Lessons

My lesson given to me yesterday morning

(before I heard about my friends house fire)...

You only have today -- this moment.

My lesson from this past year...

(after my brothers wedding and all that it entails)

Have no expectations when it comes to people and relationships.

Life will be more enjoyable and less disappointing.

An article I read today

Catechesis, Confession, and Admittance to the Holy Communion

http://sword-in-hat.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?alt=rss

How does your church practice confirmation?

This story always makes me smile...

To those of us who have children in our lives, Whether they are our own,Grandchildren,Nieces,Nephews,Or students...
Here is something to make you chuckle.
Whenever your children are out of control,
You can take comfort from the thought that
Even God's omnipotence did not extend
To His own children.
After creating heaven and earth,
God created Adam and Eve.

And the first thing he said was"DON'T! "

"Don't what? " Adam replied.

"Don't eat the forbidden fruit." God said.

"Forbidden fruit? We have forbidden fruit? Hey Eve..we have forbidden fruit! "

"No Way! " "Yes way! "

"Do NOT eat the fruit! " Said God.

"Why ? "

"Because I am your Father and I said so! " God replied, Wondering why He hadn't stopped Creation after making the elephants.

A few minutes later,God saw His children having an apple break
And He was ticked!

"Didn't I tell you not to eat the fruit? " God asked.

"Uh huh," Adam replied.

"Then why did you? " Said the Father.

"I don't know," Said Eve.

"She started it! " Adam said.

"Did not! "

"Did too! "

"DID NOT! "

Having had it with the two of them, God's punishment was that Adam and Eve Should have children of their own. Thus the pattern was set and it has never changed.

BUT THERE IS REASSURANCE IN THE STORY!
If you have persistently and lovingly tried to give children wisdom and they haven't taken it, Don't be hard on yourself. If God had trouble raising children, What makes you think it would be A piece of cake for you?

Quotes from John Bunyan

John Bunyan:(1628~1688)

Famous Books He's Written:
1. Pilgrim's Progress
2. Holy War

Quotes:
'God has set a Savior against sin,a heaven against a hell,light against darkness,good against evil,and the breadth and length and depth and height of grace that is in Himself for my good,against all the power and strength and subtlety of every enemy.'"
~¤~
Pray often; for prayer is a shield to the soul, a sacrifice to God, and a scourge for Satan.
~¤~
He who runs from God in the morning will scarcely find him the rest of the day.
~¤~
If you have sinned, do not lie down without repentance; for the want of repentance after one has sinned makes the heart yet harder and harder.
~¤~
Prayer will make a man cease from sin, or sin will entice a man to cease from prayer.
~¤~
When you pray, rather let your heart be without words, that your words be without heart.
~¤~
If we have not quiet in our minds, outward comfort will do no more for us that a golden slipper on a gouty foot.
~*~
Sin is the dare of God's justice, the rape of His mercy, the jeer of His patience, the slight of His power, and the contempt of His love.
~*~
Better to be despised for too anxious apprehensions than ruined by too confident a security.

A CONVERSATION WITH THE LORD

“I want to love You more.” I said to the Lord.

“If you would love Me more, you must know Me.” He said.

“I do know You, Lord.”

“You do not know Me until You know that I am holy.”

“I know that You are holy, Lord.”

“You know it when can you see yourself through My holiness. Are you willing?”

“Yes, Lord.”

And the Lord showed me myself. The sting of every word spoken in anger, the ugliness of every slander whether I said it in my heart or from my lips, the repulsiveness of every ungodly fantasy lingered upon was shown me. I smelled the foul stench of my lust, fear, unbelief and scorn. I heard the true sounds of my half-hearted and polluted praise. Every incidence of hypocrisy was laid bare. I was exposed for the fraud I was.

I was naked and ashamed.

I forgot all about asking God to love Him more. I could not even begin to think of coming near Him. He would never receive me.

I closed my eyes, pleading inside that I would no longer have the lenses of holiness.

“Open your eyes,” the Lord said. “See My holiness.”

I cried out, “Lord, I cannot bear it!”

“Open your eyes, Child.”

I opened my eyes and my filth was being washed away. Every injury, every sin, every rebellious act of violence against God was removed. Jesus Himself clothed me and my shame was no more. And I saw that holiness was beautiful.

“I love you more, Lord!” I cried.

“The one who is forgiven much loves much,” He said.