THE BIBLE SAYS.....
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:16 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the
Lord shall be saved.
Romans 10:13
When Jesus was alive and walked on the earth, he spoke these words: Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest in your souls.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Matthew 11: 28-30
If you would like to be saved...pray the following simple prayer:
Jesus...I ask that you come into my heart...
I believe all the scriptures that I have just read and believe that
you are the son of God and died on the cross for my sake...
forgive me of my many sins...cleanse me and allow me to be born again...
fill me with your Holy Spirit...I want to turn away from my old life
and follow your example as set forth in the Bible...I will love you
with all my heart, soul, and mind...these things I ask in your name...
AMEN!
If you prayed that prayer and meant it...you are saved by the grace of God!
You have come face to face with Jesus Christ!
I'M SAVED! NOW WHAT?
What can I add that will bring you further comfort? Those verses say it all...trust in God to see you through difficult times! The biggest problem you will encounter as a new Christian is submitting your will to God and allowing him to work in your life.
To grow spiritually, as a newly converted Christian, you need to follow the steps below:
1) Make a commitment to read your Bible daily. Start with Matthew 22:37-40; Proverbs 3:13-19; Proverbs 22:1-2; John 8:12; 1 Peter 4:8; Hebrews 9:11-15 and continue to "let your fingers do the walking" throughout the Bible partaking of "spiritual food."
2) Pray daily for God's guidance in your life. See Matthew 6:9-15
3) Find a good church and fellowship with others who will serve as a sort of "support group" while you are gaining strength and maturing in the Lord. Read Hebrews 10:25
(The "old baggage" of your past life will haunt you for awhile but with commitment on your part, it will get easier and easier and time goes on. Old habits and thought patterns are hard to break! Subjecting yourself to new ideas, reading your Bible, praying to God, listening to sermons, and socializing with Christian friends on a consistent basis will help you to develop a new approach to life. Eventually, your new way of "thinking and acting" will become "second nature" to you in time.)
4) If old friends drag you down spiritually, you may have to choose between them and God by separating yourself from them for awhile. When you have gained enough strength to withstand their influence, you can return...to witness to them as to the advantages of becoming a Christian.
5) Be doer's of the word and not just hearers/readers of the word only. Read James 1:22
Be a witness for Christ so that your life might point others toward God.
Friday, August 15, 2008
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
A SOULFUL RELATIONSHIP
If you're not married yet, share this with a friend. Ask this of yourself, ask this of your mate.
If you are married, share it with your spouse or other married couples and reflect on it.
An African proverb states, 'Before you get married, keep both eyes open,
and after you marry, close one eye.'
Before you get involved and make a commitment to someone, don't let
lust, desperation, immaturity, ignorance, pressure from others or a low
self-esteem make you blind to warning signs.
Keep your eyes open, and don't fool yourself that you can change someone or that
what you see as faults is not really important.
Once you decide to commit to someone, over time their flaws,
vulnerabilities, pet peeves, and differences will become more obvious.
If you love your mate and want the relationship to grow and evolve,
you've got to learn to close one eye and not let every little thing
bother you. But know when it is not acceptable and/or wrong.
You and your mate have many different expectations,
emotional needs, values, dreams, weaknesses, and strengths.
You are two unique individuals who have decided to share a life together.
Neither of you are perfect, but are you perfect for each other? Do you
bring out the best of each other? Do you compliment and compromise with
each other, or do you compete, compare, and control? What do you bring
to the relationship? Do you bring past relationships, past hurt, past
mistrust, past pain?
You can't take someone to the altar to alter him or her.
You can't make someone love you or make someone stay.
If you develop self-esteem, spiritual discernment, and 'a life', you won't find yourself making someone else responsible for your happiness or responsible for your pain.
Manipulation, control, jealousy, deceitfulness, neediness, and
selfishness are not the ingredients of a thriving, healthy, loving and
lasting relationship.
Seeking status, sex, wealth, and security are the wrong reasons to be in
a relationship.
Q.What keeps a relationship strong?
