The Fellowship Hall

I would like to try something with the Group. 

I would like to create a thread that has the flow of a "Daily Chat" type thread.  A thread in which we can come in and talk about anything or nothing in particular. 

Just a way to come in and say HEY Y'all without the need to start a new thread topic or to jump in on an ongoing topic.

So here is The Fellowship Hall.  A place to meet around the coffee pot and chat about the weather or chat about the neighbor's dog that barked all night. 

Grab a cup of coffee and tell me about your day.

Good Morning and Praise God Everyone, I am posting this Inspiration Story in our Church Bulletin this morning and thought I would share it with you also. Women show your husbands and husbands honor your wives.

God Bless Mark

God’s Message to Man and Woman

When I created the heavens and the earth, I spoke them into being. When I created man, I formed him and breathed life into his nostrils. But you woman, I fashioned after I breathed the breath of life into man because your nostrils are too delicate. I allowed a deep sleep to come over him so I could patiently and perfectly fashion you. Man was put to sleep so that he could not interfere with the creativity. From one bone I fashioned you. I chose the bone that protects his heart and his lungs and supports him, as you are meant to do. Around this one bone I shaped you. I modeled you. I created you perfectly and beautifully. Your characteristics are as the rib, strong yet delicate and fragile. You provide protection for the most delicate organ in man, his heart. His heart is the center of his being; his lungs hold the breath of life. The rib cage will allow itself to be broken before it will allow damage to the heart. Support the man as the rib cage supports the body. You were not taken from his feet, to be under him, nor were you taken from his head, to be above him. You were taken from his side, to stand beside him and be held close to his side. You are My perfect angel. You are My beautiful little girl. You have grown to be a splendid woman of excellence, and My eyes fill when I see the virtues in your heart. Your eyes - don't change them. Your lips - how lovely when they part in prayer. Your nose, so perfect in form, your hands so gentle in touch. I've caressed your face in your deepest sleep; I've held your heart close to mine. Of all that lives and breathes, you are the most like Me. Adam walked with Me in the cool of the day and yet he was lonely. He could not

see Me or touch Me. He could only feel Me. So everything I wanted Adam to share and experience with Me, I fashioned in you: My holiness, My strength, My purity, My love, My protection and support. You are special because you are the extension of Me. Man represents My image, woman My emotions. Together you represent the totality of God. So man - treat woman well. Love her, respect her, for she is fragile. In hurting her, you hurt Me. What you do to her, you do to Me. In crushing her, you only damage your own heart, the heart of your Father, and the heart of her Father. Woman, support man. In humility, show him the power of emotion I have given you. In gentle quietness show your strength. In love, show him that you are the rib that protects his inner self. by Dianna Hagee

God morning all!

I just had to share what I learned this morning....it is so exciting. In Philippians 4:5-7 I am told that I will experiece God's peace (a peace beyond my understanding...sounds very enticing) if all I do is be unselfish and considerate in ALL I do...that His peace will quiet my thoughts and my heart and keep them at rest as I trust in Jesus. Sounds so simple doesn't it and it can be if I just can stop and ask myself am I being unselfish and considerate in what I am doing or about to do. Wow what hope! May you all have aday full of blessings and little miracles. Thank you fo rbeing who you are. ***Norma

Pamper Yourself*

You've been working hard lately, and now it's time to take a little pampering break. That's right, guys: I want you to take a break from your life! Forget about whatever it is you think you have to do and give yourself some TLC. Forget the laundry, the dishes, the accounting, the errands, and even the Internet! Turn your cell phone off and try these tips tonight:

Soak in a tub. Nothing feels quite as decadent as a warm bath. Add some essential oils — such as lavender and rosemary — or organic bubble bath. Place some candles around the bathroom and then soak away the stress.

Take time out to read. Whether it's a book, your favorite magazine, or the newspaper, set yourself up in a quiet place and indulge yourself without interruption.

Make a pampering appointment. Get a new haircut, go for a manicure and pedicure, or get a professional shave at the barber's.

Go to a movie. Think you don't have time to catch the latest flick? Think again. This is your downtime, kiddo. Grab some air-popped popcorn — but hold the butter — and go Hollywood!

Sleep in. Seriously, it feels so great to just turn the alarm off before you hop into bed. Give yourself permission to sleep, sleep, sleep the morning away.

Enjoy it while you can — because tomorrow it's back to work!

*From LOSING IT! With Jillian Michaels
Friday, October 16, 2009

If you are reading this, then  I would imagine that you are still in the land of the living :), so I would say to you that this is the day that the Lord has made, rejoice, rejoice, rejoice and be glad in it.

