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RE: Let Everything That Has Breath Praise The Lord! - 5/12/2008 9:50:13 PM
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humbleinspirit
Posts: 14087
Joined: 4/13/2005
From: Just Outside of Boston
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I have been learning more and more not to judge someone based on their exterior. Its been a challenge however I am still learning. We are all made in the image of God.
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RE: Let Everything That Has Breath Praise The Lord! - 5/16/2008 10:38:25 PM
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Focusing
Posts: 5256
Joined: 5/19/2007
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My munchkin made the jazz band!!
I am one proud mom!!!!
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Sam
The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. Psalm 18:2
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RE: Let Everything That Has Breath Praise The Lord! - 5/17/2008 12:24:14 AM
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humbleinspirit
Posts: 14087
Joined: 4/13/2005
From: Just Outside of Boston
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Thats great Sam! You have a great musician! 
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RE: Let Everything That Has Breath Praise The Lord! - 5/17/2008 12:24:49 AM
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iwillfearnoevil
Posts: 2355
Joined: 11/6/2007
From: upstate NY
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Focusing
My munchkin made the jazz band!!
I am one proud mom!!!!
yay sam!
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Amazin Cheesecake Poll
Photoblogging my life
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RE: Let Everything That Has Breath Praise The Lord! - 5/20/2008 9:43:54 AM
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Focusing
Posts: 5256
Joined: 5/19/2007
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Today as I was going through my devotions, one really hit home. It talks about moods. I've been in and out of this sorta funk, but it's not taking root, but it wants to, and I'm aware of it, but I'm being intentional and recognizing it and fighting it, realizing there's some spiritual warfare going on, and I need to keep my mind focused on God.
It's been going on for a few days. I mentioned it to a friend Sunday afternoon. We talked about it again last night. It's bothering me.
Why?
What's going on?
What's causing it?
I think about some of the conversations going on. Here in the threads and IRL too.
And I think about how in some of these conversations I realize how much my thought process has changed from how I thought before I was saved to how I think now as a child of God. What once was perfectly acceptable in my mind years ago, I find strange and unacceptable. Foreign concepts.
And I think about a song by Casting Crowns. The chorus is this
It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
It's a slow fade, it's a slow fade
Society tells us, convinces us, talks us into believing, the lies ... we can all come up with several examples off the top of our heads. We try to justify our actions. We tell ourselves it's the norm. Everyone does it.
But does that make it okay?
Does that make it acceptable in God's eyes?
Of course not.
The more I consciously focus on seeking God's face in my life, the more I feel like a stranger in this world.
I think about how I used to be, what I used to do, how I bought into the notion that "everyone else is doing it" ... it wasn't even a conscious choice, it just was what it was. I did those things, thought those things, believed those things because that's what we do when we are not conscious and intentional about our lives.
Although there are more steps to climb along the Narrow Path, I think what's going on is I've taken a little breather. Stopped and have looked back to where I used to be. I have no desire to go there again. I can't believe the muck, the quicksand I was once buried in. Building the foundation and getting up those first few steps were some of the most difficult, and yet easiest, things I have ever done.
Huh?
Difficult because getting out of the muck, tearing myself away from those thought processes, separating myself from those who were pulling on me to "stay and play" ... that was hard.
And yet it was so easy, because I took His yoke and reached for His hand, and He helped wipe the muck and the junk off. He made me clean again through His blood.
Perhaps it's just a time of evaluation in life. Seeing the old and grasping the new ... knowing how easy it is to slip back down into the muck, and desiring within the very depths of my heart to continue seeking His face.
It's intentional.
It's a continual fight to recognize those things that lull us with the logic of this world that slowly creep into our thoughts, telling us it's okay to do this or it's okay to think that way. It's logical.
That's the slow fade ... the white starts to become dingy. It's slow. We don't always recognize it.
It doesn't happen in a day. It happens over time.
Deception creeps in.
Slowly.
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
It's a slow fade
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Sam
The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. Psalm 18:2
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RE: Let Everything That Has Breath Praise The Lord! - 5/20/2008 10:12:14 AM
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hotsaucygma
Posts: 2452
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Good points Sam.
I have been feeling a nudge to re-examine a few things myself...
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Dear Lord, let my words today be as sweet and delicious as cheesecake... for tomorrow I may have to eat them!
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RE: Let Everything That Has Breath Praise The Lord! - 5/21/2008 1:24:52 PM
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Focusing
Posts: 5256
Joined: 5/19/2007
Status: offline
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WHY GOD ALLOWS PAIN AND SUFFERING
* * *
A man went to a barbershop to have his hair cut and his beard trimmed. As the barber began to work, they began to have a good conversation. They talked about so many things and various subjects. When they eventually touched on the subject of God, the barber said: "I don't believe that God exists."
