Bronze Snake,  Your story touched me even more than the first..... the lessons we learn (and a lot of us have to learn the hard way),,,, God had a reason for letting this happen...
       Did this event in some way begin your search for Jesus? or in any way attribute to it?  I am interested because of the things in my past.
       I was a week-end warrior of a sort ,,,,, we got together every week-end with friends and drank ourselves stupid a lot of times... thinking it was fun, but I feel now, that we were both searching for something to fill our lives and were totally lost on how to go about it... not happy with our lives the way they were, we just go into the habit of going out and letting loose, (no excuses, just explaining), thinking that we were having a blast and we were hurting no one but ourselves.....
        I look back now and I am ashamed, our children have no backround in the foundation of having Christ in their lives from childhood,,,, we went to church for a while, but slid quick and fast away from it and it was years before we came back to Him.... Now, neither one of my sons are saved,,,, neither one know very much about Him, except what we witness to them and neither one of them go to church.....
      I pray for them daily, and my husband and I witness when there is an opprotunity, praying that seeing how God has changed our lives is the greatest witness of all!
        I know when they drink etc, they know how I feel now, but they always bring my past up and I have to come back with, Yes, I did it, I'm ashamed of it now, and just because I did it, I know the consequences.... and they could have been sooooo much worse........ God uses our lives to witness to others,,,, our now, and our past!!!
       You witness may be moving someone who reads or hears it to truly think twice, or maybe there is something to this Jesus thing!!!!! You never know what kind of impact your life has on someone else....
        I do notice that when there is some tragedy, or illness, etc, my youngest (31) always calls to ask me to get the prayer chain started for whoever is in distress,  and Praise God, each time so far, prayer has been answered positively!
   Both boys do go to church for special occassions and my Grand son goes with us to Sunday School and Vacation Bible School,,, the little one (18 months) will be going with us when he gets old enough.!!!!    So there is light at the end of the tunnel!!!!!!!       . God bless,   Joy
     

Black eyed peas,,,,, my opinion exactly!!!
    What you did when you were young ( and there were plenty of bad decisions, choices, and plain stupidity) you would hope you learned a lesson with the wrong choices and that a little wisdom happened in the years in between then and now!!!
      I know for myself, I used to drink every week-end and thought it was just fun and I was hurting no one but myself!! (yeah, right)  
       We I matured I found out that I might have been harming not only my liver, stomach, etc.... but that my kids were witnessing their mother and father being totally stupid with their friends and that the relationship between by husband and I suffered because of it....
       Right now, I could easily go out and fight for laws banning drinking and driving, banning alcohol from all public games (baseball, football, etc) because of the violence and language that is used at the games... and the stupid things that people tend to do when drunk!
         Do you think for one moment, because I drank like a fish and was stupid enough to get drunk as a skunk when I was young, and that now, that I have matured and I look back and see the harm that it did, I don't have a right to fight the things that made it possible!!!! PLEASE!! Use some common sense here!!!
        The thing about President Bush that I admire is that he admits to doing these things and that he admits that they were stupid, and he is doing something to help people not to make the same stupid things that he did.... May we all not be found guilty for the things we did in the past, in our youth! There would be a billion people who could not be forgiven for the things we did..... that God , He forgives us when we admit to Him how stupid we were, and ask forgiveness, and then turn from that sin!
       Forgive, and you shall be forgiven.... there is a reason that is in the Bible you know,,,, may we have the wisdom to do so!!!!        Joy