Enjoy your blessings of this day-it could have been the other way.

Mark

Amen, Mark - I definately grateful for another day "in the land of the living"    I'm going to be a little out of pocket today - I'm going to work concessions with our youth group (and my daughter) at the Gator game today.   We have to meet at the church at 11 (am)  and won't be home until about 9 (pm).   They tell me it's about  10 hours straight of standing on your feet - so ya'll pray for me to hold up!!  This concessions job will pay for all of our youth to attend both retreats and events for this whole year!  so it's well worth it - and it's great to get to work alongside our youth.  They are awesome!

I've been praying all year for our gator player, Tim Tebow, I know Satan has to be upset - but Our God is bigger !  so I know He will protect him during this year as he keeps pointing the world to our great Savior!!!  (wonder what his eyeblacks will read today??)

Whew!  I worked the Gator game in the concessions with our youth on Saturday and it whipped me more than it should I think.  There were others my age that seemed to not be as affected by the long day.  But there were a few youth that were beat - so go figure.  It turned out to be a long 12-hour day and I could barely walk the next morning and didn't make it to church (glad the services are online!)  But did make it in the evening.  My first thought is, "I'll never do that again",  but the youth leader said she lost 15 lbs working the first three back-to-back games, so maybe it will convince my body to drop some more pounds. I've never thought about all the preperation and hard work that goes into those concessions.  I have a new appreciation - for sure!

Tebows eyeblacks read Psalm 23:1 - "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want"

 

Good Evening Everyone

Guess what happened when I went to bed last night....

I woke up this morning and saw the sun shining.  I was feeling like I was getting a flu, but..I was able to walk...I could not find my glasses...but I had air to breathe...my oldest daughter was complaining about needing some medication...but she is still alive...I took the dog out to the bathroom to 34 degree weather...but I had heat when I came back in the house...

When I woke up this morning I saw that God is still faithful and loving enough to have angels watch over me last night and when I woke up this morning, for every negative the enemy tried to put on me, God was all over me to see I had more for me then against me.

If God is for us, who..who...who can stand against us.  Thank you Lord for giving me the daily benefits to get me through this day and to overcome every obstacle that came my way...whether predestined or not,  if it had not been for you on my side, I would not be here to give you the praise.

I lift up my dear sisters and brothers here also and pray that you will continually give them the eyes to look through the gray clouds and realize that that if you brought them to the storms of life, you will take them through the storms.  Cover each of them with your precious Holy Spirit which will seal them to the day of redemption.

In Jesus name

amen

Happy Birthday to my friend Denna! 

  Gee, Thanks .... 

I may not be where I wanted to be.  BUT - at least I didn't meet the trend.  I did not break 400 with my 40th birthday.  Fighting so hard not to get back over 300.

Taken from my Profile:
In my early teens, I broke 100lb.  In my early twenties, I broke 200lb.  In my early thirties, I broke 300lb.  Well, with 40 around the corner I definately did not want to break 400lb.

you know everything reverses  -  so now you get to head back and break 200! 

Hope you a great birthday!  I don't know what made me so tired this week, but I spent my Friday night crashed on the couch - I laid down to rest a minute and well -- the kids had to fend for themself for dinner (actually the went next door to grandma's)  So, I woke up this morning around 8:30 and feel so refreshed!

Hope you all have a great weekend.  I'm heading to a wedding and praying for no rain :) being it's outside. 

I just loved the simple advice in today's success story blog, especially the first three!!  

1. Make one right choice at a time.
2. Love yourself for who you are no matter what size you wear or how
   much you weigh.
3. Don't give up if you slip up, get back on track the next meal or
   the next day.
4. Gather as much support as possible especially from the people you
   live with. This is key.
5. The most important thing is make your house a safe food
   environment. Don't have junk food stashed around. Clear it all out and
   fill your house with good, healthy snacks.

Winning My Last Battle  -  just more proof that IT CAN BE DONE!!! 

