Just when I think I want to give up

Yesterday was a rough day for me. I commented on a friend's post and it wasn't well-received. Not to say it was criticized or that I was accused of not knowing what I was talking about. It's just that I went in a different direction than she was asking for, and no one commenting on it understood why I said what I said. Well, I don't know, one person didn't comment on what I had said, so they might have, but considering that person was on the same page as my friend, I don't think she did. Anyway, so I was a bit discouraged by that. Later in the day, after trying to scrounge up $1.10 to get me to and from my probation meeting next week, (still need 80 cents), I posted about how if I don't get a job soon, I am going to just go door to door to all the restaurants I can find and cry until someone hires me. I got some great supportive comments from friends, but then my brother started in on how I should lie to get a job, I should know how to work the system. I don't know if he is irritated by all my postings about not having a job or if I was just the target of his drunken tweets, but it just hurt me even more. I have come to depend on my friends and family for the emotional support I need to get through this difficult time. I had posted in the Bible study earlier that morning, and I know that every time I am writing them or posting, I get attacked emotionally through things like that. But it makes me question if I am doing all that I should, or if I am doing something wrong or posting something erroneous.

Last night, God brought one of my favorite ministry tools to me - the monthly newsletter from the Berean Call. I have found them at times to be strict, but I don't recall a single time when I found them to be Biblically incorrect. The February edition came in the mail yesterday. The cover story is on apostasy and how the occult has invaded the church so very slowly that most Christians are unable or unwilling to call it what it is. This just supported my stand on the first comment I made. Then I went back and read last month's issue, which focused on how we have been deluded to focus on "healing the earth" and the ecumenism that so often seduces us. It is hard for us to remember that the things that bind us to our unbelieving neighbors around the world is that we are human. We may share the same emotions and sinful nature, but that is where the similarities end. Why? Because we are a chosen race, called by God to separate ourselves from this world. If you yoke yourself to a dead ox (spiritually dead persons), then that ox is going to drag you down, and eventually turn your neck to where all you are focusing on is the dead ox and its properties. You are more likely to give up on what you originally started and go where the dead ox is. Like it or not, the church has become the frog that is slowly being boiled by the slow integration of ungodly at best, outright satanic at worst rituals, beliefs and principles into the body of Christ. Still I went to bed feeling just as heavy.

Then this morning I watched Joyce Meyer. She was talking about being obedient and how if we walk in obedience 2 things will happen. First, not everyone is going to "get" you. You will be met with opposition and possibly lose some of your moderate Christian friends. That definitely helped, but I also find it to hurt for more reasons than just losing friends. I am called to a women's ministry, and I want all my girls to be led into a deeper filled life with God. But again, some people don't understand what really is Good for them yet. That will take time and God to do that. The second thing she said would happen when leading a life of obedience is that you will gain favor in all areas of your life. God Himself knows I need favor for a job, because there are too many qualified individuals without criminal records looking for work these days. But He will also supply my needs as I need them. She also reminded me that if I am living a life of obedience to God, I will not be able to do some things that others can do. "Others May, You Cannot." I will have to find that and put it in a note on my FB page.

The last thing that has lifted me and confirmed that what I have been doing is the correct thing was todays Bible verse on the ADF  Facebook page. Titus 2:11-15 ~ "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds. These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one disregard you."


God always gives us what we need, when we need it.

Advice for my children

I have somewhere around 35 kids... give or take. I have given birth to 3. The rest have either adopted me or I have adopted them or somehow we just got flung together. Some of these kids are barely 10 years younger than me, and they come from all races, it seems. But one thing is for certain - I love them all dearly and worry, fret, pray for, and counsel them as if I had birthed them. I am privileged that most of them are my friends as well as my children. I love them as if they came from my bloodline.

Recently I have noticed that there is more and more going on with my kids... breakups, friendships on the rocks, family problems, work, etc. I sometimes feel caught between them, trying to advise both parties, being a sounding board, and praying that the situations will be resolved. I don't  mind terribly much, because I love them. But I do have some choice nuggets of wisdom for them, if they will just read and take them to heart...

1. Sometimes, our differences are right out there for everyone to see. God made us all different. We look different, feel different, have different opinions about things. And that's OK. Actually it's better than OK. It's what makes life interesting and an adventure. We have to learn to accept the differences in ourselves and others. But that doesn't mean we have to be friends with everyone that comes along. Some people are just not going to fit in our lives, and we won't fit into others' lives.

2. Sometimes, people hurt our feelings. And sometimes they mean to. But more often, they don't. They say things not realizing how deeply the words will hurt. They say things thinking that we will forgive them. They say things that hurt us and they go about their lives. Sometimes they say things to others, and often it is because they don't know how to talk to us. Why? Often times because we are inaccessible, or they were hurt and are afraid they will be hurt more if they talk to us.

3. There are going to be things that hurt us that we will never hear "I'm sorry" for. Some people don't know how to say those words. And sometimes they don't realized we are hurt by those things or words.

4. Forgiveness is for the sake of the person who was hurt, not the sake of the person who did the offending. Who is hurt by your refusal to forgive? It's not the person who upset you, said things behind your back, took something you thought was yours.

Thus ends my words of wisdom for now.