 
     Bronze Snake,,, great story!!! Thanks,  Joy

Cnwats,,,, I know it is hard when you are down to look up, but sometimes it is the thing to do.
     there is no one who feels Gods presence all the time, that is where faith comes in.... Knowing in your heart and soul that even when you can't feel Him you know He is there.
        I have days where I ask Him why I can't feel Him especially when I have trying days or something awful happens to someone and you are in your humanness trying to figure out why things like that happens.
        That is when you get down on your knees, look up, put out your hands and ask Him to take them and lead you on!
Get out your Bible and read, read, read! asking Him to comfort you with His words.....
      there are always days of being down, upset, angry, afraid, but you take those feelings  and give them to Him. He'll take care of them for you... keep up the praying during the day. talking to Him as you would your best friend, because He is !
     Also, something I have found out in the 55 years I have been walking, running, and tripping, falling down and getting up again on this earth is,,,, choice!
   We can chose to focus on the terrible things, making them five times worse than they really are, or we can choose to do something positive with them.... our choice, no one els's.
    We can get up in the morning and choose to make a great day of it or we can stay in bed and pull the covers over our head and give up!!!
         Oh well, nuff said!!!! I will pray for you that things will turn your way, but you must do something about it yourself too!!!   You make an effort to reach out to Him and  you will be pleasently surprised to find Him waiting there with His hand already out to you!!!
           God bless, Joy

 
Sammy, Sammy what are we goin to do with you???
   Oblivion is not my bag!  I am lookin forward to spending eternity with my Lord and Savior.  In the home He has gone to get ready for me and Praise God He's comin back to get me!
    Spending days with Him, who is so radiant that we need no sun or moon.... Finding out all the answers to all the questions we have been throwing around down here.... and having them all answered completely.....
    I would gladly spend eternity as a janitor in heaven if I could be close to Jesus!!!  It will take an eternity to praise Him and thank Him for doing what He has done for us all!!! Taken our sin and our hate, and got rid of it with His death on the cross.... saving us all from hell, who believe in Him!!  
          I CAN'T WAIT!!!! OBLIVION?   I DON'T THINK SO!! ETERNITY!!YES!!!          JOY

Ambassadore   AMEN!!!!!
   there are sooooo many reasons I love Christianity.... One of the greatest is that we have a Living God!!! All others are either dead or inanimate rocks etc.....
        Because of Christ's love, compassion, His fairness, His righteousness, His giving His life for me!  I love what He does to a life that asks Him to be God of their life.... I have seen some pretty scroungy characters become wonderful born again Christians, dedicating their lives for Him and His kingdom.
         I look forward to spending eternity with Him, in the wonderful home He went ahead to get ready for me, and Praise God, He's coming back to get me!!!!
           THAT'S WHY I CHOSE AND LOVE CHRISTIANITY, THE DAY TO DAY RELATIONSHIP I ENJOY WITH HIM!
                      Joy

Thank you Forrest,,, the sights were wonderful!!!
 Joy    

Symphony,  Where in the world do you find those cute pictures?   Joy

I tried this on another womans sight , Shelovesgod.com ,  and it seemed to make some of them really happy to look back and smile!
   What are some of your happiest memories of your childhood?
Any time any place!
       I remember I had a great childhood.  It was back in the late 50's early 60's and a lifetime away from here.
      I lived in a small town, and a gang of us used to walk to downtown, about 2 miles away.... never even thinking twice of some mad man taking us or hurting us.
        We rode bikes from morning till dusk. Playing kick-ball, a game called release.  Soft ball.  We were out side from after breakfast, a break for lunch, and  supper, then out till the 9:00 whistle blew and everyone had to be home be that 9:00 whistle, summer or not!!!!
        Lemonade stands selling glasses for 10 cents  a piece. Saturday matinees at the theater where we would get in for 35 cents and see a double feature.... At Easter they gave away two colored peeps (live ones) and the grand prize was a live rabbitt!!!! (Mom loved that one!!!) Guess who took care of the little critters???
          Going with my best friend (who I still have today) and picking johnny jump ups and all kinds of wild flowers for our moms for Mothers Day!  They loved them!!!!
          I could go on forever,,,, I really did have a wonderful childhood,,,, my mom was the best!  She never complained when I brought all my friends home and we played in our yard and always was there for me when I got home from school and was with me all summer,,,, she didn't work outside the home..... First words out of my mouth when I got home from school,,,, Mom, I'm home!!!!!
          Well, I am anxious to read what some of your memories are...... What were some of the things you did when you were little..... what are your fondest memories of your childhood.... were your times as innocent as mine???
                   God bless,  Joy