Good morning! I come once again needing encouragement, words of faith. I feel so lost and "dumb" in coming back time after time when feeling low but I know that I cannot do this alone. For some reason the peace that I had been feeling is gone. I feel so out of control in so many areas of my life and feel like even God's word is not sinking in. I read in Hebrews 10:36 that I need to keep on PATIENTLY doing God's will IF I want Him to do for me all that He has promised. I begg Him to help me and all I want to do is just go back to bed and go to sleep. It is like if I am sleeping I don't have to struggle. Oh there is so much I want to say but just feel ashamed that I am where I am I guess. Feel so alone and I "know" because He says so, that He is always with me. Why do I not feel Him when I want to so badly? Thank you for reading. May you all have a blessed and wonderful day............... (I feel like an emotional roller coaster as I go back to read what I typed  uuugghh)

normal702,

I know a lot of times our feeling get in the way; God created us emotional beings, so feelings are going to be there. But that doesn't mean that feelings chase away truth. Here is the truth to stand on: God's Word is sinking in because He said His Word would not return to Him void. There is power in His Word. He will do all He promised. Have faith. Sometimes faith is hard to have; I know. When you find yourself disbelieving again (as we all do), repent for your unbelief, then tell Him again that your trust is in Him. You may have to do this 1,000 times. That's okay. A righteous man falls seven times, but gets back up again. Stand on His Truth (Word). Find specific promises that pertain to you, and repeat them over and over to yourself out loud. God being with you isn't subject to feeling ( I know you know that, but it bears repeating.) Thank Him over and over for His real presence in your life. Eventually, your doubts will be gone and your mind will get the fact that your spirit is in charge. God bless you with his peace that passes all understanding. Remember to stand, and when you've done all you can to stand, stand. God has and will be with you and will help you in your time of need.

Misty

Original Post by normal702:

Good morning! I come once again needing encouragement, words of faith. I feel so lost and "dumb" in coming back time after time when feeling low but I know that I cannot do this alone. For some reason the peace that I had been feeling is gone. I feel so out of control in so many areas of my life and feel like even God's word is not sinking in. I read in Hebrews 10:36 that I need to keep on PATIENTLY doing God's will IF I want Him to do for me all that He has promised. I begg Him to help me and all I want to do is just go back to bed and go to sleep. It is like if I am sleeping I don't have to struggle. Oh there is so much I want to say but just feel ashamed that I am where I am I guess. Feel so alone and I "know" because He says so, that He is always with me. Why do I not feel Him when I want to so badly? Thank you for reading. May you all have a blessed and wonderful day............... (I feel like an emotional roller coaster as I go back to read what I typed  uuugghh)

 Norma ... bless your heart ... it is good to know you come here to this group for comfort and encouragement ... you are not alone ... as you stated  God is with you every step of the way (I always keep in mind the poem "Footprints") ... we are here to ... I know this is a hard thing when you just want to withdraw ... easier to retreat and pull the covers over our head ... but get out and take a walk ... even if it is to the end of your driveway ... take in God's scenery (block out the cars, houses, etc.) what He has created and take a deep breath ... one step at a time ... besides we don't judge about people being on an emotional roller-coaster ... we are human and have our ups and downs ... hang in there ... how is your Dad doing by the way?  ~Norma Jean

Original Post by normal702:

Feel so alone and I "know" because He says so, that He is always with me. Why do I not feel Him when I want to so badly? Thank you for reading.

 Norma,

Psalm 139

1 O LORD, you have searched me  and you know me.

(God knows where you are at this point)

 2 You know when I sit and when I rise; 
       you perceive my thoughts from afar. 

 (He knows the pain you are feeling,though you do not feel Him, He feels you, and knows exactly what you are going through.  This day did not come by accident, but to everything there is a season.  There is a reason for why we have our days of emotions, and you are doing exactly what you are to be doing.  God wants to work with you and you are seeking guidance for what you are going through.  So, though you think you don't feel Him, you know where to go to seek Him.  It is a lie of the enemy that you feel as though He is not there, and you proved it by seeking for spiritual guidance, rather than just giving up) 

 3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. 

 (1 Corinthians 10:13 You have been put to no test but such as is common to man: and God is true, who will not let any test come on you which you are not able to undergo; but he will make with the test a way out of it, so that you may be able to go through it.    God did not bring you to this point to leave you now.  But if He brings you to the storm, believe me when I tell you He will take you through the storm.  You are a living testimony for what God can do.  Look at the storms you have already been through in your past, did you not make it through.  God knows exactly what you can bear and will not leave you to deal with it yourself.)   

 4 Before a word is on my tongue
       you know it completely, O LORD.

 5 You hem me in—behind and before;
       you have laid your hand upon me.

 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
       too lofty for me to attain.

 7 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?

(You may feel alone, but He that keepeth Israel, will neither slumber nor sleep.  Meaning God is there even when you are at your darkest point in your life.  God is there when no one else is.  You may feel alone, but just close your eyes and focus on the cross of Jesus, you just may feel that you are in the arms of the Master, and He you may find that He is cradling you in His arms, just rocking you gently, letting you know I am with you.  God is faithful not to leave His children to ourselves.  But you will be a testimony even through this, that though I did not feel Him, I came through it and it was only through God Almighty that I came through.)