* * *
"Why do you say that?" asked the customer. "Well, you just have to go out in the street to realize that God doesn't exist. Tell me, if God exists, would there be so many sick people? Would there be abandoned children?"
* * *
"If God existed, there would be neither suffering nor pain. I can't imagine a loving God who would allow all of these things." The customer thought for a moment, but didn't respond because he didn't want to start an argument. The barber finished his job and the customer left the shop.
* * *
Just after he left the barbershop, he saw a man in the street with long, stringy, dirty hair and an untrimmed beard. He looked dirty and unkempt. The customer turned back and entered the barber shop again, and he said to the barber:
* * *
"You know what? Barbers do not exist." "How can you say that?" asked the surprised barber. "I'm here, and I'm a barber. And I just worked on you!" "No!' the customer exclaimed. "Barbers don't exist because if they did, there would be no people with dirty long hair and untrimmed beards, like that man outside."
* * *
"Ah, but barbers DO exist! That's what happens when people don't come to me." "Exactly!" affirmed the customer. "That's the point! God, too, DOES exist! That's what happens when people do not go to Him and don't look to Him for help. That's why there's so much pain and suffering in the world."
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Sam
The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. Psalm 18:2
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RE: Let Everything That Has Breath Praise The Lord! - 5/21/2008 1:26:51 PM
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iwillfearnoevil
Posts: 2355
Joined: 11/6/2007
From: upstate NY
Status: offline
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wow - so simple sam for something i've been studying for months
_____________________________
Amazin Cheesecake Poll
Photoblogging my life
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RE: Let Everything That Has Breath Praise The Lord! - 6/2/2008 12:39:24 AM
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WaitingforBoaz
Posts: 3136
Joined: 2/11/2008
From: The Hundred Acre Wood
Status: online
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Hi Sam!
I just wanted to let you know that I am missing you!
I hope all is well with you!
~Blessings~
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Nadine
"It's like every thing good collided today" quote from my 8yr old daughter
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RE: Let Everything That Has Breath Praise The Lord! - 6/2/2008 11:13:30 AM
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hotsaucygma
Posts: 2452
Joined: 4/12/2005
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Hey Sam, glad you had a great vacation! Good to see you back.
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Dear Lord, let my words today be as sweet and delicious as cheesecake... for tomorrow I may have to eat them!
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RE: Let Everything That Has Breath Praise The Lord! - 6/2/2008 11:38:16 PM
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humbleinspirit
Posts: 14087
Joined: 4/13/2005
From: Just Outside of Boston
Status: offline
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Welcome back Sam!
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RE: Let Everything That Has Breath Praise The Lord! - 6/3/2008 11:13:49 AM
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Focusing
Posts: 5256
Joined: 5/19/2007
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Wait a minute ... Nadine is now waiting for Boaz?
Hey, I got the book (it came in while I was out, and it is now on my bed). I need to run over to your thread and catch up. I just need to find the time. Where do I find time?
Hi Hot-N-Saucy!
Hi Mikey!
Hi Ed! (are you an official cheesecake lover yet? hmmmm ...)
Well, yesterday was full of interesting surprises.    I'm not going into all of it because I've already unloaded. Twice. Or was it three times? So, I'm over it now. BUT, the most important thing was: THEY TOLD ME I WAS SERIOUSLY MISSED WHILE I WAS GONE!! And that's a good thing to know. 
 They missed me
They missed me
Hee Hee ... I didn't miss them. In fact, I didn't even think about work. That's what a vacation is all about. Having fun. Sleeping in. Doing fun things. Getting fresh air. Taking pictures. Forgetting the fact that you really do need to work for a living.
My home computer crashed, which has all my pictures from last week, not to mention the past two years, and it's being checked out by our fabulous IT folks. My friend downloaded pictures from their camera onto a flash drive, which I have, but I haven't had time to view them yet. Just a few from the Sedona and Slide Rock expedition. Lots of avatar-worthy photos. I might even get adventuresome and create an online photo album to share.
Vacation was great, but I have to admit it is good to be back in the routine.
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Sam
The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. Psalm 18:2
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RE: Let Everything That Has Breath Praise The Lord! - 6/3/2008 11:18:11 AM
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Focusing
Posts: 5256
Joined: 5/19/2007
Status: offline
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Do you trust Him?
My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge; my savior, You save me from violence. I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies. - 2 Samuel 22:3-4 [NASB]
Father, let my trust always be in You, and not in myself. Thank You for the things You have rescued me from in my life. Help me to remember them and trust You. Amen.
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Sam
The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. Psalm 18:2
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