Administrators Gail Posted December 10, 2014 Administrators Posted December 10, 2014 Well, here we are again. It's the time of year that is supposed to be happy and many things. For many it becomes a nightmare of loneliness, fighting or drunkenness. Those who are poor face the blast of merchandise calling them in the stores. What helps you get through the holidays? Quote Isaiah 32:17 And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.
Administrators Naomi Posted December 10, 2014 Administrators Posted December 10, 2014 Don't over think it ... it you have no plans with family or friends, get a huge box of chocolates, books, videos, & comfort food. Then proceed to make plans to pamper yourself (yes, guys can to that also) Last year was the first Christmas that I was totally alone in a "strange" town ... I knew I would be alone so I went shopping for me and my pampering ... just another day ... wrote my sermon for the next Sabbath ... read...called friends and family ... took a long, hot bubble bath with nice music and candles. All my family and friends were healthy, safe and so was I ... How much better can life be. It is what we make it aka, JoeMo and Gail 3 Quote If your dreams are not big enough to scare you, they are not big enough for God
LifeHiscost Posted December 10, 2014 Posted December 10, 2014 It is what we make Almost to the day, two years ago we, wife and self, had two vehicle accidents, the first accident being instrumental in the next one. This brought about enough trauma to make up for the previous 10 or 20 years when we lived in peace that many just dream about. During that time it was hard to be satisfied with the comment above. It definitely made a lot of second thoughts enter our sense of security. We never run out of our need for the prayers of others to bring us home safely. God is Love! Jesus saves! Quote Lift Jesus up!!
Administrators Naomi Posted December 11, 2014 Administrators Posted December 11, 2014 Almost to the day, two years ago we, wife and self, had two vehicle accidents, the first accident being instrumental in the next one. This brought about enough trauma to make up for the previous 10 or 20 years when we lived in peace that many just dream about. During that time it was hard to be satisfied with the comment above. It definitely made a lot of second thoughts enter our sense of security. We never run out of our need for the prayers of others to bring us home safely. God is Love! Jesus saves! Yes, it is so true that we never run out of our need for the prayers of others to bring us home safely ... or to be safe. I am so sorry to hear about your two vehicle accidents and the issues which you had to deal with due to them. I can understand how traumatized you both were with two accidents. I get that. I spent mother's last Christmas eve alone with her knowing that it was highly unlikelihood that she would be alive in the morning. It was a long night but I continued to read aloud her favorite scriptures and talk about good family memories. No, I don't know if she heard or not, but hopefully she could comprehend. Christmas was her favorite season of the year. She would began preparing for the next one before decorations were taken down. Of course I remember that Christmas and a couple of others which I would rather not repeat. This is not meant to sound self-righteous or callous, but in my heart I know that I did all that I could do at the time. I could not prevent anything that happened. Yes, I have memories some very, very heartbreaking and some very happy, but try to focus on all the years of good things ... I still maintain that it is what you make it. Gail and LifeHiscost 2 Quote If your dreams are not big enough to scare you, they are not big enough for God
LifeHiscost Posted December 11, 2014 Posted December 11, 2014 I still maintain it is what you make it. …18so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us. 19This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, 20where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.....Hebrews 6 This is how I make it. Thank you for your interest. We're praying for you among a number of others, some living on the edge. Keep looking up! God is Love! Jesus saves! Quote Lift Jesus up!!
