Deborah

When my son was about 7, I overheard him talking to some of his friends. He told them the three things satan really hates: 1. The blood of Jesus. 2. The name of Jesus. 3. Words from the Bible. I had taught my son about this warfare years before (he was about 4 at the time) when something had tormented him at night. I had prayed, but it wasn't until my son learned to fight himself that the attacks completely stopped. We can teach young people to fight without scaring them. If they're being attacked, we need to arm them. HS, would you mind asking your sister to tell her son about these three weapons? I remember being paralyzed in the night when I was a little girl and I wish someone had told me what I could have done to stop the attacks.

Thanks, Mia!

★˛˚˛*˛°.˛*.˛°˛.*★* Merry *★* 。*˛. ˛°_██_*.。*./ ♥ \ .˛* .˛。.˛.*.★* Christmas *★ 。* ˛. (´• ̮•)*.。*/♫.♫\*˛.* ˛_Π_____.♥Everyone♥ ˛* ˛* .°( . • . ) ˛°./• '♫ ' •\.˛*./______/~＼*. ˛*.。˛* ˛. *。 *(...'•'.. ) *˛╬╬╬╬╬˛°.｜田田 ｜門｜╬╬╬╬╬*˚ .˛ *.*

And Merry Christmas especially to Dreamster, who started this post and who is jealous of my emoticons. (Just remember what I said about PETE--Persons for the Ethical Treatment of Emoticons--D! We're still watching you, Mister!)

Christ the Lord was born for you and me! Happy Birthday, Jesus! Merry Christmas, Everyone!

Congrats, D! Um Lola, you wrote: I also refuse to say "Happy Holidays", I say Merry Christmas. Did you know "Holiday" comes from "Holy Day?" Once I learned that, I didn't mind hearing people tell me to have a happy holy day. Oh yeah, back to you, Dreamster. Good job!

Lord, help Delightful Soul find direction in this matter. You say in Your Word you'll keep us in perfect peace if we just keep our mind on you, so I ask that peace for my sister. You know what's coming up in DS's future, you know what Your perfect plan is for her. I ask you give her very clear direction as to what she is supposed to do. If she is supposed to stay then I know you'll give her sufficient grace to stay. And I pray for these unsaved parents. Bring them into Your kingdom, Lord. Give DS the desires of her heart. I pray this in the name that is above all names, the name to which every knee must bow and every tongue confess, Amen.

Sirianta, May God bless you with wisdom and comfort and provide protection for you and your little ones during this time. I'm so sorry this happened to you and your children; you deserve better. I'm praying you'll find the refuge you need.

when I did research on copyright, in the late 90's, the advice to avoid paying for a copyright, was to mail a packet of all your work to yourself. This unopened and post dated, clearly sealed envelope was then your proof that the work was your own. I don't know if that still holds true today. It is worth investigating! :9). I've done some investigating into what is called "a poor man's copyright," or what you just described, and it does NOT hold up in court.

This happened to me once, but I'm not sure why--I was lying down for a minute and I heard my name called in an audible man's voice. I rolled over and said "Yes?" I wasn't startled because it was said in such a loving way, yet I don't know why I heard it then.

I read this account awhile back, was blessed by it, but I keep wondering what happened next. How did this encounter change this man's life in day-to-day living?

DS--This pastor doesn't sound like a friend. You deserve to be treated better than this. "Cuttingly honest" just sounds mean to me.

Would you consider writing this pastor/counselor a little note and clearing the air before you leave? Just sort of setting a boundary and saying, "Thanks for all your help in the past, but I'm dealing with a lot of things now (and maybe give her specific examples how you're dealing and not running away) and I need a time to just relax, laugh and have fun" or something to that effect? I know a pastor who said he was sandpaper to the body of Christ. The problem is, sometimes he sanded too hard and people left his church bleeding and didn't come back. If this lady is a good counselor, she should appreciate your honesty and respect your boundaries. Hope this helps.

Just last week, the Lord spoke this to me: "Debbie, don't let your grief define you." I've been chewing on this, praying, thinking, observing other people....I think many people have allowed some terrible event in their life to mold their identity, sort of a victim mentality, if you will. As believers, we should be in the process of becoming more and more like Christ amen? Grief has its purpose and it is supposed to hang around for a time, but it is not supposed to mold us forever. Just as Ecclesiastes says, everything has its season.

He knows all about us and loves us anyway!!!!!