Answer: Communication, intimacy (not sex), trust, consideration, a sense of humor,
sharing household tasks, some getaway time without business or children
and daily exchanges (a meal, a shared activity, a hug, a call, a touch,
a note), sharing common goals and interests.
Leave a nice message on their voice mail or send a nice email for no reason except
because you love them and are thinking of them.
Growth is important.
Grow together, not away from each other, giving
each other space to grow without feeling insecure.
Insecurity and selfishness are not a win win in relationships.
Allow your mate to have outside interest. You can't always be together.
Give each other a sense of belonging and assurances of commitment.
Don't try to control one another. Learn each other's family situation.
Respect his or her parents regardless. Don't put pressure on each other for material goods.
Remember for richer or for poorer.
If these qualities are missing, the relationship will erode as resentment, withdrawal, abuse, neglect,
dishonesty, and pain will replace the passion.
"Nurture your mind with great thoughts, for you will never go any higher than you think.
The grass withers, the flowers fades, but the word of God stands forever.
Isaiah 40:8.
Shall we make a new rule of life from tonight?
You should always try to be a little more kind to each other than
necessary.
The difference between 'United' and 'Untied' is where you put
the 'I'.
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by
the moments that take our breath away.
If you are married, share it with your spouse or other married couples and reflect on it.
An African proverb states, 'Before you get married, keep both eyes open,
and after you marry, close one eye.'
Before you get involved and make a commitment to someone, don't let
lust, desperation, immaturity, ignorance, pressure from others or a low
self-esteem make you blind to warning signs.
Keep your eyes open, and don't fool yourself that you can change someone or that
what you see as faults is not really important.
Once you decide to commit to someone, over time their flaws,
vulnerabilities, pet peeves, and differences will become more obvious.
If you love your mate and want the relationship to grow and evolve,
you've got to learn to close one eye and not let every little thing
bother you. But know when it is not acceptable and/or wrong.
You and your mate have many different expectations,
emotional needs, values, dreams, weaknesses, and strengths.
You are two unique individuals who have decided to share a life together.
Neither of you are perfect, but are you perfect for each other? Do you
bring out the best of each other? Do you compliment and compromise with
each other, or do you compete, compare, and control? What do you bring
to the relationship? Do you bring past relationships, past hurt, past
mistrust, past pain?
You can't take someone to the altar to alter him or her.
You can't make someone love you or make someone stay.
If you develop self-esteem, spiritual discernment, and 'a life', you won't find yourself making someone else responsible for your happiness or responsible for your pain.
Manipulation, control, jealousy, deceitfulness, neediness, and
selfishness are not the ingredients of a thriving, healthy, loving and
lasting relationship.
Seeking status, sex, wealth, and security are the wrong reasons to be in
a relationship.
Q.What keeps a relationship strong?
Answer: Communication, intimacy (not sex), trust, consideration, a sense of humor,
sharing household tasks, some getaway time without business or children
and daily exchanges (a meal, a shared activity, a hug, a call, a touch,
a note), sharing common goals and interests.
Leave a nice message on their voice mail or send a nice email for no reason except
because you love them and are thinking of them.
Growth is important.
Grow together, not away from each other, giving
each other space to grow without feeling insecure.
Insecurity and selfishness are not a win win in relationships.
Allow your mate to have outside interest. You can't always be together.
Give each other a sense of belonging and assurances of commitment.
Don't try to control one another. Learn each other's family situation.
Respect his or her parents regardless. Don't put pressure on each other for material goods.
Remember for richer or for poorer.
If these qualities are missing, the relationship will erode as resentment, withdrawal, abuse, neglect,
dishonesty, and pain will replace the passion.
"Nurture your mind with great thoughts, for you will never go any higher than you think.
The grass withers, the flowers fades, but the word of God stands forever.
Isaiah 40:8.
Shall we make a new rule of life from tonight?
You should always try to be a little more kind to each other than
necessary.
The difference between 'United' and 'Untied' is where you put
the 'I'.
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by
the moments that take our breath away.
ARE YOU READY TO LOVE AGAIN?
