Evangelical Christian, America-first Patriot, Conservative, Born and raised in Florida; Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Florida and Indiana, Teletherapist.
I am on X only to stay informed. I am not here looking for a hook-up, girlfriend or wife. If I do happen to meet someone special, they will already be a Christian. Please don't DM or follow me if all you do is send me racy photos of yourself. This is offensive and is a complete turn-off to me.
Forgiveness vs Reconciliation
When we forgive someone, it does not mean we automatically give them access to hurt us again. Forgiveness is one-sided. I stop carrying the offense. I say, "Guilty as charged but I choose to drop all charges spiritually and emotionally". I let God handle it including retribution.
Forgiveness is not reconciliation. Reconciliation can only occur when the offender shows genuine repentance. God does not call us to show up for more abuse from narcissistic sociopaths. He does not require us to reconcile with others only forgive them. When it comes to forgiveness, don't buy into "Folk theology" that is masochistic. Forgiveness without boundaries damages your soul! How can we love our neighbor as ourselves if we don't love ourselves enough to set proper boundaries?
What do you think?
Jake, you are not a journalist. You are a socialist shill for the fake news. How do you look in the mirror after you knowingly lie to the American people? It reminds me of a Don Henley song, Garden of Allah, "I'm a gun for hire, I'm a saint, I'm a liar because there are no facts, there is no truth, just data to be manipulated I can get you any result you like....what's it worth to ya?
Because there is no wrong, there is no right And I sleep very well at night no shame, no solution no remorse, no retribution just people selling t-shirts just opportunity to participate in this pathetic little circus and winning, winning, winning" SMH
Hard times do not last forever. The sun comes up every brand, new morning. Intense emotions are not facts, only feelings. They will not last forever. Never even consider using a permanent solution to solve a temporary problem no matter how broken you feel! Reach out for help! Rascal Flatts - Why https://t.co/d04OifFA1E via @YouTube
Is it Wrong for a Christian to Be Wealthy?
I was having coffee with God, this morning at Hobe Sound public beach. The skies were clear. There was a gentle breeze with temperatures in the upper 50's, The seas were 1-2 ft and calm. The horizon was being backlit by the rising sun with a multicolor hue as I arrived. This is the type of sunrise that I always look forward to.
As I was waiting for the sun to rise the scripture came to mind,
"Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy". (1 Timothy 6:17 NKJV). It is not easy to balance finances and faith. We spend a lot of our waking hours working to get the resources to support ourselves. Some do better than others. Is that evil?
Look at the way Paul explains it. "Those who ARE rich", his audience. "Not to be haughty NOR trust in UNCERTAIN riches" but in the living God WHO GIVES US ALL THINGS RICHLY TO ENJOY". It goes without saying that God prospers believers who honor Him. It is never wrong to enjoy what God has richly blessed us with. I like the way the psalmist said it, ". . . If riches increase, do not set your heart on them". Psalm 62:10b (NKJV).
As the sun lit up the eastern sky with its glory, I could hear, in my mind, the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel's Messiah, being sung by a huge choir. Tears welled up in my eyes as the words sank in, "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever”! It was a beautiful moment.
I was having coffee with God this morning at Hobe Sound public beach. The temperature was in the mid 60's; winds ENE at 15-20 mph. Seas were 1-3 ft. with strong rip current and loud. Not as many people showed up. I was glad that I chose to wear jeans instead of shorts. The wind was non-stop and would cut right through you if you were not covered up.
As I was awaiting the grand appearance of the rising sun, I was thinking about the sunrise from Tuesday. When I got to the beach Tuesday morning, it was very overcast and sporadic sprinkling rain. The sun did not rise in the way that I expected it to. I did not see the massive ball rising out of the horizon towards the sky with blazing light. Instead, the ambient light gave clear evidence that the sun indeed had risen without a grand entrance to Hobe Sound observers. It reminded me that God is ALWAYS with us, but He may not show up the way we expect Him to. The sun NEVER dims. Our environment can obscure it, but it is never extinguished and it still illuminates the sky.
"Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrew 13:5 NKJV
@Ducnghia16 Thanks for posting this very uplifting video. There is enough hate and war out there. We need to remember, daily, how good people can be! Some people do not know that Shaq has an earned PhD. So, shout out to Dr. O'Neal!
