This past weekend we have noticed 2 very different tree bugs outside.  I have not seen these before and they almost look like they cross bread.  Very unusual and concerning for me.

Jannie

So sorry to hear about this.  I have been through it twice myself.  I can only say that God got me through both situations.  He taught me how to cope through His love for me.  It is hard to accept it happening when you are not the one asking for it. But the good news is that God knows you didn't ask for it also.  He guides you through the rough days and nights.  I found it very comforting reading Psalms and listening to Praise music.  HE is there with you every step of the way.  Please do not let this discourage you in your walk with the LORD.  I will pray for you.

Faithgranny

Amen Maryjane

It sounds like a great ministry.  I certainly hope they stop by DC.  If they do, I hope they make a special trip to Capital Hill.

 

LOL Oh how I do agree with that.  I lived in D.C. as a child and worked there part of my adult life

Faithgranny

Amen Brother Tom

Faithgranny

Pastor Roger - That is a tough question to ask.  I want "One Nation under God".  Sad to say that this nation is not like that. Our nation was founded on Trusting in God and the nation now trust more in the material things than in God.

That's my take on it.

there are a lot of good topics going on here.
I am glad you are well and had a good day

I will keep you in my prayers and keep your peers in my prayers also.  They need the prayers for a caring heart.

You are a remakable person and The Lord knows this  - He does not turn His back on any child of His.

Good Morning to everyone

Hope all had a nice and safe holiday with family and friends - I know I did

I have been very busy and away but for the moment I am here.

Blessings

I have read the replies and very sound advice has been given.  I am writing to tell you that I know how you do feel though because I was in a very familiar situation long ago myself.  I prayed and prayed and prayed for guidance on my relationship with this man hearing everything you have heard and believing everything you have heard also.  I actually had convinced myself at one point that God gave me this man to change his life around.  This was not true and as I read my Bible I started realizing this. So no matter what I prayed for to change, it did not. More lies, more lies and more lies.  I did love him but the day came when I took my stand for Jesus in this relationship (I was a Christian then but had lost my way). The wonderful part of this was that I realized that God was there all the time waiting for me to act on His word and not just read it.  I broke it off and cried a million tears, but the more I cried and read the Bible and prayed; the more He showed me what I was too blind to see.  In asking Him for forgiveness for this terrible road that I ventured on I am forgiven.  I have forgiven this man also and still pray for him to this day. I live my life now for Jesus and if there be someone out there for me; He will show me because He knows who is best for me and I will not choose again on my own.
I am truly happy for the first time in my life after many years.  So for you, find a Bible based Church, give your life over to Jesus and let Him take control. Hard yes, but not for long because the strength that you will receive from the Father is truly amazing as He is. 

I have heard from this man since but I will not be persuaded again and he knows this.

You are young and have many good years ahead of you to share with someone who loves you for who you are inside and out. God will help you all the way.  The hardest step that you will take is letting go and letting God, but for that you will never live another day in dilemma.  I am going to keep you in my prayers for that step.  I do sence that you do really want to take that step. Don't be afraid. God is there with you - take His hand - He Loves You.

[The LORD enables us to do all good things. WITH HIM, many things are possible, including the salvage of so-called problem kids. Those so-called problem kids didn't start out that way. They had a lot of dedicated neglect and abuse over a period of years to get where they are. We can help them in may ways, but only the LORD can cure them.[/quote]Thank you Tom - It is so true about our very own children in our very own states that are still lacking the basic necessities of life. And I do know some families that have very little but have a stong foundation in their homes with the children because they do place the LORD first and center in their lives. Then there are families that their isn't much of one to go home to; so to speak. And yes also to the $$$ thingy because of lack of time or envolvement with the kids. $$$ DOES NOT MAKE THINGS BETTER IF IT IS FOR THE WRONG REASON. How did that saying go "The more you make; the more you want - the more you can buy; the better you will feel". NO, I know of no one who is happy and content with a lot of earthly riches. Most are rather sad and lonely. So to me if you are just working on the kids; you don't know if you are really helping them until you know their families. And if you work with a family as a whole then there is a chance for change. I know it is not always easy to work with a family. And Pastor Roger knows this better than I do; but one thing we can do for our youth in our cities is pray for them. Pray everytime you see a group of kids hanging out on corners or anywhere. You might be the closest person they have that really does care in way that they do not know.Blessigns to AllFaithgranny]

The first thing that became apparent is every place is different, and every family is different. However, the kids are not that different until their overall environment impacts them - either in a positive or a negative way. They are the same in that they need love, care, belonging, and the necessities of life. We still have kids in this part of the world who go hungry and lack some of these basic necessities of life. I'm not talking about nice to have things, rather food, clothing, and basic care as a human being.

Family is definitely one of the most important factors effecting overall environment. The lack of love, care, and attention is what turns many kids into problem kids who might seek to solve their problems in gangs. Many of these so-called problem kids became problems because of neglect, abuse, and lack of proper role models in their homes. For a lot of these kids, being rich or poor is NOT the major ingredient that formed their problems over a period of years.

Brothers and Sisters, loving Christians can treat some of the symptoms of our diseased society, but it's very difficult to CURE a teen who has had a life of neglect and abuse. It's easy to give them food, clothes, and a temporary escape from the real root of their problems. However, they still go home to alcoholics, drug addicts, fighting, more neglect, more abuse, and a home that is broken in many ways.

 In fact, MONEY might be the cause of many problems. For many people, getting MONEY is more important than loving and caring for their family.


