he has done a lot for me like help out knowing 1 of my friends is in jail to helping me w/ the words i chose to say to others

God is always present and sometimes life gets hard and you trick yourself into thinking he simply does not care. The past couple weeks have been like that. I just don't know what to do. The only answer I have for myself and others who are in situations like mine is to stick by God and things will work out.

in this past week alone he's done so much for me. at my school a lot of my friends aren't into the whole Christian music scene, so for christmas i gave a couple friends a chris tomlin cd and a tobymac cd...now we're all going to the tobymac concert in february and they just fell in love!!! its really cool to see, because i've been having a lot of problems with some friends lately and being around others just praising God gives you such a sense of peace and true happiness!

The Lord is so awesome. I was walking out of the store today, and saw two little boys by the toy quarter machines. I had this thought to give each boy a quarter. I pulled my wallet out of my purse, and grabbed two quarters. I didn't want to scare them, and so I said, "Hey". (LOL--that probably was a little intimidating). I handed them a quarter a piece and said, "Merry Christmas". As I sat in my car, I looked up at the woman who was ringing the bell for the Salvation Army. I saw one of the little boys run and put money into the red Salvation Army bucket.
We don't always see the fruit of our obedience, but today the Lord allowed me to experience the joy of giving in my life and the little boy's.

Sorry for the blank post, btw. The first time I tried posting, I couldn't because I wasn't a member, and I lost everything that I had typed. Then, I joined the group, but wanted to test out the posting capabilities before I did it again. LOL

Hey, Hddidom. You are right, things will work out. If you love the Lord, everything that happens in your life will work out for good. I have had some troubles in my life, but it has caused me to be more compassionate for others. I have learned patience, and perseverance. These things work together to make us more like Jesus; and we also experience His love for us. He loves us so much.

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Jeremiah 29:11

Hey, Soap! Your encouraging words from Dec 22 are fantastic. I'm a guy who falls WAY short of what He wants me to be but I always try to show my son the joy of giving our lives away to Jesus. Most of the time, I don't think anything is happening in his heart even thought I pray for it each and every day. Then I see him do things that are well beyond his years (he's 10) in compassion, love and generosity to people he knows and people he doesn't know and I know he's got God's love in his heart. It's amazing!!!! We all need to be equipped with that love to "have life and have it to the full". Let's make this group about lifting each other up by lifting Him up.

Amen! It seems like I find those "teachable moments" with the kids........................................And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. Deuteronomy 6:6-7

BTW, I see you are from Michigan! It's a great state--especially if you enjoy the outdoors. I'm not a native Michigander, but I absolutely love it here!

You're right. Michigan is a fantastic state. I love the great lakes, the dunes and all of the great out of doors activities. I also love having four seasons. A lot of people here in the Detroit area complain about the extremes in weather. I say that each season makes you appreciate the others all the more. Am I nuts?

Glory be to God who gave us this beauty to enjoy.....

I caught my first Walleye here....24 inches! (that's good for me....I only used to take the kids perch fishing before that--they kept me busy, and they didn't get bored).

I just cannot get accustomed to saying "Pop". In Texas, all soft drinks were
called "Cokes", and if you wanted a Dr. Pepper, then that was the kind of
coke you wanted. LOL So, my substitute word is "soda"...

Funny you should mention the "pop" thing. My sister in law moved to Connecticut several years ago and her neighbors thought she was a raging alcoholic because she always said that she needed a pop, as in a Pepsi (she worked for Pepsi @ the time). Well, out there, a pop means a drink of liquor. LOL......

ROTFL....

Lately He's been convicting me because I haven't been reading my bible much.And I've been thinking about how tons of the people in church are total hypocrites - even I am sometimes.like,when someone comes in who hasn't been there in a while or someone who looks "different" comes in and us "church people" look at them like their trash,that's like totally wrong because God made all of us.

I made a 2008 Bible Quizzing Nationals team! Even though I'm not doing too well.. So I just want to thank Him for that. And it's in Minnesota! And I thought I wouldn't be able to go for like the last 4 months.. And so yes, I would love to thank Him sooo much for that..=)

Congratulations, JFL30!

Maddiegirl, that's great! Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you. (Proverbs 9: I love it when the Lord shows me things that are wrong in my life...because I want to be the best I can for Him. We are made in the Lord's image...and He has feelings just like we do. I'm reading a good book right now that talks about seeking the Lord with all your heart; if you had a great treasure, and lost it, you wouldn't spend 5 minutes looking for it and then give up. You'd search and search until you found it.

BTW, I found out that soda was the word I was supposed to use when I lived in Florida. LOL

Thanks Soap!

Lately God has taught me how to simply trust him. i have been going through some tough things within the past year and i kept going down hill. after a while i just lost all hope and went slightly suicidal and was eventually cutting myslef. doesn't sound very much like a Christian does it? i finally got a hold of myself... or should i say let go? i just let God have control of everything and now my life is so much better. God used many people and situations to show me I was in the wrong in how i was thinking. i was being very selfish. now that its all over i just thank God for helping me change and that i am still here.

Great testimony, Josh! For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11