Our love lives can be a series of ups and downs, a romantic roller coaster of anticipated thrills and unexpected drops, some leaving our little hearts squashed all over the pavement below. After any particularly turbulent and emotional ride, as we attempt to quickly distance ourselves from the machinery of so much pain and uncertainty, many can be heard to swear off of romance altogether.
Time heals all wounds
We all need time to recover from any unsuccessful romantic relationship. Acknowledging our feelings, understanding our behavior and accepting the unhappy outcome are all necessary steps for letting go and moving on. The pace at which we move through these steps is unique to each of us.
While one week may be enough time for some people and in some situations, one year may prove too short for others. And there is no one time of absolute readiness, as there is no guarantee that memories of past loves won't occasionally seat themselves behind us. While it is in our nature to persevere, in spite of our fears about the ensuing ride, when reentering the dating world, timing is everything.
Signs you aren't ready:
If you aren't sure you're ready to date again, you aren't alone. It's often harder to pin down an exact point of readiness than it is to observe a lack of readiness.
You probably aren't ready to date again if:
You have maintained any sexual relationship with your ex.
You still live with your ex, even platonically.
You are still wearing a ring, carrying a photo, or defining yourself as part of a couple.
You are stalking, following, harassing or frequently thinking about your ex.
You continue to harbor overwhelming negative feelings about your ex.
You continue to cry or be angry about the circumstances of your last relationship.
What are your motivations?
To assess your romantic readiness, consider your motives for wanting to date again. A love affair is not a panacea for all that ails you. Before you can find, form and maintain a happy and healthy relationship, you must first heal yourself. If you feel poisoned and victimized by circumstances and life choices, you must learn to make changes and live better.
These generally aren't the right reasons to date:
Everyone else at work is married and you want to fit in.
A wife/husband would greatly improve your financial situation.
You're unhappy with your life, feel empty, and want someone to fill you up.
Finally, your emotional stamina may come into question when getting back into the dating game, since even casual dating can come with its ups and downs. Before you venture out among other eligible and interested singles, you may want to prepare yourself for the romantic realities awaiting you.
Seize the day
You're probably ready to date if you feel capable of facing any of the following:
Being rejected when asking for a dance, phone number or date.
Answering questions about your last relationship.
Navigating misunderstandings and disagreements.
Working through the various issues that are bound to come up.
Rejecting someone honestly and kindly.
Identifying, accepting and admitting strong feelings for someone new.
Allowing yourself to be open and vulnerable, and to one day love and be loved.
Whether you decide you're ready to date again or not, go at your own pace. The roller coasters continue to run and there a plenty of us waiting to board. Be patient; someone is saving a seat for you right now.
Time heals all wounds
We all need time to recover from any unsuccessful romantic relationship. Acknowledging our feelings, understanding our behavior and accepting the unhappy outcome are all necessary steps for letting go and moving on. The pace at which we move through these steps is unique to each of us.
While one week may be enough time for some people and in some situations, one year may prove too short for others. And there is no one time of absolute readiness, as there is no guarantee that memories of past loves won't occasionally seat themselves behind us. While it is in our nature to persevere, in spite of our fears about the ensuing ride, when reentering the dating world, timing is everything.
Signs you aren't ready:
If you aren't sure you're ready to date again, you aren't alone. It's often harder to pin down an exact point of readiness than it is to observe a lack of readiness.
You probably aren't ready to date again if:
You have maintained any sexual relationship with your ex.
You still live with your ex, even platonically.
You are still wearing a ring, carrying a photo, or defining yourself as part of a couple.
You are stalking, following, harassing or frequently thinking about your ex.
You continue to harbor overwhelming negative feelings about your ex.
You continue to cry or be angry about the circumstances of your last relationship.
What are your motivations?
To assess your romantic readiness, consider your motives for wanting to date again. A love affair is not a panacea for all that ails you. Before you can find, form and maintain a happy and healthy relationship, you must first heal yourself. If you feel poisoned and victimized by circumstances and life choices, you must learn to make changes and live better.
These generally aren't the right reasons to date:
Everyone else at work is married and you want to fit in.
A wife/husband would greatly improve your financial situation.