Bummer Lamb
"When my father and my mother forsake me, Then the Lord will take care of me". Psalm 27:10 (NKJV)
“Can a woman forget her nursing child, and not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely, they may forget, Yet I will not forget you. See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands.
Your walls are continually before Me". Isaiah 49:15-16 (NKJV)
Some of us grew up feeling/being "rejected" by parents who were not mentally healthy enough to be our parents. Oh, they fed us, clothed us, and kept a roof over our heads but that is about where it stopped. Verbal and/or physical abuse is common, and some are even sexually abused. This reminds us of the "Bummer lamb".
At times an ewe gives birth to a lamb and instantly rejects it. She refuses to nurse it or be near it. If the shepherd does not intervene, the lamb will die from a broken spirit.
The shepherd removes the lamb from its mother and holds the lamb close to keep it warm and let it hear his heartbeat. He also bottle-feeds and cares for it until it gets healthy enough to return to the flock. These lambs, that were rejected, develop a closer relationship with the shepherd than the other lambs. When the shepherd calls the sheep, the "bummer lambs" are the first to respond and move towards him. I will always be a "bummer lamb"! What about you?
Bummer Lamb
"When my father and my mother forsake me, Then the Lord will take care of me". Psalm 27:10 (NKJV)
“Can a woman forget her nursing child, and not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely, they may forget, Yet I will not forget you. See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands.
Your walls are continually before Me". Isaiah 49:15-16 (NKJV)
Some of us grew up feeling/being "rejected" by parents who were not mentally healthy enough to be our parents. Oh, they fed us, clothed us, and kept a roof over our heads but that is about where it stopped. Verbal and/or physical abuse is common, and some are even sexually abused. This reminds us of the "Bummer lamb".
At times an ewe gives birth to a lamb and instantly rejects it. She refuses to nurse it or be near it. If the shepherd does not intervene, the lamb will die from a broken spirit.
The shepherd removes the lamb from its mother and holds the lamb close to keep it warm and let it hear his heartbeat. He also bottle-feeds and cares for it until it gets healthy enough to return to the flock. These lambs, that were rejected, develop a closer relationship with the shepherd than the other lambs. When the shepherd calls the sheep, the "bummer lambs" are the first to respond and move towards him. I will always be a "bummer lamb"! What about you?
Many people, who lost their father, were challenged to understand his seeming lack of meaningful conversation, expressed emotions and outward affection. This video is one of my favorites to help people get some insight about men in general and their father specifically. https://t.co/nUmEV4qeUY via @YouTube
Real Preaching
"Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching". II Timothy 4:2 (NKJV)
Some people reading this would interpret it to mean, "preach our traditions". Some would interpret it to mean, "always be positive sharing the Word". I am afraid that many have usurped the wording of this passage without the substance behind what the apostle Paul actually meant.
"So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it". Isaiah 55:11 (NKJV). How much of the preaching, that we hear today, fits into the spirit of this passage?
The result of this dissonance is, "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables" II Timothy 4:3-4 (NKJV).
Lord help us!
Unfinished Business
I was thinking back on my early counseling career. One of my mentors, Dr. Brainard Hines, working with juvenile sex offenders, told us newbies, "You can't need anything from these young men, or they will use it against you".
What he was warning us about was that we all have unfinished business that can make us vulnerable to manipulation and control. We should not be dependent on others for praise, acceptance, validation etc. or we give up our power to them!
One of my professors, at Liberty University, Dr. Smith, told us, "You do not have to have all of your issues resolved to be a counselor, but you do need to know what they are". These issues can be triggered during our interactions with others.
We need to take inventory of our relationships. Are we giving up our power because we have unfinished business? Do we keep saying "yes" when we want to say "no"? Does anyone's opinion of you mean "too much"? Do you feel like you always have to "prove yourself"?
@AntiWokeMemes If that "transwoman" has XY chromosomes, external male genitalia, and no natural breasts, you are in a GAY relationship and pretending to be heterosexual. Narratives twist reality. Facts do not lie.
@67gta390 Toronado. It was an Oldsmobile with front-wheel drive. My mother's boyfriend had one. I got to drive it some. Yes, I squalled the tires taking off.
@lippyent Audie Murphy - The most decorated infantryman in the US Army during WWII. The Marines did not want him. He almost had to beg the US Army for a chance to serve. He was an excellent marksman. The baby-faced, poor boy from Texas showed uncommon valor in combat.