lola21st

I had a feeling that was coming... Let me on it and see what come up...

Mia - I think that's a great idea!

I want to improve in two areas so that I can more effectively serve the Lord both in the short and long term: - I want to have regular God time in the mornings which will mean I have to wake up earlier so there's a certain amount of sacrifice that I'm going to have to 'woman' up and accept as I treasure my sleep time...this will be my version of a sacrifice of praise... - I really need to start respecting my body as the Holy temple that it is. This is more than about me needing to lose # pounds - it's more about eating whole foods, reducing the processed/junk foods in my diet and becoming more active so that I'm more energized, and overall more healthy so that I can live a long life (if the Lord is in agreement) to enjoy my current and future family and continue be in service to Him. He's told me that I'll live to be at least twice my current age so I'd like to be a strong and healthy 50 something...

I was ready to go to service but then one of my sons asked me not to go because it's been our tradition to stay at home and have our own party - games, movies, Dick Clark, and sparkling cider/champagne. Mommy guilt set in so I decided to stay home. I would've brought them but then that would have meant that my mother would have been left alone... Also, the service that I was going to attend was through a ministry that engages in aggressive prayer and spiritual warfare - I think this particular service would've been too intense for the boys who haven't been exposed to that type of worship (yet). So I've committed that next year we (the boys and I) will be going to the watchnight service at my (old/new/hopefully reunited) church.

Praise God!

I agree with Cholette, we have to remember Whose we are and what we've inherited. I know of a deliverance minister who gave away an asset of his because he believed someone had cursed it....seriously????

Amen, thanks for sharing this, Cholette! It's a great reminder of the spiritual warfare that we encounter at work that we sometimes overlook. When we remember who we're dealing with, we can stand in our spiritual authority, take back our place in the work setting and continue our spiritual and natural assignment in that space.

I'll stand with you in agreement!

I'm same as you SisterinChrist, my friend and I will either go to a watch night service or I'll stay home.....

Amen! Greater is He that is in you and your family than he that is in those clothes! Stand in your authority. I just left this scripture for another member but I think it applies here as well Psalm 27:1-2 - 1 The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?

Praise God for His goodness!

Hi Latoya! I've prayed for you, your husband, and your family. Did he move back into your home? What has happened since June?

I would plead the blood of Jesus over them and anoint them.

Merry Christmas, Delightful Soul!

Merry Christmas D! Have a blessed Christmas and all the best for 2011!

yes, those are reasons I'm no longer Catholic as well... I think I've not heard of Father Tom specifically, but for a quick minute I was involved with the Catholic Charismatic Renewal ministry before I found my current church. I would receive it as a prayer and nothing else.

