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Hi, everyone! My name is Michelle, and I am 26 years old. I am married to a wonderful man, and I have 2 overweight cats haha. I don't really know what else to say about myself, haha, but I'd be glad to answer any questions. Now to get started: I am new to this site and so eager to be here to have fellowship with you all! I am having a rough time right now. Something I am ashamed of as it’s a terrible trial for me. I keep saying it’s a trail. I am fairly new in Christ. I have been a believer since I was little, but didn’t truly come to Christ until this year. I was a sinful believer, as sad as that sounds. I really only prayed to God when I needed something or was super scared. I had a strong urge inside myself to start going to church and to thank God for all my blessings – you know before something bad happened (which I know is not how God works haha, but that was my mind last year). I did not thank God as I was putting it off and putting it off, although it was a simple prayer away. I also never started going to church. My life was just getting more and more sinful as I gave into some temptations. That’s when it hit – on the night of March 15, I fell into a great despair and depression. I became very clinging to my husband, poor him. I didn’t know what could help, not even my husband could help me, and I knew in my spirit I had to turn to God. I started attending church, praying, and spending at least an hour a day with God in devotion. I was still very selfish in all this as I was only focused on getting better and not truly on my relationship with God. It eventually grew that wanting a relationship and I finally felt my time was not wasted. Soon, my eagerness of my devotional time dwindled and it started feeling like a chore. I started doing it less and less as I was feeling better and better. God freed me from my depression, the worst time of my life, and this is how I thank Him. So saddening. I started skipping church some and now I haven’t gone to church in over a month. I felt like I could not open up to anyone there, although they were extremely nice and welcoming people. Anyway, when I first had my depression, I started experiencing conflicting thoughts about God, bad things. Things I disagreed with but they kept popping up in my thoughts. I prayed for God to soften my heart to give me more faith. God helped me so much, and I rarely ever experienced conflicting thoughts. I really struggled with it thinking “Oh, how can God still love me when I think these terrible things about Him! Things I don’t think are true!” “These thoughts are unforgivable!” One day, I woke up and had this random thought, that I know to be from the Holy Spirit, I thought “God loves me. God forgives me.” It truly felt it! I was so thankful and thanked and praised God, but I didn’t start going to church more or anything. I was very selfish and still focused on myself and my happiness in this world. However, now, it’s bad and worse! I am miserable! I keep thinking that I am a wretch! A fool! Like God describes people like me in the bible. I pray for this to go away and I calm victory over this trail. I, now, struggle with if God would forgive me again, especially now that it’s worse, in my opinion. I just would love to hear any experiences that are similar to mine because when I hear struggles I hear people talk about struggles with the world and not with God. It’s very hurtful, saddening, and I truly am miserable! I know to cling to God! I am back to being a dedicated Christian! I love God and desperately want to have an amazing relationship with God!! I don't really know what to expect as far as feedback, but I am just happy to have you all to share it with!!! I am just truly happy to share this as it is a lot to keep it inside myself! Thank you, everyone! Thank you for reading! I hope God blesses your day! <3 Thank you again! Michelle *Sorry for the bad grammar, just typing away haha.

Blessings Brothers & Sisters,,,,,, I heard a "delicious" sermon this morning & I thought I would share this with all of you,,,,,,a tasty snack of Peace,Joy & Wisdom If anyone has ever heard David Jeremiah then just imagine his gentle,peaceful & gracious tone with this encouraging message.So many times we hear about the "evidence" of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit & yet more often we hear verses of Scripoture being taken out of context ,leaving the "hearer" wondering if they are truly Saved We are Saved by the Grace of God,we are "Born Again" into His Righteousness by our Faith It is because of what HE has done,Jesus Finished Work on the Cross,,,,,so where is the 'evidence"?Is it "speaking in tongues"?Is it our works? Is it the Gifts of the Spirit? The Fruits?How do we know we are "Born Again"? Many people will tell you a date they were Saved,without a shadow of doubt they will say"On such & such date I was Born Again" and some (like myself) cannot remember the date but of course I know there was a day I asked Jesus to come into my heart & Save me,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,that is all we need to know,there was a time that Jesus came to live in us,we were indwelled with His Holy Spirit.There are folks that remember the date very well & on that date they cast away their drugs,alcohol,cigarettes & everything else that they were bound by & they simply will never forget.That is not usually how it works & so, many New Believers question the day they came to the Foot of the Cross,,,,,,"Am I Born Again?" David Jeremiah said there are 5 birthmarks of Salvation,how you know that you are Saved or you know that someone else has Jesus Living in them.The first is easy,it is the birthmark of CONFESSION,,,,,You BELIEVE that Jesus is the Son of God,the Savior of the world You BELIEVE & have asked His forgiveness of your sins,,,,,that is the Confession of FAITH It is a decision,"Lord Jesus,be my Savior (see also John 3:16,1 John 4:1-3 and John 3:36) It is nothing that "I" did,it is because "He" did it ALL The second is the birthmark of CHANGE As I mentioned earlier,some folks experience an immediate transformation,they threw their cigarettes away,stopped swearing,no more drugs,,,,,,,but it does not always happen instantaneously & that is okay because a change does take place that day,Jesus came to live inside of you and it happens from the inside out,we become a New Creature,,,the Holy Spirit is within us The 3rd is the birthmark of COMPASSION Being Born of God is having Gods DNA,the old sinful nature has passed away(the old man) & it is who you love,you love God,love one another,,,,,,you are now Gods Family & you want to be with other Christians,children of God And isn't it True,when we meet a Brother or Sister in Christ there is an instant Bond,we know we are Family such a Joy,Praise Jesus! The 4th is the birthmark of CONFLICT,,,,,, You've heard many times that we are in the world but not "of" the world,being Born Again we take on the foes of the world but as overcomers,Victors Everything that is not of God conflicts with our New Nature,the UnBelievers can see that we are different,we know it too Finally,we have the 5th,,,,this is the birthmark of CONDUCT,,,, Does this mean we will never again sin? No it does not ,what it does mean is that we can no longer live in willful rebellion,,,,,if anyone does continually sin & violate Gods Laws with the attitude of "Well I live in Grace & am not under the Law so I will do what I want" they are deceiving themselves & are not Saved Gods children live in Gods Grace & are Forgiven ,you don't reach a "sin limit" or have a quota-lol It does not mean you will never again sin,trip & fall,,,,it simply means that you will be convicted and will not KEEP sinning God Seed in you,the Holy Spirit will not allow sin You will not want to sin because you love God I'm sure I did not say exactly what Dr Jeremiah said but I'm am sure you all got the jist of it,I could not remember all the lovely Scriptures he referred to ,I should have written them all down-lol What I liked about the 5 birthmarks is that all the Scriptures do say "Born of God",,,,,,,I only hope to encourage someone who has any doubts about being Saved,,,,,,,there is nothing that "we do",nothing that we "do not do",,,,,,we are TRANSFORMED into into New Creatures in Christ Jesus ,a continual work in progress as we walk with jesus....know that you know what you know,you are His,bought & paid for "in Full",,,,,,,,His Grace never expires,His Love is Unconditional and He Forgave you,past,present & future,,,,,,a change took place the very moment you said"Please forgive me Jesus,I need you to be my Lord & Savior" now just Let go & let God All Glory ,Praise & Honor to our Precious Lord Almighty,JESUS! With love-in Christ,Kwik

Read this today and thought it was a good perspective. What are you thoughts? A. How do you avoid becoming angry when you and your spouse disagree? B. What are some practical things that have helped your marriage regarding finanical discussions? God bless, GE