REGRET: Worrying about the past

-Illinois country road

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 "The past cannot be recalled and you can do nothing about it.

You can sit down and be miserable and you can go round and round in circles of regret for the rest of your life, but it will make no difference to what you have done...We must never for a second worry about anything that cannot be affected or changed by us. 

It is a waste of energy."

Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Spiritual Depression: Its Causes and its Cure

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Math Anxiety with Peppermint Patty

Charles Schulz

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 Both of my Bible studies are teaching, studying anxiety and trusting the LORD through it all.

Thankful :o)

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Exhort, being Examples, Firm in Your Faith

-internet

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1 Peter 5

"Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock.

And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.

Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. 

Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. 

After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.

To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen."

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Strength to Overcome

-meme

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1 Peter 5:6-11

..."Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.

Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. 

Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.

After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.

To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen."...

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Secret Sorrows that only the LORD can soften

~Yellowstone FB

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"Every heart has its secret sorrows, which the world knows not, and oftentimes we call a man cold when he’s only sad."

~Cited on the opening of the movie, I Heard the Bells.

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Psalm 3:3-5

..."But You, O Lord, are a shield about me,

My glory, and the One who lifts my head.

I was crying to the Lord with my voice,

And He answered me from His holy mountain. 

I lay down and slept;

I awoke, for the Lord sustains me."...

*

Did Abe Lincoln have a Sister?

1 Peter 5:6-10

..."humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.

Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.

After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you."...

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Are you wondering where all the "Prayers for Prodigals" posts, by B. J. Reinhard, are?!

1

https://fromthepiperswife.blogspot.com/2011/12/prayers-for-prodigals-by-bj-reinhard-1.html

2

https://fromthepiperswife.blogspot.com/2011/12/prayers-for-prodigals-by-bj-reinhard-2.html

3

https://fromthepiperswife.blogspot.com/2011/12/prayers-for-prodigals-by-bj-reinhard-3.html

4

https://fromthepiperswife.blogspot.com/2011/12/prayers-for-prodigals-by-bj-reinhard-4.html

5

https://fromthepiperswife.blogspot.com/2011/12/prayers-for-prodigals-by-bj-reinhard-5.html

6

https://fromthepiperswife.blogspot.com/2011/12/prayers-for-prodigals-by-bj-reinhard-6.html

7

https://fromthepiperswife.blogspot.com/2011/12/prayers-for-prodigals-by-bj-reinhard-7.html

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*thank you, "anonymous", for asking :o)

**thank you, to my computer staff for your help :o)

Learning to relax in an anxiety filled life

Our anxiety is often a fear of what might be rather than focusing on what is real or true.

As God's children we must concentrate on what is true.

Philippians 4:8-9

..."Finally, brethren, 

whatever is true, 

whatever is honorable, whatever is right, 

whatever is pure, 

whatever is lovely, 

whatever is of good repute, 

if there is any excellence 

and if anything worthy of praise, 

dwell on these things.

The things you have learned 

and received and heard 

and seen in me, 

practice these things, 

and the God of peace will be with you."...

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2 Corinthians 12:9-10

...“My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” 

Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.

Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong."...

* 

Matthew 6:25-34

...“For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. 

Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 

Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. 

Are you not worth much more than they? 

And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? 

And why are you worried about clothing? 

Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these.

But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? 

You of little faith!

Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’

For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.

But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

“So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. 

Each day has enough trouble of its own."

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Yes, you can have freedom from your past

 Romans 8:1-17

"Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.

For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 

For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.

For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. 

But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.

If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness.

But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh— for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!”

The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him."...

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There are Wolves in the Church Body

YES, there are, so BEWARE!

Wolves like to search among church Bodies for "recruits" into their own way of thinking. 

They "prowl" among the congregation and even its children, possibly even your children. So be aware of the people in your Body.

Once the Wolf finds a person (or people) willing to listen to their cleverly woven falsehoods, the Wolf then uses control and manipulation to keep this new recruit "in their fold".

Unwittingly the followers (the recruits) soon learn not to get on the Wolf's wrong side because they will soon see the "Wolf's teeth" (anger, wrath, irritation, shunning, temper tantrums...)