Sojourner Posted December 12, 2014 Posted December 12, 2014 A chap that I know used to work as a taxi driver and used to work on Christmas day because of the additional wages paid for working on the holiday. His observation was that those people he picked up to take to Christmas celebrations and functions were generally in quite a good mood and quite generous with tips and gifts and so forth. However by around 2pm he suggested that attitudes tended to change quite a bit and he would often begin pick ups at family homes where fights and arguements had broken out and people were leaving early. Often people would make remarks like "Thank G-d we don't have to see them for another 12 months" and so forth.. My suggestion is that if you are holding a Christmas gathering at your place, spare a few invites for people at church or people you know that do not have anywhere to go and embrace them into your own family Christmas gathering and share the love around a little. If you are on your own I agree with the above and would add a good selection of DVD's to the mix! Gail, Liz and Naomi 3 Quote
Administrators Naomi Posted December 12, 2014 Administrators Posted December 12, 2014 This is how I make it. Thank you for your interest. We're praying for you among a number of others, some living on the edge. Keep looking up! God is Love! Jesus saves! Yes, clinging to our Lord in Blessed Hope is an awesome gift. Thank you for your prayers, we all need to pray for each other. You and your lovely wife are remembered in my daily prayers. May you have the blessings of peace, hope and love today and always. Gail and LifeHiscost 2 Quote If your dreams are not big enough to scare you, they are not big enough for God
Administrators Naomi Posted December 12, 2014 Administrators Posted December 12, 2014 My suggestion is that if you are holding a Christmas gathering at your place, spare a few invites for people at church or people you know that do not have anywhere to go and embrace them into your own family Christmas gathering and share the love around a little. If you are on your own I agree with the above and would add a good selection of DVD's to the mix! I appreciated the account of your friend who drove a taxi and his observation. Yes I agree that inviting a few people who have no place to go is such a kind and rewarding thing to do. It seems to be just what our family has always done ... without planning. For this last Thanksgiving my family came to visit for a couple of days. I was excited about seeing my immediate family for the first time in a long time, and was surprised when a couple of neighbors showed up for Thanksgiving diner, compliments of my kids who met them in snow ball fights or building snow men. You don't have to look far to see those who need an "adopted" family for holiday times .... (or other times) Being alone was actually a good thing ... thank you for the reminder of the DVD's Sojourner, Gail and Liz 3 Quote If your dreams are not big enough to scare you, they are not big enough for God
Sojourner Posted December 13, 2014 Posted December 13, 2014 I think that having an attitude that your table is open to anyone to join you for a meal is a great way to live our Christian faith and something that brings blessings to us without meaning to! - I hope Christmas works well for you Naomi, you are a great encouragement to so many people in here and very much appreciated by us all. Naomi, LifeHiscost and Gail 3 Quote
Administrators Gail Posted December 13, 2014 Author Administrators Posted December 13, 2014 I think that having an attitude that your table is open to anyone to join you for a meal is a great way to live our Christian faith and something that brings blessings to us without meaning to! - I hope Christmas works well for you Naomi, you are a great encouragement to so many people in here and very much appreciated by us all. Yes, she really is! Sojourner and Naomi 2 Quote Isaiah 32:17 And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.
LifeHiscost Posted December 29, 2014 Posted December 29, 2014 Yes, it is so true that we never run out of our need for the prayers of others to bring us home safely ... or to be safe. I am so sorry to hear about your two vehicle accidents and the issues which you had to deal with due to them. I can understand how traumatized you both were with two accidents. I get that. I spent mother's last Christmas eve alone with her knowing that it was highly unlikelihood that she would be alive in the morning. It was a long night but I continued to read aloud her favorite scriptures and talk about good family memories. No, I don't know if she heard or not, but hopefully she could comprehend. Christmas was her favorite season of the year. She would began preparing for the next one before decorations were taken down. Of course I remember that Christmas and a couple of others which I would rather not repeat. This is not meant to sound self-righteous or callous, but in my heart I know that I did all that I could do at the time. I could not prevent anything that happened. Yes, I have memories some very, very heartbreaking and some very happy, but try to focus on all the years of good things ... I still maintain that it is what you make it. It's interesting that my mother from a second marriage, only about 16 years older than myself, passed just a couple of days before this Christmas, no doubt partially from an infection of recent and subsequently a fast moving colon cancer that had metastasized to the liver, all this after many, many years of excellent health due to regular use of bee pollen, according to her. We live a thousand miles from her and being a 24/7 caregiver myself, had little opportunity to see her before she passed, and due to her own memory problems in the last year of her life, all of our calls went through a caregiver before we were allowed to talk with her. My sister (step) called to let me know how peaceful her passing was and my son called to give his condolences. While I sympathized with their sorrow, I only had sorrow that death was almost always a prerequisite for the transition of even the most godly person before their next step to eternal life. Since I knew my mother was placing her trust in Jesus as Lord and was now peacefully asleep, I became aware of the reality of this promise, even knowing death is an enemy. …54But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, "DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory. 55"O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?"....1 Cor 15 emphasis theirs' LHC 13Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 14For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18Therefore encourage one another with these words. Even so, Come Lord Jesus!! God is Love! Jesus saves! Quote Lift Jesus up!!