You're unhappy with your life, feel empty, and want someone to fill you up.
Finally, your emotional stamina may come into question when getting back into the dating game, since even casual dating can come with its ups and downs. Before you venture out among other eligible and interested singles, you may want to prepare yourself for the romantic realities awaiting you.
Seize the day
You're probably ready to date if you feel capable of facing any of the following:
Being rejected when asking for a dance, phone number or date.
Answering questions about your last relationship.
Navigating misunderstandings and disagreements.
Working through the various issues that are bound to come up.
Rejecting someone honestly and kindly.
Identifying, accepting and admitting strong feelings for someone new.
Allowing yourself to be open and vulnerable, and to one day love and be loved.
Whether you decide you're ready to date again or not, go at your own pace. The roller coasters continue to run and there a plenty of us waiting to board. Be patient; someone is saving a seat for you right now.
Monday, August 4, 2008
DEAR GRAND-DAUGHTERS
I have become a little older since I saw you last, and a few changes have come into my life since then. Frankly, I have become a frivolous old gal. I am seeing five gentlemen everyday. As soon as I wake up, WILL POWER helps me get out of bed. Then I go to see JOHN. Then CHARLIE HORSE comes along, and when he is here he takes a lot of my time and attention. When he leaves, ARTHUR RITIS shows up and stays the rest of the day. He doesn't like to stay in one place very long, so he takes me from joint to joint. After such a busy day, I'm really tired and glad to go to bed with BEN GAY. What a life. Oh yes, I'm also flirting with AL ZYMER.
Love, GRANDMA PAT
P.S. The preacher came to call the other day. He said at my age I should be thinking of the hereafter. I told him, "Oh I do it all the time. No matter where I am, in the living room, upstairs, in the kitchen, or in the garage, I ask myself, "Now, what am I here after?"
A little old lady humor..........
A Womans Prayer:
Now I lay me Down to sleep. I pray the Lord My shape to keep.
Please no wrinkles Please no bags
And please lift my butt Before it sags.
Please no age spots
Please no gray
And as for my belly, Please take it away.
Please keep me healthy
Please keep me young,
And thank you Dear Lord For all that you've done.
Five tips for a woman....
1. It is important that a man helps you around the house and has a job.
2. It is important that a man makes you laugh.
3. It is important to find a man you can count on and doesn't lie to you.
4. It is important that a man loves you and spoils you.
5. It is important that these four men don't know each other. LOL
Foot Note: One saggy boob said to the other saggy boob: "If we don't get some support soon, People will think we're nuts."
Now I lay me Down to sleep. I pray the Lord My shape to keep.
Please no wrinkles Please no bags
And please lift my butt Before it sags.
Please no age spots
Please no gray
And as for my belly, Please take it away.
Please keep me healthy
Please keep me young,
And thank you Dear Lord For all that you've done.
Five tips for a woman....
1. It is important that a man helps you around the house and has a job.
2. It is important that a man makes you laugh.
3. It is important to find a man you can count on and doesn't lie to you.
4. It is important that a man loves you and spoils you.
5. It is important that these four men don't know each other. LOL
Foot Note: One saggy boob said to the other saggy boob: "If we don't get some support soon, People will think we're nuts."