I always think of the words  'Happiness is----" and I wonder if we truly know what it is or do we make it fit the way we live.
     I always have felt that happiness is when you have a light heart, a feeling of peace and joy over something or someone, or just you life in general.  
      We all know we get times of depression and a sadness over situations, or life happenings,  but when are you your happiest?
         At the birth of a child?  Your wedding?  Watching God's perfect world around you?  Watching your son or daughter lying asleep in their beds, smelling fresh from their bath, with the look of innocence on their dear faces?  
      Smelling your moms or grandmas famous pumpkin pie or their hand made buns and bread?
 Hearing a meadow lark or a cardinal sing their little hearts out?    The sight of your own children with thier babies in their arms?
         There are soooo many reasons we should be happy. God gave us so much here in this country, on this earth, may we always be thankful, happy and praising Him for it all!!!!
         Just thought it would be nice to sit back and really think of all the times the word happy would have fit the occassion........ God bless,,,, Joy

DITTO!!!  
    I look back on my life before I met Jesus, and I see how lonely, miserable, and wretched I was.  I was never happy, always wanting for something, or unhappy with what I had.
   After I met my Savior, I see that I am never alone, always have someone to go to when I need help or comfort. I am derliously happy that He saved my soul, made me whole, and always is there to help me.
       I thank Him every day for what He did for me and my husband, and I pray every day for the souls of my two sons. I know in my heart that He will bring them in to Him, maybe not before I go, but before they do!!!!
      I believe that He will give me far beyond anything I ever ask for, and I don't mean money or things..... A place of my own in Heaven that He Himself made ready for me.....
     Praise God, I would have been crazy and sad if I hadn't acceppted my Lord and Savior as my own and I will be forever grateful!!!!! That is why my name is
          JOY!!!!

I always felt that prayer was a form of communication with our Father in heaven.  Jesus told us to pray continually and ask and it shall be given, etc.
    If Jesus, being Gods' only begotten Son prayed continually, asking for things, but in the end , saying not mine but thy will be done, we are to do the same.
    As far as changing  or interfering with the Master plan, God knows when and what you will pray and He knows His answer, as far as I believe.  
          God wants us to come to Him with everything in our lives, not just when we're in trouble, or sad, or wanting.  We are to pray for others, for needs, pray with thanksgiving, and joy, in mourning, and for just any reason you can think of.
        We talk to our earthly fathers, asking for needs, talking about our day, thanking them for things they have done for us, etc.   They love us very much, but nothing like the way our Father in Heaven loves us..... He wants us to rely on Him for everything, and we can't do that if we can't 'talk ' to Him, and praise Him , and thank Him, and believe that what He answers is for our best interest, not just something given to us because we selfishly ask for it.
          That is how I believe it is,,,,, it seems others somewhat agree with it....... Joy

Just finished Armageddon,,,, great!  Also love the book "Heaven, My Fathers House" by Anne Grahm Lotz. It was wonderful, I highly recommend it!  
                             Joy

Loved it!!! What a cute article,,, and I don't care who wrote it either!!!   Joy

It is a good thought!  I am sometimes amazed at the importance we place on getting somewhere, getting something, getting ahead, and just plain getting , that we miss all the wonderful 'small' things that God has in store for us.  
   Slowing down is a good way not to miss them and to also take some 'time' to spend a moment or two of our busy day with He who gave us the day to begin with.
    I was setting out on my back porch a few days ago, early in the morning, just looking and listening...... what a joy to be able to do that! Seeing the sun, hearing the birds, smelling the wonderful air that is there first thing in the morning.... talking to Him, and most importantly, listening FOR HIM!
      We need to get back to enjoying the simple things in life and quit making everything in our lives soooo complicated and earth shattering when things don't go our own way.....
    The sun will still come up tomorrow and the birds will still sing.  The earth won't stop on its axis if you don't get something done that 'should' have been done, it will still be there tomorrow....
    Granted there are still things that do 'have ' to get done, like your jobs etc.... but we make ourselves so busy with other things that time gets away from us and the day is gone and we didn't take one moment of it to talk to Him.... say thank you, ask for help for our busy day, ask Him to bless us and use us the way He wants to......
          thanks again,,,,,, Joy