I believe all that you have said as well because what you speak about is happening every day. We have to be careful because God warned us of false prophets/teaching. There is this one televangelist that a co-worker of mine was telling me about who was coming to a local area that she was going to see. My sister had just mentioned this person to me the night before. I had never heard of this person. I was like, hmm. But as my co-worker began to go into more detail about this person and the ministry, something just didn’t sit well with me. She said this person was sending letters asking for a certain amount of money and for her to do certain things with items sent to her. Well, she didn’t get the items. I didn’t say anything to either of them about it. I did a search on-line and the entire first page of the search was allegations brought up against the ministry. It is said that this person would have conferences and ask the people to fill out visitor/information cards. The cards are taken up before service and the spouse of this person would transmit the information to this person about the people through an earpiece this person was wearing. I didn’t say anything to my co-worker or my sister. My co-worker went to the conference and I asked her how it was. She told me it was powerful and she and the young lady who went with her were called out and given a word. I asked her to tell me everything that happened. Just as the search said, it happened. They were asked to fill out information cards and they were taken up before the service. One of the things asked is if there was sickness in the body and if they had a prayer request. Everything she and her friend put on the card, this person spoke. I sent her the information I found and let her decide for herself. I did the same with my sister. I didn’t bash the person or anything, but I did pray for this person AND the people who are following this person. Exactly. I've had the same experience with friends and relatives. And I realize that I didn't state this in my posts (sorry!) - I completely agree that we shouldn't criticize God's Anointed. I am witnessing this very dynamic right now within my own church which is divided right now because of a moral transgression that our pastor experienced over a year ago. My point simply is that not every one who holds the title is appointed by God and unfortunately there are a growing number of people who see ministry as a surefire get rich business and are fleecing the flock. In my post, I didn't identify any specific ministry and don't intend to but I will warn other Christians of the dynamic and urge them to stay close to the Word as they navigate through these waters. The root of my concern is that when we use this principle, we have to be careful to not suggest that as such, pastors and other spiritual leaders are more or less unchallengeable or untouchable. That notion opens the door to manipulation and control by the pastor/leader. If I appear sensitive to this, it's because I live in the region where Jim Jones' gained popularity and I know people who lost relatives in the Guyana tragedy of 1978 so have seen firsthand what can transpire when this principle is itself manipulated and taken to its extreme. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonestown) While I certainly agree that we should be reverent and respectful towards our spiritual leaders, we also have the right (if not requirement) to question unbiblical teachings and draw attention to it. By the way Delightful Soul and Virtuous, you've both raised some good points. I have my own thoughts as well on tithing and have chosen to stay out of that part of the discussion because my view has been stated and I have nothing to add that would add value to the discussion. As for the grace message, I completely agree with the following statement and am noodling over the rest of what you stated, DS - regardless of where I end up in my own belief, I appreciate the discussion because it has caused me to take some time to consider this idea more thoroughly. "Grace is there for mistakes and for mercy when we fail but when we have knowlege we are accountable to follow His word and not use grace as an excuse to sin."

DS - This is indeed an engaging topic that is resulting in some lively fellowship. Don't be afraid to state your belief and allow others to respond - this is how we all learn and grow in Christ. We can all disagree without being disagreeable... ...and if we approach that line, we all have each other (and Mia) to keep us in check and reign us back in....