WHY LOOK TO THE WEB FOR LOVE
Why look to the web for love? Can the web be trusted to deliver that Mr. or Mrs. Right, who has eluded your life so far? Well, for a lot of people who have found Mr. Right on the web, the answer is a resounding yes! Others, however, are far more skeptical. So we examined the pros and cons of online dating and came up with the following:ProsNo InsecurityFor many people, the thought of going out to meet someone in real life is simply daunting. For some people, even if they met somebody they liked the look of, the thought of actually going up to talk to them is simply too much. What would he/she say? How would the other person react? For a lot of people, the web is simply a godsend. They can simply log on to a chat room or personals site, and be themselves. You are not meeting someone face to face, there really even does not have to be any verbal communication. It is all done with text through a computer, or through the online personals.Get to know a personThrough the Web, you have a great chance to get to know a person for who he/she really is before the physical aspect is even in question. With online relationships, there has to be communication. This interchange of ideas allows people to really get to know each other.Not limited by timeOn the web, you can log on at any time and find someone to chat with. For people who are extremely busy and don't have time for bar surfing or socializing, it is much more convenient to be able to log on when he/she had only 30 minutes or so to spare.Not limited geographicallyIt is a big world and there are a lot of people searching for love. In looking for love online, you are not just limited to friends of the girl next door or your workplace.ConsNot limited geographicallyOne of the biggest pros of online dating also happens to be one of the biggest cons. Geography! With the web, it is very possible that you will meet and fall for someone who lives an incredible distance away from you. The chances of this happening can be reduced if you look for love in the personals, rather than chat rooms.Are they an "Axe Murderer"?How do you know the person is being real on the other end of the computer? We all hear stories about people who went out and met an Internet lover who turned out to be an "Axe Murderer". The simple fact is that you can meet some nasty people out there, so be careful. However, if you take your time and talk to someone for long enough, it is very difficult to totally fake your feelings. Also, whose to say the person you met at the party was to be trusted?So, why look to the Web for love? Because it allows you the freedom to find someone on your own terms. You don't have to be fake to impress someone. The more honest you are, the better your chances of finding someone who loves you for you. As always, there are risks, so be careful.
HOW TO BE HAPPY
Happiness is something each of us has to define and seek out for ourselves. Steps:
1.Figure out what is important to you in life. For example: Do you value a certain kind of job, material things, a relationship, time alone, time with others, time to relax, time to be creative, time to read, time to listen to music, time to have fun? These are just a few of the possibilities. 2.Think about times when you have felt happy, good or content. Where were you? Who were you with? What were you doing, thinking or feeling that made you feel happy?
3.Decide to make more time in your life to do more of what is important to you and makes you feel happier. To be happy, you have to make happiness a priority in your life.
4.Start with little things and work up to bigger ones. Little things might be reading for 15 minutes; taking a walk; calling a friend; or buying great-smelling soap, shampoo, candles or tea that you will enjoy every time you use it.
5.Focus on what is positive about yourself, others and life in general instead of dwelling on the negative. In a journal, write down as many positive things as you can think of. Keep it handy to read over, and continue adding to it.
6.Appreciate what is working in your life right now. In the major areas of your life, such as your health, job, love life, friends, family, money and living situation, what is going well?
Tips:Ask other people, "What makes you happy?" or "What is something that makes you feel good?" It's OK to ask for professional help. Talk to someone like a psychotherapist, career counselor, or spiritual advisor (minister or teacher) to help you sort out what would make you happy. Read books on the subject of happiness. Wise people have been writing about it for hundreds of years. In the bookstore, look under psychology, spirituality or philosophy
1.Figure out what is important to you in life. For example: Do you value a certain kind of job, material things, a relationship, time alone, time with others, time to relax, time to be creative, time to read, time to listen to music, time to have fun? These are just a few of the possibilities. 2.Think about times when you have felt happy, good or content. Where were you? Who were you with? What were you doing, thinking or feeling that made you feel happy?
3.Decide to make more time in your life to do more of what is important to you and makes you feel happier. To be happy, you have to make happiness a priority in your life.
4.Start with little things and work up to bigger ones. Little things might be reading for 15 minutes; taking a walk; calling a friend; or buying great-smelling soap, shampoo, candles or tea that you will enjoy every time you use it.
5.Focus on what is positive about yourself, others and life in general instead of dwelling on the negative. In a journal, write down as many positive things as you can think of. Keep it handy to read over, and continue adding to it.
6.Appreciate what is working in your life right now. In the major areas of your life, such as your health, job, love life, friends, family, money and living situation, what is going well?
Tips:Ask other people, "What makes you happy?" or "What is something that makes you feel good?" It's OK to ask for professional help. Talk to someone like a psychotherapist, career counselor, or spiritual advisor (minister or teacher) to help you sort out what would make you happy. Read books on the subject of happiness. Wise people have been writing about it for hundreds of years. In the bookstore, look under psychology, spirituality or philosophy
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)