That would be a good subject indeed, I'd love to listen when ever you've a mind to write about it!! It is awesome isn't it the situations we find ourselves in...God does have a plan after all! Rhonda1 -----Original Message----- From: The Electronic Church [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Carol Pearson Sent: Wednesday, May 03, 2006 10:41 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: Ponderment Yep, Rhonda, I sure do! Oh, and don't they want to come up and bang you down again just when you're not expecting it! Last week I had a very familiar situation at church rear its head once again. I was asked to take part in a "fun day", but just to sit in the coffee lounge with Mike and welcome any visitors that came our way . . .. Well, two totally blind people sitting around in a corner, probably alone most of the time, hoping they'd know if visitors walked in . . . wasn't quite my idea of how to do things! Well, the result was wonderful! We all dug ourselves a little out of that one (with God) and I found myself, on the spur of the moment, taking over someone's piano they were using to lead the singers outside and I sang for most of two hours. Mike's guitar was well used too in various areas throughout the church buildings, both to help the youngsters and to aid our singing group. I think people had long forgotten I once used to sing and play here, though that's probably not their fault in view of the fact that I've been unable to sing solo now for 9-10 years. I am now able to sing in a group and keep going for quite a while so have to learn to live in this new situation. No, that wasn't really what came out of it all last week but only a part. The main thrust had to do with God's changing me and teaching me how to get my anger dealt with without sinning. (That could be quite a good subject for discussion!) Love to you all: -- Carol [log in to unmask] ----- Original Message ----- From: "Rhonda Partain" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Wednesday, May 03, 2006 3:31 PM Subject: Re: Ponderment > It is a funny thing to say, and I never thought I'd ever say it-but I am > glad I have went through hard times! It was during those hard times in the > past, and even now-when I am awake way past midnight my mind full of all > the "what if this happens, and then what will I do" fears threaten to take > away my peace of mind that I come to know just who God really is. All the > hurt I hae known, since I was a child, all the angry words spoken, words > such as "We don't have to keep you here with us, we could send you away" > these have made me who I am today. If I had all I needed, would I have > ever > sought to know God, would I have ever wondered what it means to call God > Father, > I don't really think so. Though I would have never chosen them, the hard > times, the times I am awake at three in the morning, these are the times I > come to know God in a deeper way! Yall know what I mean? > > Rhonda > > -----Original Message----- > From: The Electronic Church [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On > Behalf Of Carol Pearson > Sent: Wednesday, May 03, 2006 10:25 AM > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: Re: Ponderment > > Yeah, amen Kathy. > > Problem is, Rhonda, that we all think of harm as being those things that > hurt us now, whether they're accidents or words from others, or whatever. > In fact, as we know, man has power to kill the flesh but the one thing > that > nobody can harm is God's Spirit in us, that new life that He has planted > within us and will keep safe (preserve) no matter what the calamities here > on earth. > > I sometimes wish as a Christian that perhaps I could have a special > passport > > that keeps me from such harm, but God didn't say we could have that but He > did promise us grace and peace and help from above! > > It's not the way the world will see these things, but the way we can and > should see them in the light of his grace and His truth shown to us each > day! > > Well, do we feel secure? That's what God wants us to feel! Do we feel > afraid! Yes, if we're honest, we probably do when we stop to think of > some > of the awful things that are happening all around us, but He wants us (me, > me, me!) to learn to trust Him in these areas. > > Having said all the above: God is indeed gracious to us and loves us so > very much that there are times when He does intervene and rescue us from > physical death itself. Some of us have known this and have known His > angels > > taking care of us too! Sometimes we don't even know He's reached out a > hand > > to rescue us because we're totally unaware of the danger that He sees. > That's how much He takes care of us! He never sleeps or slumbers - just > looks on us and out for us and, oh, loves us so very much! > > Sorry, didn't mean to get quite so carried away in this post . . . and God > spoke as much, if not more, to me as I wrote than He may want to speak to > others. I'm encouraged anyway and trust you are! > > In Him: > > > -- > Carol > [log in to unmask] > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Kathy Du Bois" <[log in to unmask]> > To: <[log in to unmask]> > Sent: Wednesday, May 03, 2006 1:20 PM > Subject: Re: Ponderment > > >> Rhonda, >> When you are in God's hand, no matter what calamity befalls you, you are >> in the safest place you can be. >> Kathy >> >> >> At 10:00 PM 5/2/2006, you wrote: >>>What do you think "live in safety" means? Is it "safe from harm" or >>>"safe, >>>from thinking you know all the answers and don't need God or any of his >>>wisdom, safe, if it means safe from harm, that would bring up a lot of >>>questions...what exactly must our relationship be to ensure we are >>>"safe" >>>for many go through things that can be seen as harm, cancer, accidents, >>>many >>>who love God and who fololow im and seek to do His will...interesting >>>thoughts! >>> >>>-----Original Message----- >>>From: The Electronic Church [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On >>>Behalf Of BD >>>Sent: Tuesday, May 02, 2006 9:25 PM >>>To: [log in to unmask] >>>Subject: Re: Ponderment >>> >>>Rhonda, >>> >>>Hmm. Maybe not, perfectly faithful no, but not faithful at all? I don't >>>think that is it either. I think Proverbs seen below shows were we ought >>>to be. I wonder if we can faithfully believe in the promise given at the >>>end of the text constantly. It does however say that we will have no need >>>to "fear" and doesn't say we are absolved of trials, yet he does say >>>earlier that he'll keep us safe. See below... interesting... I never >>>really seen it that strongly before. >>>Proverbs 1:20-33 >>>20 Wisdom calls aloud in the street,she raises her voice in the public >>>squares; 21 at the head of the noisy streets she cries out,in the >>>gateways >>>of the city she makes her speech: >>>22 "How long will you simple ones love your simple ways?How long will >>>mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge? 23 If you had >>>responded to my rebuke,I would have poured out my heart to you and made >>>my >>>thoughts known to you. 24 But since you rejected me when I called and no >>>one gave heed when I stretched out my hand, 25 since you ignored all my >>>advice and would not accept my rebuke, 26 I in turn will laugh at your >>>disaster;I will mock when calamity overtakes you-- 27 when calamity >>>overtakes you like a storm,when disaster sweeps over you like a >>>whirlwind,when distress and trouble overwhelm you. >>>28 "Then they will call to me but I will not answer;they will look for me >>>but will not find me. 29 Since they hated knowledge and did not choose to >>>fear the LORD, 30 since they would not accept my advice and spurned my >>>rebuke, 31 they will eat the fruit of their ways and be filled with the >>>fruit of their schemes. 32 For the waywardness of the simple will kill >>>them,and the complacency of fools will destroy them; 33 but whoever >>>listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm." >> >> >> __________ NOD32 1.1517 (20060502) Information __________ >> >> This message was checked by NOD32 antivirus system. >> http://www.eset.com >> >> > > > __________ NOD32 1.1517 (20060502) Information __________ > > This message was checked by NOD32 antivirus system. > http://www.eset.com > >