I just don't like to see pastors or leaders defamed where ever it is. And once i had looked at the scriptures, i had to agree that your pastor may be right, although I was not there and was not able to know exactly what went on. I happen to believe that His anointed is just that, people who walk in the authority and power of God. But I also feel that leaders are accountable to God and that there is a greater responsibility on them. So if we judge them, we are guilty of touching His anointed......1 Ch 16:22 and Ps 105:15 both say also not to harm the prophets. IF this was referring to all of us, then why did God specify the prophets too. If anointed is everyone, then wouldn't prophets be anointed too? This IS TALKING ABOUT LEADERS. Since I'm the one who made the observation regarding televangelists, I'm taking an opportunity to respond. I don't agree that making legitimate observations of leaders who are engaged in practices that are not biblical is "defaming" them. But it may be that we should agree to disagree. What I will say about my statement is that it was NOT a blanket statement about ALL televangelists. If I gave you that impression, I apologize for being so brief as that wasn't my intent. We all know that there are tv pastors who are doing the work on God and are blessing the Kingdom in HUGE ways through the tv platform by reaching areas of the world that wouldn't otherwise hear the Gospel, by establishing missions and programs globally to help the poor, impoverished, and not yet saved. And of course, they're providing believers with opportunities to hear solid biblical teaching and be encouraged. However, not everyone on tv (or IRL) is doing this - It's this small group that I'm referring to in my statement - those who are preaching a false doctrine and are taking advantage of the flock in the process. My belief is that although someone has the title of pastor, apostle, or prophet it DOES NOT automatically mean that they are appointed of God nor are they His anointed. We are to know them by their fruit. In my post, I indicated that suggesting that people get into debt by using their charge card to donate a huge amount of money ($1,000 because the starting point) and suggesting that if they do this that God will bless them is not biblical because God does not like debt and buying blessings. The scriptural support for this can be found in Psalm 37:21, Proverbs 3:27-28, 2 Kings 4:1; Matthew 5:25-26; 7:22-24; 18:23-24 (and there are others) - if I'm wrong, please show me the scriptural references that would support doing this. The Bible also warns us in several places to be wary of false teaching - knowing it is occurring but not raising it as an issue because it would be criticizing the teachers is not wise nor responsible in my opinion. Christians must always be on guard against falsehoods that are presented as Biblical teaching. In the Old Testament, both Jeremiah and Ezekiel warned the Israelites of false prophets who were speaking things that were not given to them from the Lord: Jeremiah 14:14 Then the LORD said to me, “The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I have not sent them or appointed them or spoken to them. They are prophesying to you false visions, divinations, idolatries and the delusions of their own minds. Jeremiah 23:16 This is what the LORD Almighty says: “Do not listen to what the prophets are prophesying to you; they fill you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD. Lamentations 2:14 The visions of your prophets were false and worthless; they did not expose your sin to ward off your captivity. The prophecies they gave you were false and misleading. Ezekiel 13:9 My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and utter lying divinations. They will not belong to the council of my people or be listed in the records of Israel, nor will they enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Sovereign LORD. Ezekiel 22:28 Her prophets whitewash these deeds for them by false visions and lying divinations. They say, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says’—when the LORD has not spoken. In the New Testament, Paul, Peter, and John all warned the church to be wary of false teachers who will try to work their way into the church while spreading false teachings. 2 Peter 2 Destructive Doctrines 1 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. 1 John 4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 Corinthians 11 Concern for Their Faithfulness 1 Oh, that you would bear with me in a little folly—and indeed you do bear with me. 2 For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 3 But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity[a] that is in Christ. 4 For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted—you may well put up with it! Paul and False Apostles 5 For I consider that I am not at all inferior to the most eminent apostles. 6 Even though I am untrained in speech, yet I am not in knowledge. But we have been thoroughly manifested among you in all things. 7 Did I commit sin in humbling myself that you might be exalted, because I preached the gospel of God to you free of charge? 8 I robbed other churches, taking wages from them to minister to you. 9 And when I was present with you, and in need, I was a burden to no one, for what I lacked the brethren who came from Macedonia supplied. And in everything I kept myself from being burdensome to you, and so I will keep myself. 10 As the truth of Christ is in me, no one shall stop me from this boasting in the regions of Achaia. 11 Why? Because I do not love you? God knows! 12 But what I do, I will also continue to do, that I may cut off the opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the things of which they boast. 13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works. Galatians 1:6-10 Only One Gospel 6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, 7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. 10 For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ. Also, Galatians 3 and 6 1 Timothy 6 (the whole chapter addresses this) Honor Masters 1 Let as many bondservants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and His doctrine may not be blasphemed. 2 And those who have believing masters, let them not despise them because they are brethren, but rather serve them because those who are benefited are believers and beloved. Teach and exhort these things. Error and Greed 3 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, 4 he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, 5 useless wranglings[a] of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself. Matthew 7:15-16 - 15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them."

Wrong address?? (I'm a former Catholic too and my sons still go to Catholic school...at least for now...) Well, it depends...as you know the Mass Intentions can be done for birthdays, anniversaries, or some other noteworthy event or achievement in one's life. On the other hand, they can be offered to repose the soul of the dead/dying or of non-Catholics (could it have been the "Welcome Back" ministry?). In either case, prayers are offered. Your subject title made it sound like a friend did this...maybe follow up with them to let them know you were sent the card and in that conversation they may discuss why they requested it?

What?? I missed this part before...you were openly rebuked?! Ugh, our leaders need prayer.... He totally missed it....Is everything else ok otherwise at that church?

BTW, congratulations DS on your weight loss so far! I was recently on WW and lost 12 pounds but our group disbanded because we didn't have enough numbers to continue having an "At work" group. I intend to resurrect my exercise routine this week - I'm on Christmas break at the end of this week through New Year's so plan to get more serious about just being active...my work hours are kind of crazy these days so it's hard to fit it in but I have to keep trying different things until I find some things that click (and continue doing them). I've found some things but need to keep doing them regularly so that they can have an impact.