Wolves can turn on you quickly and "cut you down to size", making a scene with you at the center.

Wolves tend to puff themselves up - always thinking they are better than you. Wolves can be simpering sweet, but they are always waiting to pounce on anyone for anything. The reason: Wolves believe they are better than you.

Wolves show their true selves in their inner group who KNOW not to cross them for fear of reprisals.

*Other Christians "fear" them; don't want to get on the angry side of them; don't desire to engage with them; it's not their business...

With Wolves their facial expressions tell you to "watch out!" You don't ever want to get on their wrong side. Instead, when a person is caught in their web they continue trying to please the Wolf at all costs.

Wolves tend to have "their favorites" among their followers as well as having their "whipping boys". Fear runs high in the followers as they are enslaved to the Wolf's whim.

A weapon of Wolves is cruelly shunning their followers.

Wolves use the same dynamics as Abusers use to control their victims. 

Many, many times a Wolf acts like the Sheep in the congregation. Always there, always polite, always with an answer...but "something" doesn't seem right: 

?Are these issues really important? 

?So what if this "person" believes things like that;

?they are so nice, they seem to have the Christian life all in order....

?they seemingly know the scriptures better. 

?They must be right in their thinking. 

?It is just me who doesn't do things right.

?Why can't I ever make "the Wolf" happy? 

God's Word, the Bible speaks of Ravenous Wolves: 

John 10:11-15

Jesus says: ...“I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and is not concerned about the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep."...

Acts 20:28-31a

..."Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be on the alert,"...

Matthew 7:13-20

...“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.  For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

“Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. 

Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, you will know them by their fruits.

Matthew 10:16

... “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves."...

Luke 10:1-3

"Now after this the Lord appointed seventy others, and sent them in pairs ahead of Him to every city and place where He Himself was going to come. And He was saying to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. Go; behold, I send you out as lambs in the midst of wolves."...

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You can be set free! 

Cry out to the Lord Jesus Christ! 

You will find freedom in Jesus!

John 8:36

..."So if the Son sets you free, 

you will be free indeed."...

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Who understands my sadness and who can know why I cry?

 Psalm 46

God is our refuge and strength,
 an ever-present help in trouble.


Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
 and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, 
though its waters roar and foam
 and the mountains quake with their surging.

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
 the holy place where the Most High dwells.


God is within her, she will not fall;
 God will help her at break of day.


Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
 He lifts His voice, the earth melts.

The Lord Almighty is with us;
 the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Come and see what the Lord has done,
 the desolations He has brought on the earth.


He makes wars cease
 to the ends of the earth.


He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
 He burns the shields with fire.


He says, 

“Be still, and know that I am God;
 I will be exalted among the nations,
 I will be exalted in the earth.”

The Lord Almighty is with us;
 the God of Jacob is our fortress.

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A Mother's Day for Every Day

O and H Bakery

On this Mother's Day and week I am offering a hug and my prayers -

*for every Mother who has lost a child, 

*for every Mother whose child is wayward, 

*for every Mother whose child shuns you - 

*for every hurting Mother,

*for every lost Mother...

I want to remind you that in your sorrows-

The LORD is with you; Cry out to Him.  

The LORD is with you; Allow Him to comfort you.

The LORD is with you; He hears your cry!

The LORD is with you; He knows your agonies.

The LORD is with you; He understands your groans!

You are not alone. 

You feel alone, but He is with you. 

Every tear you shed, every groan you pray; 

He understands and hears you. 

You don't have to hold on; 

He is holding on to you.

*

Romans 8:18-28

..."For I consider that the sufferings of this 

present time are not worthy to be compared 

with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

For the anxious longing of the creation waits 

eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God.

For the creation was subjected to futility, 

not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, 

in hope that the creation itself also will be set free 

from its slavery to corruption into the freedom 

of the glory of the children of God.

For we know that the whole creation groans 

and suffers the pains of childbirth together 

until now.

And not only this, but also we ourselves, 

having the first fruits of the Spirit, 

even we ourselves groan within ourselves, 

waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, 

the redemption of our body.