LifeHiscost Posted December 29, 2014 Posted December 29, 2014 I get that. ... I still maintain that it is what you make it. It's interesting that my mother from a second marriage, only about 16 years older than myself, passed just a couple of days before this Christmas, no doubt partially from an infection of recent and subsequently a fast moving colon cancer that had metastasized to the liver, all this after many, many years of excellent health due to regular use of bee pollen, according to her. We live a thousand miles from her and being a 24/7 caregiver myself, had little opportunity to see her before she passed, and due to her own memory problems in the last year of her life, all of our calls went through a caregiver before we were allowed to talk with her. My sister (step) called to let me know how peaceful her passing was and my son called to give his condolences. While I sympathized with their sorrow, I only had sorrow that death was almost always a prerequisite for the transition of even the most godly person before their next step to eternal life. Since I knew my mother was placing her trust in Jesus as Lord and was now peacefully asleep, I became aware of the reality of this promise, even knowing death is an enemy. …54But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, "DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory. 55"O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?"....1 Cor 15 emphasis theirs' LHC 13Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 14For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18Therefore encourage one another with these words. Even so, Come Lord Jesus!! God is Love! Jesus saves! Quote Lift Jesus up!!
Administrators Gail Posted December 30, 2014 Author Administrators Posted December 30, 2014 Before THIS Christmas, LifeHisCost? Like, just a couple days ago? Sending a couple of warm hugs your way! :grouphug: Quote Isaiah 32:17 And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.
Administrators Naomi Posted January 1, 2015 Administrators Posted January 1, 2015 LifeHisCost, I am so very sorry for your loss .... I wish I had words that would heal and take away the emptiness .... Yes Heaven will be a time of reunion and rejoicing. I believe the warm hugs that Gail sent are most appropriate ... please allow me to send more hugs your way Quote If your dreams are not big enough to scare you, they are not big enough for God
LifeHiscost Posted January 1, 2015 Posted January 1, 2015 Posted Yesterday, 06:14 PM LifeHisCost, I am so very sorry for your loss .... I wish I had words that would heal and take away the emptiness .... Yes Heaven will be a time of reunion and rejoicing. I believe the warm hugs that Gail sent are most appropriate ... please allow me to send more hugs your way Posted 30 December 2014 - 06:45 AM Before THIS Christmas, LifeHisCost? Like, just a couple days ago? Sending a couple of warm hugs your way! Thank you so much for those hugs. They are one of the few things I never seem to have any spiritual struggle with accepting in my head in this world, in which the prince of this world hasn't been able to interfere with, indicating to me they come with Jesus' especial attention, somewhat like a "special delivery" package direct from the throne of grace. And yes it was just a couple of days before Christmas this year. I've heard for every person who one receives a coveted gift, their are 10 others who wish they had done the same, so my thanks and best wishes go out to them also, especially that their new year will prove to be all for which they hope God is Love! Jesus saves! Quote Lift Jesus up!!
JoeMo Posted January 1, 2015 Posted January 1, 2015 LHC, May God send you and your family a deluge of peace and comfort. Your spirituality and faith will see you though times like this. LifeHiscost 1 Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.