A CHRISTIAN THREAD

[tom_no.1]

Welcome to a place where Christ should be exalted and "Self" should be abased!!

Welcome to a place where the BIBLE can be discussed rationally, intelligently, and positively without unnecessary argument!!

Welcome to a place where prayer can be requested and encouraged!!

Welcome to a place where positive and encouraging thoughts from scripture can be shared in a caring and loving way!!

Welcome to a place away from all the arguments, recriminations, and negativity of the outside world!!

Welcome to a place of rest and safety!!

Welcome to a place where Philippians 2:3 is practiced: "Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves."

Welcome to this Christian thread.



(Please leave all aggression, bitterness, and philosophy outside the door and please wipe your feet before coming inside!!)


  

I live in my own little world. But it's OK... They know me Here!

[tough_old_bird]

Just hibernating...NEVER toast (doesn't matter what the rest of the world thinks! 😉 ).

[survivornikki]

(((((Kim)))))

[spendmama]

as with anything valuable and most precious (the lost sheep, the lost coin, the pearl of great price, the lost, etc. ... seek and ye shall find ... it will always take some searching 😉

(((all)))

how does one do a Sabbath rest when one's been resting all week?? It's like living the Garden of Eden experience (except for the showers) LOL ... sorry, don't mean to rub it in - I know weather conditions aren't the greatest in BC. I think I'll call home tomorrow again.

have a blessed weekend everyone.

[survivornikki]

((((Nellie)))) it is so lovely to hear from you. I am glad you are having such a nice relaxing time. :-x

[spendmama]

My worship & praise today meant perusing You-tube - too lazy to go find a church. Here are a couple I wanted to share ... both powerful messages ... thank you, Jesus ... thank you, Father God, thank you, Heavenly Comforter...hope my links work.

Shout to the Lord - Hillsong..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzNsEBPB-Z8

Watch the Lamb - Ray Boltz
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_L0AXVU5Ks

[survivornikki]

Nellie, your links work. Both very powerful, and the last one brings tears.

Thanks--I really appreciate your posts.

[themagicoftime]

Good afternoon folks ... just dropping in to cts for a couple of minutes ... I only check by once and awhile and rarely post anymore ...

I see that the main board still has lots of commotion on it ...

Some how I do not see how some of that advances the cause of Christ ... but then again I guess its only me ...

Anyway I found a neat quote in a devotional I receive on line .... thought of you guys and wanted to pass the thought along ...

A popular Christian song says, "God is too wise to be mistaken. God is too good to be unkind...so when you can't trace His hand, trust His heart."

it was a good one for me today ... anyway hope each one is doing well ... take care everyone ....

[survivornikki]

Hello to all,

Nice to see you Andrew.

Today I have been so blessed there is so much joy in my life right now. Thanks be to God for answered prayers.

[mazyvr]

(((Nikki)))

[gennalove]

Hi There..just popping in to say hi:)

[survivornikki]

Hello the 2Ws and welcome!

[valve37]

"I see that the main board still has lots of commotion on it ..."

Yes Andrew, thereon the spirit of the Antichrist is alive and prevalent these days! .
It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.
So true, look what man has done to the environment and has caused the world financial mess we find ourselves in.

[spendmama]

I know it's 'cut & paste' but it has an uplifiting message. I'm all for encouraging everyone and letting each know you are never insignificant. A kleenex box close by may come in handy. God bless...

MAGNOLIAS..........By Edna Ellison

I spent the week before my daughter's June wedding running last-minute trips to the caterer, florist, tuxedo shop, and the church about forty miles away.

As happy as I was that Patsy was marrying a good Christian young man, I felt laden with responsibilities as I watched my budget dwindle . .

So many details, so many bills, and so little time. My son, Jack, was away at college, but he said he would be there to walk his younger sister down the aisle, taking the place of his dad who had died a few years before. He teased Patsy, saying he'd wanted to give her away since she was about three-years-old!

To save money, I gathered blossoms from several friends who had large magnolia trees. Their luscious, creamy-white blooms and slick green leaves would make beautiful arrangements against the rich dark wood inside the church.

After the rehearsal dinner the night before the wedding, we banked the podium area and choir loft with magnolias. As we left just before midnight, I felt tired but satisfied this would be the best wedding any bride had ever had! The music, the ceremony, the reception - and especially the flowers - would be remembered for years.

The big day arrived - the busiest day of my life - and while her bridesmaids helped Patsy to dress, her fiancé, Tim, walked with me to the sanctuary to do a final check. When we opened the door and felt a rush of hot air, I almost fainted; and then I saw them - all the beautiful white flowers were black. Funeral black. An electrical storm during the night had knocked out the air conditioning system, and on that hot summer day, the flowers had wilted and died.

I panicked, knowing I didn't have time to drive back to our hometown, gather more flowers, and return in time for the wedding.

Tim turned to me. 'Edna, can you get more flowers? I'll throw away these dead ones and put fresh flowers in these arrangements.'

I mumbled, 'Sure,' as he be-bopped down the hall to put on his cuff links.