DS!!!!I've been trying and trying to respond but either the electricity goes out here or I have connection problems.....Yes! One time especially I heard the Holy Spirit singing me a song on the radio. It greatly ministered to me and I tried and tried to find who sang it and what the name of the song was, but never could. It was like it was just for me, just for that moment, but I'll never forget how it made me feel. I'm glad you're getting more and more victory in your life!

Good for you, DS!!!!!And yes, the church needs to wake up and quit making gluttony acceptable while shaking fingers of condemnation at drug addicts, smokers and alcoholics. I thought it was pretty neat your name was in a verse I felt led to share with you. I didn't notice your name in it until I had typed it!!!!

DS, First I want to say I admire you for being so transparent about a very personal and painful issue. Years ago I woke up with this verse on my mind, I didn't know where it was at the time, it took some searching to find it but it's this: Isaiah 55:2 "Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance." (See your name in there?) You already likely know what "is good," and if you don't, the Holy Spirit will tell you. In my own life, when I'm eating fruits vegetables and some meat but stay away from white flour and sugar, I feel much, much better. I've recently found I'm allergic to wheat--everytime I eat it (white, whole wheat, it doesn't matter) I become very tired. The Proverbs 31 lady does strength training (verse 17 says she girds herself with strength, and strengthens her arms). If you put on muscle, the muscle will help burn your fat, even when you're sleeping. So I pray for you now. Father God, thank you for making Delightful Soul. Even in her mother's womb, she was fearfully and wonderfully made. Because she has received You, You have given her the right to be called Your daughter. So I pray You'll train her eyes to see herself as You see her, that You'll train her to cast down all thoughts that are trying to tell her she is not beautiful and accepted, and You'll teach her to eat what is good so her soul can delight itself in abundance. Thank you for all her gifts and for the great blessing she is to the body of Christ. Amen

I was a homeschooling mom for 12 years. My son graduated from high school this spring. I was praying as to what my next step was and my niece showed up one day. Now this niece I wanted to adopt when she was a baby (she's 19 now). Her parents didn't want her and had neglected their other two daughters. But, I was pregnant at the time and I thought they'd be offended if I offered to adopt their daughter and so I didn't say anything. My niece hasn't had an easy life. Her mother died about 12 years ago, when my niece was about 7. Her dad works all the time and she was alone a lot. I so wanted to reach out to her but her dad (my brother) had resentment against me for taking him to task about neglecting their daughters (I was the only one in my large family who said ANYTHING to his face). So anyway, my niece is now 19 and she has a little baby. Her dad (my brother) has remarried and his new wife kicked my niece and her infant out of the house. My niece is working and she needed a babysitter, she was wondering if I'd be available. I started babysitting my great niece the day school started again after the summer break. My great niece is so, so beautiful and I love her a lot. I call her "Little Miss America" because she brings happiness wherever she goes. Well, some months have gone by and one day satan started telling me I was wasting my life, especially wasting my college degree, babysitting this baby 40 hours a week for free. I sat down one day and figured out how much money I've forfeited and I got really depressed for a few days, but then I told the Lord I was doing this service for Him and I was sowing into His kingdom. I kid you not, the NEXT day, I got a check in the mail for a substantial amount of money. That week I got three checks, all from companies that have no idea about anything going on in my personal life, for only $2 less than what I figured I had forfeited. Why $2 less and not the exact amount? I don't know, but I have to just rejoice anyway. Close enough, I say!!!!

DS-- I'm just reading this post now, but I could so relate to what you said about churches. I've been so, so hurt by them. I live in a rural area too and they're either unbiblical or extremely legalistic or clicky like you said. I finally found a Bible study and the leaders have connections to some awesome spirit-filled teachers, evangelists, preachers, prophets, musicians and so finally I'm being admidst the brethern again. I'm so glad you found a place to go to and your eyes are cooperating.

Here's more scripture: Hosea 2:16 and 19-20 And it shall be in that day, says the Lord, that you will call Me 'My Husband' and no longer call me 'My Master' I will betroth you to Me forever Yes, I will betroth you to Me In righteousness and justice, In lovingkindness and mercy; I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness and you shall know the Lord. These are wedding vows used in Jewish weddings. God as Husband will take you as His bride forever in righteousness (he'll treat you right) and mercy (that's His steadfast covenant love) and best of all, He'll be so close to you that you will know Him. Blessings, my dear. Hope this helps.--Deborah