For in hope we have been saved, but hope 

that is seen is not hope; for who hopes 

for what he already sees?

But if we hope for what we do not see, 

with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.

In the same way the Spirit also helps 

our weakness; for we do not know how 

to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself 

intercedes for us with groanings too deep 

for words; and He who searches the hearts 

knows what the mind of the Spirit is, 

because He intercedes for the saints 

according to the will of God.

And we know that God causes all things 

to work together for good to those who 

love God, to those who are called 

according to His purpose."... 

*

You are not alone! 

Allow Jesus into your life and the LORD 

will hold you through all of life's agonies.

*

Hard Times Come Again No More

Hard Times Come Again No More

Let us pause in life's pleasures and count its many tears

While we all sup sorrow with the poor

There's a song that will linger forever in our ears

Oh hard times come again no more

Tis the song, the sigh of the weary

Hard times, hard times, come again no more

Many days you have lingered around my cabin door

Oh hard times come again no more

While we seek mirth and beauty and music light and gay

There are frail forms fainting at the door

Though their voices are silent, their pleading looks will say

Oh hard times come again no more

Tis the song, the sigh of the weary

Hard times, hard times, come again no more

Many days you have lingered around my cabin door

Oh hard times come again no more

There's a pale weeping maiden who toils her life away

With a worn heart whose better days are o'er

Though her voice would be merry, 'tis sighing all the day

Oh hard times come again no more

Tis the song, the sigh of the weary

Hard times, hard times, come again no more

Many days you have lingered around my cabin door

Oh hard times come again no more

Tis the song, the sigh of the weary

Hard times, hard times, come again no more

Many days you have lingered around my cabin door

Oh hard times come again no more

Tis the song, the sigh of the weary

Hard times, hard times, come again no more

Many days you have lingered around my cabin door

Oh hard times come again no more

Oh hard times come again no more

Oh hard times come again no more

-Stephen Foster

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John 16:31-33

"...Jesus answered them, 

“Do you now believe?

Behold, an hour is coming, and has already come, 

for you to be scattered, each to his own home, 

and to leave Me alone; and yet I am not alone, 

because the Father is with Me.

These things I have spoken to you, 

so that in Me you may have peace.

 

In the world you have tribulation, 

but take courage; 

I have overcome the world.”

*

Still in the World

Be safe in Jesus! 

1 Peter 5:11

..."Therefore humble yourselves under 

the mighty hand of God, 

that He may exalt you at the proper time,

casting all your anxiety on Him, 

because He cares for you.

Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. 

Your adversary, the devil, prowls around 

like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing 

that the same experiences of suffering are being 

accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.

After you have suffered for a little while, 

the God of all grace, who called you 

to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, 

confirm, strengthen and establish you.

To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen."

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

..."Rejoice always;

pray without ceasing;

in everything give thanks; 

for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."...

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Being Able to See God's Grace

 "I think most people in cults are afraid God will be angry with them if they leave, and punish them.  Never do they see His grace."

-blessings "N.K."

God's Grace:

Titus 2:11-15

..."For the grace of God has appeared, 

bringing salvation to all men, instructing us 

to deny ungodliness and worldly desires 

and to live sensibly, righteously and godly 

in the present age, looking for the blessed hope 

and the appearing of the glory of our great God 

and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us 

to redeem us from every lawless deed, 

and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, 

zealous for good deeds.

These things speak and exhort and reprove with 

all authority. Let no one disregard you."

Titus 3:1-7

"Remind them to be subject to rulers, 

to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for 

every good deed, to malign no one, to be peaceable, 

gentle, showing every consideration for all men.

For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, 

deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, 

spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, 

hating one another.

But when the kindness of God our Savior 

and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, 

not on the basis of deeds which we have 

done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, 

by the washing of regeneration and renewing by 

the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly 

through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified 

by His grace we would be made heirs 

according to the hope of eternal life."...

*

May you who have been caught in a web of legalisms now see, hear, and know God's truth and His marvelous grace!

The LORD Gives Strength to His Children

 

Psalm 3:3 

..."You, O Lord, are a shield about me,

My glory, and the One who lifts my head."...