Alone in the large sanctuary, I looked up at the dark wooden beams in the arched ceiling. 'Lord,' Iprayed, 'please help me. I don't know anyone in this
town. Help me find someone willing to give me flowers - in a hurry!' I scurried out praying for four things: the blessing of white magnolias, courage to find them in an unfamiliar yard, safety from any dog that may bite my leg, and a nice person who would not get out a shotgun when I ask to cut his tree to shreds.

As I left the church, I saw magnolia trees in the distance. I approached a house...No dog in sight. I knocked on the door and an older man answered. So far so good. No shotgun. When I stated my plea the man beamed, 'I'd be happy to!'


He climbed a stepladder and cut large boughs and handed them down to me. Minutes later, as I lifted the last armload into my car trunk, I said, 'Sir, you've made the mother of a bride happy today.'

'No, Ma'am,' he said. 'You don't understand what's happening here.'

'What?' I asked.

'You see, my wife of sixty-seven years died on Monday. On Tuesday I received friends at the funeral home, and on Wednesday . . . He paused. I saw tears welling up in his eyes. 'On Wednesday I buried her.' He! looked away. 'On Thursday most of my out-of-town relatives went back home, and on Friday - yesterday - my children left.'

I nodded.

'This morning,' he continued, 'I was sitting in my den crying out loud. I miss her so much. For the last sixteen years, as her health got worse, she needed me. But now nobody needs me. This morning I cried, 'Who needs an eighty-six-year-old wore-out man? Nobody!' I began to cry louder. 'Nobody needs me!' About that time, you knocked, and said, 'Sir, I need you.'

I stood with my mouth open.

He asked, 'Are you an angel? The way the light shone around your head into my dark living room...'

I assured him I was no angel.

He smiled. 'Do you know what I was thinking when I handed you those magnolias?'

'No.'

'I decided I'm needed. My flowers are needed. Why, I might have a flower ministry! I could give them to everyone! Some caskets at the funeral home have no flowers. People need flowers at times like that and I have lots of them. They're all over the backyard! I can give them to hospitals, churches - all sorts of places. You know what I'm going to do? I'm going to serve the Lord until the day He calls me home!'

I drove back to the church, filled with wonder. On Patsy's wedding day, if anyone had asked me to encourage someone who was hurting, I would have said, 'Forget it! It's my only daughter's wedding, for goodness' sake! There is no way I can minister to anyone today.'

But God found a way - Through dead flowers.


'Life is not the way it's supposed to be. It's the way it is. The way you cope with it is what makes the difference.'

[tough_old_bird]

Thankyou Nellie :-x.

[dove3ducks]

Good to see it back........PEACE John 3:1-21

[survivornikki]

Hello my sisters and brothers.

Thanks Nellie, that was lovely.

I can also relate to it. When we retired here, DH & I felt pretty beaten-up. I had been sick, and although the sickness was gone, the recovery period seemed to be taking impossibly long. DH was in 9/11 and the grief of all that was lost was a heavy burden--and we were the lucky ones--he survived. Even thinking today of how we sat and chose which of the 174 funerals of co-workers we could attend still makes my throat close today.

As DD said, "You guys came here to die." and while I did not totally agree with her, there was a ring of truth to it. We were just seeking a place to shut the world out. We both felt very old.

Nellie, you had written a post on the comfort belonging to a church brought you. For the first time ever, we joined a church. There was no careful comparing or screening--it was within walking distance. We are the young ones in this tiny church--it will certainly close in the not too distant future, it can't sustain itself. However, until that time, we are certainly needed. It is scary seeing 85 year olds putting up the tables and carrying the chairs, tending to the gardens, mowing the lawns, etc. and with no talents at all, we can help here. It is such a blessing to be able to help. This church and congregation have renewed us.

Thanks for your posting Nellie.

[s.brake]

My Nikki, I did not know your husband was in 9/11. That must have been a frightening ordeal for both of you.

We have the same sustainability problems at Church where, at 50, I am one of the youngest. I have problems lifting heavy weights and standing/sitting still due to Periodic Limb Movement Disorder. However, I can't stand to see those older than myself labour while I sit still.
I'm famous for my egg salad sandwiches! Some Saturday night I get tired of peeling eggs. In fact, if I am not well my husband does it, and he is not Christian. He is also the one who mastered the art of cooking them just so. I always tell him he better hope that St. Peter needs a cook and a chauffeur! He will only come to the Blessing of the Animals on St. Francis of Asissi day(Oct. 4). Anything for our Waltzing Matilda!
Susan

[survivornikki]

Susan, it sounds like your church is very blessed to have you.:-x

[tough_old_bird]

Thanks you two :-x.

The 900+ member congregation where I've been attending just wasn't 'cutting' it for me anymore and I've been doing a lot of soul searching. My biggest question was what do I do now?

You've helped me see what direction I should go. I had the church picked out already....

Nikki, no coincidences 😉

[s.brake]

I used to belong to a "big" church. Problem was, there was not a lot of effort put into some things I thought were important. Our small church may be on the edge, but the congregation is wonderful.
Thank you, Nikki. I think that you work very hard for your Church.
Let us know what you do, TOB. And, BTW, I have never heard of a congregation of 900!
Susan