blame for it all. Thanks for posting!

I tried Sushi when I lived in Cali...tried it several times, thought since everyone loved it maybe I just had a bad experience the first time. I was wrong, its nasty! However cheese, yumm anything from gouda to edam, brie with fruit and bread, lets not forget something so many overlook...grilled monterey jack, gouda and swiss on rye bread. My fav!!!

I have a longer one and shorter one. First... PSALM 25 1-7 (PRAYER FOR PROTECTION, GUIDANCE & PARDON) To You, O LORD, I lift up my soul. 2 O my God, in You I trust, Do not let me be ashamed; Do not let my enemies exult over me. 3 Indeed, none of those who wait for You will be ashamed; Those who deal treacherously without cause will be ashamed. 4 Make me know Your ways, O LORD; Teach me Your paths. 5 Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; For You I wait all the day. 6 Remember, O LORD, Your compassion and Your lovingkindnesses, For they have been from of old. 7 Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; According to Your lovingkindness remember me, For Your goodness

a HUGE AMEN****

YOU CAN BE BAPTIZED IN ANY CHURCH OR MOST CHURCHES HAVE WHATS CALLED A CITY WIDE BAPTISM OVER THE SUMMER MONTHS AT A LOCAL RIVER, OR WHATEVER YOU HAVE NEARBY. IN GOD'S EYES IT JUST DOESNT MATTER WHERE IT TAKES PLACE, AS LONG AS IT DOES TAKE PLACE YOU KNOW? ITS NEVER A NAIVE QUESTION WHEN YOU HAVE THE GUTS TO ASK! ANY DENOMINATION CAN DO IT, IF YOU HAVE A PARTICULAR CHURCH YOU FEEL 'AT HOME' WITH, CALL THEM ABOUT IT. IF NOT, PRETTY MUCH ANY CAN DO IT. I WAS BAPTIZED AT A BAPTIST CHURCH BUT ON THE SAME NIGHT THEY BAPTIZED SEVERAL OTHERS THAT WERENT MEMBERS OF THAT CHURCH AND JUST WANTED IT DONE. PRAISE JESUS YOURE HAVING IT DONE! LET US KNOW WHEN YOU DO!!!! IN HIS NAME-

THANK YOU, ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR INSIGHT. I PUT ON WEIGHT WHEN I HAD MY DAUGHTER, SHE WAS VERY ILL AT BIRTH FOR THE FIRST 8 MONTHS I WAS TOLD NOT TO HAVE HER OUTSIDE IF IT WASNT A 'MUST DO' AND IM ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT, AS FAR AS EXCERCISE I NEED THAT SUPPORT PERSON WITH ME AND I DIDNT HAVE ONE BACK THEN! NOW, 24 YEARS LATER IM REALLY NOT LIKING HOW I LET MYSELF GO BACK THEN AND DIDNT DO SOME STUFF AROUND THE HOUSE TO KEEP IT OFF(EXCERCISE). I PUT OFF BUYING CUTE CLOTHES THINKING "ILL LOSE BY NEXT MONTH AND BUY THINGS THEN" BUT IVE COME TO THE CONCLUSION WE ALL NEED TO LOOK OUR BEST NO MATTER WHAT SIZE WE ARE. AM I WRONG? YOU ALL HAVE SOME EXCELLENT WAYS YOUVE LOST, CUTTING OUT FLOUR, SUGAR AND ONLY EATING PROTEIN WHEN THATS WHAT MY BODYS NEEDING, AND CALCIUM WHEN THATS WHAT ITS CRAVING SOUNDS AWESOME. EXCERCISE IS SOMETHING MY HUSBAND AND I ARE STARTING THIS WEEK. HE WORKS TIL MIDNIGHT EVERY NIGHT BUT WITH NICE WEATHER AND OUR NEIGHBORHOOD BEING A CALM ONE, WE ARE STARTING TO WALK EVERY NIGHT A MILE. ITS A START AND FOR ME NOT REALLY BEING ACTIVE IN SO LONG, ITS A GOOD START. I DO MISS HAVING A SWIMMING POOL THO, IM IN MICHIGAN AND LOST A LOT OF MY WEIGHT BY SWIMMING EVERYDAY WHEN I LIVED IN CALI, HERE THEY DONT HAVE TOO MANY POOLS AND THE YMCA ONLY ALLOWS YOU TO SWIM TWICE A WEEK HERE, (WHY ONLY SO LITTLE I DONT KNOW)!!!! ILL DEFF LET YOU ALL KNOW HOW IT GOES! THANK YOU FRIENDS PS- I SAW A FUNNY STICKER THAT SAID "LORD IF YOU CANT MAKE ME THIN THEN PLEASE MAKE ALL MY FRIENDS FAT" I THOUGHT ID SHARE THAT, IM PRETTY SURE WE'VE ALL SEEN IT SOMEWHERE, ITS FUNNY!