John 15:18-21

..."If the world hates you,

 you know that it has 

hated Me before it hated you.

 

If you were of the world, 

the world would love its own;

but because you are not of the world,

but I chose you out of the world,

because of this the world hates you.

 

Remember the word that I said to you,

 

‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ 

 

If they persecuted Me, 

they will also persecute you;

if they kept My word, 

they will keep yours also.

 

But all these things they

will do to you for My name’s sake, 

because they do not know 

the One who sent Me."...

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Worry / Calmness

Matthew 6:34

“So do not worry about tomorrow; 

for tomorrow will care for itself. 

Each day has enough trouble of its own." 

Philippians 4:4-7

"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! 

Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. 

The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, 

but in everything by prayer and supplication 

with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 

And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, 

will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

1 Peter 5:6-7

"Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, 

that He may exalt you at the proper time, 

casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.."

Psalm 37

...3 "Trust in the Lord and do good;...

...4  Delight yourself in the Lord;...

...5 Commit your way to the Lord,...

...7 Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him;...

...39 the salvation of the righteous is from the Lord;

      He is their strength in time of trouble.

40 The Lord helps them and delivers them;

     He delivers them from the wicked and saves them,

     Because they take refuge in Him.

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Wandering Roads/Wandering Lives/Wonderful Savior

I have been contemplating old, dusty, country roads. They wind all around depending on the terrain while they go up and down with all the hills. Sometimes, when out in the boonies, you wonder if you will ever find a way to take you home again!

Our lives can be like wandering country roads. All along we grow and learn to eventually begin to choose our own paths; make our own decisions. Sometimes we choose wisely, and other times we choose poorly, and our lives begin to wander.

During these times we may allow other people to affect our right thinking. They sway us into thinking Their Way.  We begin to think Their Way is the only way: it is the right way; maybe even the more "holy way". We then follow after the leader of a group. We begin to give them our complete trust. These leaders seemingly have what we think is good and right- even "holy".

People who have known us all along may question our new behavior, our new relationships, our desire to be exclusive with Their Way, and why we listen only to that one person - even to the point of "worshipping" them; hanging on their every word.

The TRUTH is these leaders are not right. 

They are not leading you in the right way. 

They are leading you down an evil path AWAY from the True Savior.

The GOOD NEWs is that the True Savior, Jesus, will forgive you when you come to Him in His Truth. He alone is a Wonderful Savior. His is the Word of Truth to follow and trust ---not a person who chooses what they want God's Word to say.

Colossians 2:8 "See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ." 

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Please check out a very educational post by Don and Joy Veinot, titled, Children of the Cult.

Their subject begins with how children who are raised in cult groups eventually  struggle when they mature into adults after a lifetime of learning the wrong ways in which God views us; the wrong ways to interpret scripture. 

God's Grace has been left out.

Here are some quotes concerning Gothardism (a legalistic, cultic lifestyle group) - although, every cult-like leader tends to have similar kinds of controlling, manipulating, legalistic teachings. All cults abuse their followers if only in the twisting of God's Word to suit their own desires, their own belief systems.

..."The powerful being they have been taught to believe in is an evil distortion of the God of Scripture."...

..."They have realized they cannot possibly live up to the rigid standards imposed upon them, and so often they wander through life feeling as though God Himself has rejected them."...

Concerning the individual people who control, manipulate, and abuse their followers:

..."a patricentric authoritarian group and can certainly be considered sociologically to be cultic."...

By the way, women can certainly be the abuser, manipulator, controller, legalistic wielding leader.

..."the love of God is lacking"...

The Veinots then continue in thought provoking examinations. It is definitely worth reading.

After all your wandering there is a way to find yourself with the real Savior, Jesus of the Bible:

James 4:6-10 

"But He gives a greater grace. 

Therefore it says, 

“God is opposed to the proud, 

but gives grace to the humble.” 

Submit therefore to God. 

Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. 

Cleanse your hands, you sinners; 

and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

Be miserable and mourn and weep; 

let your laughter be turned into mourning 

and your joy to gloom.

Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, 

and He will exalt you."

PRAISE the LORD!

Thank you to Don and Joy Veinot

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