 8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
       if I make my bed in the depths, [a] you are there.

 9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
       if I settle on the far side of the sea,

 10 even there your hand will guide me,
       your right hand will hold me fast.

 11 If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me
       and the light become night around me,"

 12 even the darkness will not be dark to you;
       the night will shine like the day,
       for darkness is as light to you.

 13 For you created my inmost being;
       you knit me together in my mother's womb.

 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;  your works are wonderful,
       I know that full well.

 15 My frame was not hidden from you
       when I was made in the secret place.
       When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,

 16 your eyes saw my unformed body.
       All the days ordained for me 
       were written in your book
       before one of them came to be.

(This day was ordained even before you were created.  Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith, so an author writes the book and knows exactly what is in the pages of the book.  He ordained and wrote the pages of your life before you were here.  And in His word He says all things work together for good to those who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose.  This part of the book may not be an enjoyable one, which is why we should always do our best to keep looking toward the end of the book, when one day we as all Gods children will be caught up in the air to be taken home to a place where there is no more pain, sorrow, sickness of any other worries of this world.  This is were our true treasure is.  The things of this life is only temporary.    2 Corinthians 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; you are working on your home in glory, so don't loose hope.  The author knows the book and knows what to do with every thing in it.

 17 How precious to  me are your thoughts, O God!
       How vast is the sum of them!

 18 Were I to count them,
       they would outnumber the grains of sand.
       When I awake,
       I am still with you.

 

I will continue to lift you up in prayer.  You do have a beautiful spirit in the Lord even if you don't feel it, your words show exactly who you are and that is a child of God, seeking comfort from her Father.  You will get it.  Just continue to seek His guidance.

Mark

Norma,

Believe me, I know where you are.  And please take comfort in knowing that God does also.  I was diagnosed with Bipolar Manic Depression in the late 80s or early 90s.  I have not had to have the Lithium, Zoloft, or Trazadone since Spring 1997. 

But here lately (the past two months), I have cycled into the deep downward end of the depression.  And believe me I know how you feel when you want to crawl back into the bed and pull the covers back over your head.  Wishing to fall asleep and never wake up.

Before someone starts to throw anti-suicidal advise and comments, I am not there.  God allows the thoughts of the reality of Hell and the beautiful loving faces of my children to stop me from going down that road.  I am thankful for HIS gifts in my life. 

Currently, I do not have health insurance and can not afford to seek medical help in trying to deal with this.  So I am leaning and trusting SOLELY on God right now.  And maybe that is the reason why I am going through this trash again in my life.  I need to FULLY put my trust in HIM.

So with all of that said, let me share some of the verses and songs that are helping me at the moment.

Most important - the promise of a sound mind  ...  "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."  2 Timothy 1:7

"Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me."  John 16:32

I have been listening to this Song from The Martins.

This video really speaks volumes to me.  We need to praise HIM no matter what we are going through.

Norma, YOU are not alone.  We are with you.  And More Importantly, GOD is with you.

Sorry Group if I have been somewhat absent from posting, well, now you know the reason of why I am withdrawn.  Anyone who have suffered from crowd avoidance and anxiety disorders knows how hard it is for me to open up like this right now. 

ALSO  this verse...

"And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm."  Mark 4:39

And this SONG

\o/  Denna

Wow Mark and Denna some great information and thoughts to absorb for all who are fighting some kind of loneliness, depression, etc.  Especially with the "holidays" approaching and our economy status.

Thanks for sharing!

My doctor came to draw my blood and is very pleased with the progress in my movement.  He is still thinks the answer to most of my health issues is to have the gastric bypass surgery.  He has continued to see me yo-yo with my weight since I first began seeing him in 2003.

So glad that the doctor was able to see the progress in your movements and mobility.  Within this past month alone, you have walked past the driveway and carport.  You are walking the streets of your neighborhood.  I see that as a major accomplishment in all the year plus that I have known you.

I see your body acting as a two year in a temper tantrum.  Your body wants to hang on to the weight and is fighting (kicking and screaming) because it is comfortable and easier for your body.  But your heart and mind has the stronger of the wills.  Eventually (and I hope soon), your body is going to get a clue and give up and do what it is supposed to do and release this weight.

Most that I have seen would lose the weight first, then get the mobility.  But you, my dear friend, have looked IMmobility in the eye and told IT off.  You have pushed through the "I Can't" and are walking leaps laps and bounds.

KEEP IT UP, You are an Inspiration to me.  And when this bipolar manic depression down cycle is over and I can get things back in order, I will be with you on the walking and diet control.

Does this make sense to you?  ::  wondering if I am rambling  ::