Im wondering if anyone has tried any form of weight loss thats been healthy and succeeded at it. If so please share what you tried and how it affected you at first and overall. I think Ive tried everything healthy and good and its just such a slow process! Why oh why does it take such a short time to gain yet so long to get it off of you? lol The world may never know!!!! Thanks for reading

Lets just clarify one thing, no one at that age is fully mature. For those of you who say you know some 15 yr olds more mature than 20 yr olds, then chances are that person isnt at all who you think, only who they want you to think they are. They are teens, plain and simple and far too young and think they know it all. Let me ask you one question...if your 13-15 yr old daughter came home with a new best friend who lived in a family that practiced this, how soon would you be talking to your child about her choice in friends and whos house she WONT be staying overnight at? There are some that age that seem mature, but when it comes to raising a family and everything, age matters in a very huge way. Youre talking about if she marries and has children yet shes only a child herself. Arent we already trying to fight the issue in American of "children having children"??? If you dont believe or agree with me, then look at the bottom line..."its illegal"!!! Whatever happened to allowing children to grow up "fully" and live their childhood? When you say the teens are willing, what you dont understand is most kids, even those who are abused, will do anything to gain the respect and love of their parents, even if it wasnt what they truly wanted. Dont you think they should be allowed to grow up and actually fall in love with whom God has placed on this earth just for them? I got married at age 19 and am still happily married to him, but if I were 13-15 I can tell you those 6 years difference are HUGE. If you cant place a 3rd grader and 10th grader together to learn in school because they are in a different maturity level, then what can you expect here?

Ebay is a good option but if they are good costume jewelry items there are antique dealers all over, most likely not far from you, that purchase those types of things at better prices than you may get on ebay or other auction places. Have you thought of taking them to a boutique nearby, one that specializes in different things, (not the ordinary stuff you can find just anywhere)? Id deff try an antique dealer first!!

Altho I think we can all agree that its to make more money, for the most part anyway; its also to equip us with the knowledge we will need for decisions later on, not always now. It deff sounds like you may be being led to go another route. It seems like youre doing what most do, questioning the whole college thing. Youre normal!!! Pray hard about this, dont give it away easily, just let God lead you to where He has planned for you. Remember, youre normal Relax, kick back, have an iced mocha from Starbucks!!! You sound like youve got a good head on your shoulders, stick with that!!!

Personally the economy isnt great, however we have to trust in God to get us thru the harder times. I dont make alot of money and I love to go on little one day excursions anywhere with my husband, we refuse to let gas prices stop us on living. God continues to bless us with enough to save and pay bills, only He can do this. Everyone has to put that faith into action! Dont let it keep you from living your life, cut back where you need, if you must get a more fuel efficient car, (we had to). When you sit home doing nothing and never enjoying life because you allow economic growth or LACK of get in your way...youre not trusting in God to bless you and see you thru it all. He will see us all thru it !!!!

You may be saved from hellfire, but you do not claim your victory! Don't be too sure on the former, either, for lukewarmness will get us separated from Christ as well. Your saying that you have more peace now that you have resigned yourself to being "honest"...I believe that is a false peace that the devil is giving you! So typical! The devil is telling you lies and causing you to think that we must STRIVE! The truth is, there is no striving! Just resting in Jesus and His precious promises! Everything you say about being alone is just exactly what Satan it telling you and you are lapping it out of his palm. He is showing you others and causing you to sit there and make armchair judgments on who? The people of GOD? Phony he says? Hardly! While there are hypocrites among us, that is no reason for you to think you must emulate hypocrisy! What stupid logic Satan has! Please--you are never alone! Either you are joined up with Jesus, heading for glory, or you are joined up with Satan, heading for destruction. There you WILL be alone. FOREVER. Yuck. Do not rely on yourself for your own deliverance from this--you are dust, and unreliable. Trust only in Jesus Christ, who took your pain, sin and sorrow upon His very body and lives again for you...so you can also live! What a gift! He took my pain? No I don't think so. I'm in a truckload of pain and have been for quite some time. No its still here. All of it. I\m not anti-Christian by the way. I think most Christians are under the same delusion I was. We all have moments of hypocrocy. me included but I feel less hypocritical by simply telling the truth. I use to go around saying things like "God is with me through this" or "he's just trying to teach me something". Thats crazy. Dan I think what youre going thru is something many Christians go thru...questioning all of it. The problem is, you want that closeness like others have with God, you want to hear Gods voice, but youre not allowing Him to do it in HIS time. We dont get what we want when we want, but when its His time for us to have it all. I personally have been thru so much tragedy, as most of us have in this world, however my faith in Jesus as my personal Savior is what got me thru it all. I was much like you questioning things at one time only because I thought I was happy, really truly happy like Id never been before. How wrong I was! It took 4 years for me to really understand I was the one trying to fix my life and make me happy and letting the wrong influences make me happy....I wasnt letting Jesus live THRU me to show me what real happiness is. Hearing God speak to you isnt always like people say, its not always a voice but when you allow Him to work and answer you in His time, you KNOW its Him speaking to you! Ive never heard a voice and often wondered about that myself....but in a time of desperate need there He was...answering ME! I dont like saying "I dont know how to explain it", because youre questioning all of it, but it is there on His time, not yours. I do believe you need patience, questioning isnt giving God any patience at all. (Im terrible with patience) There is no "fine line" between making yourself happy and truly happy, true happiness comes when you are willing to surrender and really let God take over everything in your life, constantly praising Him and lifting Him up. God IS with me thru this, its true and no matter how much you try to see your life as happy....its sad when you know in your heart where youll end up if you turn away from Him. I know in my heart, for a fact youre not the only one questioning things, and Im not sure where it is in the Bible but there is scripture about questioning it when your faith is low. Then it goes on to say "if you have even the faith of the size of a mustard seed you have enough". How true it is. I will keep you in my prayers that your faith be regained in a multitude of size and that you see the whole "questioning God" ends soon and you have returned, it only takes one step to return! God is with you, you just cant feel or see Him if youre trying to fix everything on your own!!! God Bless YOU!