Are we grateful? If so, why?

[Kristin]

5 hours ago, Repose said:

Christ coming into my life. If such wasn't the case, I'm pretty sure I'd either be in prison or dead. Maybe/probably both. Speaking of death, I'm grateful to be alive; I've made enough mistakes to where I'm glad to have a chance to even just try to make up for them, somehow or another. Happy my life isn't worse, happy to be given a chance to grow and learn... Thankful in general, really.

As for your mom, I guess I don't know the situation. What I will say though is that there is never a perfect parent (except God, of course), much less a perfect person. Must a grudge last forever? Life is too short for such a thing. I can't really give much detail-oriented advise though, beyond that.

Another piece of advice I might offer is that of honest self-evaluation. I once had a coworker call me lazy, who I perceived as rather lazy himself. I have to be honest, I was livid. I wanted to tackle him to the ground and spit the most phlegmy loogie in his face as I could. Pelt him with punches and call him trash. I was shaking and pacing, trying to hold myself back. Even when I got home, it still made my teeth itch. As I laid in my bed though, I wondered, why should he call me lazy? I would take a step back from certain things, and admittedly, I'm not a very quick worker. I also wondered why I should care what he thinks. He was hardly an exemplary person from which I could be offended. If I was a boxer and Mike Tyson said I was a limp-armed princess, my reaction would at least make sense. This was like an old woman saying such a thing, instead. So, regardless of what he thought, I decided to just try and work harder. Try not to step back, put a bit more pep in my step.

He never changed his mind and continued to try and antagonize me. However, the work became easier and even somewhat fun. His opinion meant little.

You’re funny. I want to spit on people sometimes! Ha!  Just funny. 

[missmuffet]

2 hours ago, Kristin said:

You’re funny. I want to spit on people sometimes! Ha!  Just funny. 

Really? Camels spit 

[johnthebaptist]

18 hours ago, Kristin said:

What are our blessings?  Are we grateful?  I’m grateful for my family. I don’t like my mother tho. 

Remember that we are to honor our parents. That doesn't mean you have to like them, I don't think,  but you should be careful what you say about them.

[Neighbor]

20 hours ago, Kristin said:

I’m bringing this up because I have serious problems with my mother. I am not young. I had a dream of my mother floating down the river of fire and I didn’t care!  I need help. 

Yep! And guess what? Help is here- Luke 6:27-29 English Standard Version (ESV)  

Love Your Enemies

 “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either.

 

And here- Matthew 5 

Love Your Enemies

⁴³ “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,  so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?  And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?  You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

 

 

And especially here -For Jesus loved you while there was no merit within you at all.

Romans 5 English Standard Version (ESV)

Peace with God Through Faith

5 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,  and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,  and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.  For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—  but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Death in Adam, Life in Christ

 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—  for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.

 But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many.  And the free gift is not like the result of that one man's sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.

 Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men.  For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous.  Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more,  so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

-------

 

Do not waste your time hating your mother. There is no profit in it for you, only defeat for you and victory  for the evil ones the little anti-Christs that work so hard at building up situations that cause such angst. Defeat them now by loving your mother no matter how unlovely she may be in your "sight". Love her!

For your love of your creator who died for you that you may have eternal life with Him, love your mother. If it had not been for Jesus will you would not have been born at all  to your mother or anyone. Give Him credit, He knows what He does. All things do work out to the good for those that believe on Him as Lord God and savior. Trust His word, trust his instruction, work hard in prayer and in deeds to love your mother, no matter what the little anti-Christs try to plant into your head as justification for not doing so. Love her!

 

[JoniSteele]

Things I'm grateful for:

I woke up this morning.

I had Good in the refrigerator.

I had clothes in my closet

I had a roof over my head.

Jesus saved me.

Praise the Lord!

[createdequal]

On ‎9‎/‎15‎/‎2019 at 12:22 PM, Kristin said:

I’m bringing this up because I have serious problems with my mother. I am not young. I had a dream of my mother floating down the river of fire and I didn’t care!  I need help. 

no, it sounds like your mother needs help. No child should feel that way about a parent.

One should not feel the need to apologize for feelings, which cnnot be helped. As long as you don't act on your feelings.. what is there to be ashamed of? Victims of child abuse are taught to blame themselves..

[createdequal]

I am grateful I was, for the most part, "raised right" albeit not without serious parent issues

I was taken to Church every Sunday, along with my many siblings

I was baptized Catholic

I am thankful for the Catholic Church, despite the fact there are many fake Catholics and etc.....

despite being persecuted for being Catholic (some long stories there...)

I am thankful I persevered in reading the whole Bible.. (wasn't all that interested in reading some books of the Old T, but when I forced myself to do so, it was pretty interesting..)

[Sower]

On 9/17/2019 at 7:06 PM, JoniSteele said:

Things I'm grateful for:

I woke up this morning.

I had Good in the refrigerator.

I had clothes in my closet

I had a roof over my head.

Jesus saved me.

Praise the Lord!

      Joni..         It's the little things
Psalms 7;  17;   I will give thanks to the LORD because of his righteousness;

I will sing the praises of the name of the LORD Most High.

You can give it to God, and ask Him to give you the courage to let go.
Move on. And tell your mom how you love her now, in Christ, as a new creature (you are, you know)
   
"We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us"  Philippians 4; 13
When you feel you can do this, and talk to her, in the spirit of God's love, you have won, Kristin.
She won't always be around you know,  and time for closure is limited....

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Kristin]

On 9/15/2019 at 10:48 PM, missmuffet said:

Really? Camels spit 

Well I get why. I wouldn’t actually do it tho. It’s wrong of course.