I'm talking about love, care, and the things of the LORD. For whatever reason, some folks think that throwing money at children takes care of all their responsibilities. We have many obligations to our family, and they should be done because of love and care - under the LORD.[/b]

There is no irony that those who raise their families under the LORD have love and care left over for others. The LORD enables us to do all good things. WITH HIM, many things are possible, including the salvage of so-called problem kids. Those so-called problem kids didn't start out that way. They had a lot of dedicated neglect and abuse over a period of years to get where they are. We can help them in may ways, but only the LORD can cure them.


[/quote]

Thank you Tom - It is so true about our very own children in our very own states that are still lacking the basic necessities of life. And I do know some families that have very little but have a stong foundation in their homes with the children because they do place the LORD first and center in their lives. 

Then there are families that their isn't much of one to go home to; so to speak.  And yes also to the $$$ thingy because of lack of time or envolvement with the kids.  $$$ DOES NOT MAKE THINGS BETTER IF IT IS FOR THE WRONG REASON. How did that saying go "The more you make; the more you want - the more you can buy; the better you will feel".  NO, I know of no one who is happy and content with a lot of earthly riches.  Most are rather sad and lonely.   

So to me if you are just working on the kids; you don't know if you are really helping them until you know their families. And if you work with a family as a whole then there is a chance for change.  I know it is not always easy to work with a family. And Pastor Roger knows this better than I do; but one thing we can do for our youth in our cities is pray for them.  Pray everytime you see a group of kids hanging out on corners or anywhere.  You might be the closest person they have that really does care in way that they do not know.

Blessigns to All
Faithgranny

Southern Baptists in strategy sessions for Baltimore evangelism project

Missionaries with the North American Mission Board (NAMB) of the Southern Baptist Convention are gearing up for evangelism projects targeting major U.S. cities next year. Baltimore is one of two "Strategic Focus Cities" where the NAMB will hold numerous witnessing efforts, including various acts of kindness, ministering to the homeless, and other outreaches.



For several years, the NAMB has focused on large metropolitan areas where Southern Baptists hold crusades, rallies, block parties, and other projects for one year. Although the Baltimore initiative does not kick off until next year, SBC pastors, NAMB workers, and volunteers are already taking part in strategy sessions.

Mitch Dowell is an NAMB missionary and is director of evangelism for the initiative known as "Embrace Baltimore." He says Baltimore is a unique city when it comes to strategic evangelism.

"Baltimore is uniquely a city of neighborhoods, and each neighborhood is uniquely different," Dowell says. "And so our approach has to be to develop a strategy for evangelism -- but whatever we're doing, that fits that neighborhood."

Stressing the neighborhood approach, Dowell says it is important to build relationships with those the volunteers are trying to reach. "I think that's probably key in a city like Baltimore," he says. "If you don't have a relationship with the folks, they just don't trust you. And so that takes a little time, but it's time well spent." And those who help out are being re-energized in their Christian walk, he notes.

Dowell says the need for a strong Christian witness is evident in Baltimore. For example, he says the city was recently named the second most dangerous city to live in in the U.S.

Baltimore City is where I ministry at with my church in one of the neighborhoods Great and caring people they are, always looking out for eachother and helping each other... The missionaries will be blessed.

My grandmother told me to pray to be usable and available..For we never know where God will lead us...This is the sum of what I do...I am currently working on a CD for my children...It is called.."From Your Mother with Love"...I know it will not be easy in the days to come and many will fall away...so..I felt in my heart to leave them encouragement to go on no matter what...I am leaving it to them to listen to when I am in glory that they know I will see them there...

Wow Maryjane the is wonderful.  I write in journals and I pray in them also.  I have one that I use just for the family I live with and it is about Salvation and my prayers for my family here.  I want to see them in Heaven but they have to make the choice.
Pray for them too please.

Faithgranny

Hi,
     late in the discussion here I read through most of the responses and first wanted to say, Sabbath on Sat or Sabbath on Sun shouldn't"t divide believers. What ever day you choice to keep holy or worship, the seventh or the first day it is a simple fact that we are directed by the word to keep it. Does it say any where in the scriptures that we aren't to worship on Sunday?

What I have always been taught is early Christians worshiped on Sunday because they wanted to separate from the Jewish believers. It makes perfect horse sense to believe this since a major population of the Jews  DID not believe Jesus was the son of God, and were persecuting Christians. Being followers of Christ kinda branded the early christians but all this was in God plan as well, we scattered and the word spread, God is so smart . The early Christians didn't have a "place" to worship and ended up having home churches such as Paul describes in Rom. 16:5
Greet also the church that meets at their house. speaking about Priscilla and Aquila.

Paul is having troulbe with the Jewish believes in Act 18:5-7. Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ. 6) But when the Jews opposed Paul and became abusive, he shook out his clothes in protest and said to them, "Your blood be on your own heads!" I am clear of my responsibility. From now on I will go to the Gentiles. 7) Then Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a worshiper of God....
Again in Acts 20:20 Paul says... taught you publicly and house to house.

I guess I don't truly understand what the debate is about? Is worshipping on the Sunday going to send anyone to hell? So anyway that is my two cents worth. 

blessings,
musicllover

Amen to you.  I choose to worship on Saturday.  It is my belief. It is my stand and if it is meant to be a mystery then we will all know about in the end.  For me it matters a lot and for any of you Sunday matters a lot.  I tell people that I witness to that I am not trying to bring them into my church I am helping them to know Jesus.

I teach Childrens Church from ages 2 - 7 and some come in that are up to 10.  I am making shawls and blankets for the needy in Baltimore area.  I purchase Bibles, CDs and books to hand out when I am there.

faithgranny