TOXIC LOOK-ALIKES

From 'Our Daily Bread'
Acts 8:9-23 talks about Simon and how he practiced sorcery. How he boasted of being someone great.
People had followed him because he had amazed them for so long. When Philip preached about Jesus and the kingdom of God, the people believed him as did Simon. The people were baptized as was Simon. When Peter and John showed up, they prayed for the people that they may recieve the Holy Spirit. Simon seen this and offered money to recieve the Holy Spirit. Then Peter answered: "May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!"
It goes on to say that Simon's heart is not right with God.
v23~Peter said, "Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps He will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart. For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin."


****Some people look like toxic plants. They look harmless, and they blend in with people who, like roses, are fragant and beautiful. Like poison ivy among roses, they cause misery. Everyone needs to avoid contact with such a person as Simon. Spiritual look-alikes appear to be good, but their "fruit" is toxic.

Submisive

Ephesians 5:22
Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord...
*Main Entry: submissive

  Part of Speech: adjective

•   Definition: compliant

~Synonyms: abject, accommodating, acquiescent, amenable, bowing down, comformable, complying, deferential, docile, domesticated, dutiful, giving-in, humble, ingratiating, lowly, malleable, meek, menial, nonresistant, nonresisting, obedient, obeisant, obeying, obsequious, passive, patient, pliable, pliant, resigned, servile, slavish, subdued, tame, tractable, uncomplaining, unresisting, yes*, yielding
~Antonyms: disobedient, fighting, intractable, resistant, unyielding
* = informal/non-formal usage

• Main Entry: abject

Part of Speech: adjective
Definition: hopeless and downtrodden
Synonyms: base, contemptible, degraded, dejected, deplorable, dishonorable, fawning, forlorn, groveling, hangdog, humiliated, low, miserable, outcast, pitiable, servile, submissive, worthless, wretched
Antonyms: commendable, exalted, excellent, magnificent, noble, proud, worthy
Ephesians 5:25, 28
Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church......

• Husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies...he who loves his wife loves himself....no one has ever hated their own body but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church.

Who can explain to me what this scripture is saying??

BITTERNESS v. FORGIVENESS

bit·ter
adjective

1. hard to bear; grievous; distressful: a bitter sorrow.

2. causing pain; piercing; stinging: a bitter chill.
3. characterized by intense antagonism or hostility: bitter hatred.
4. hard to admit or accept: a bitter lesson.
5. resentful or cynical: bitter words.

Synonyms

heartbreaking
antagonistic
disagreeable
acrimonious
distasteful
calamitous
disturbing
*by ADIMADMOM on October 19th, 2007
     It's not just bad experiences or disappointments, or any of the things listed here. Lots of people have bad things happen to them and do not become bitter. Bitter people are those who cannot get past the disappointments of their life. They dwell on them, hug them to their chest and make them the defining factor of their lives.
**Read more: What makes people bitter?
Answerbag http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/434711#ixzz13KwJcBSy

• Is it possible to love unconditionally or too much? No
• Is it possible to love others as Christ loves us? Yes
• If we can forgive easly, does this mean we are gulty? NO
• If we feel God is leading us in a direction, is it right to turn from that direction when it's not agreed upon with a parent or spouse?Not for me
• Is it wrong to look at others faults and mistakes and not even consider our own first? Yes
• Is using guilt words something Jesus did? NO
• Does anyone understand what it means to be in an unhealthy relationship? Yes

Food for Thought

It is so easy to show disapproval of others with disrespect. We roll our eyes, snicker at one's feellings, thoughts, mock , show disgust, condem, degrade, gossip, humiliate publicly, and continually try and change someine into who WE think they should be.
A healthy relationship not only recieves but gives back as well.

We all need room to feel free to share thoughts, ideas, challenge, confront, and strengthen one another.
To be honest, I do not feel any of this right now.

Serenity

I really enjoy the serenity I have right now. I am thinking all sorts of things like, what it would have been like to live back in the 'Cowboy' days, what it looks like here in the winter, and what would I like to do for a living if I lived here.
There is so much natural beauty surrounding me right now; the daytime is full of bird songs and bugs, the night sky is beautiful with all the stars, and the peaceful cool weather is perfect!
I really like it here!!

Searching God's Path~Monday October 18, 2010

I am searching You O` Lord, for direction. I am not certain where I am going, all I know is I choose life, love, wisdom, Christ-like forgiveness, growth, maturity, and unconditional love.

• What spiritual truths need to be stirred up today in your life?
• Have you forgotten to spend time with your first love — Jesus?
• Have you forgotten the power of praise to defeat a negative thought life?
• Do you remember to witness to the lost who need the Lord?
• Are you living expectantly, waiting for Christ's return?

Open the Word of God today

From the book: The Emotionally Destructive Relationship

Seeing it is close to impossible; Stopping it sounds dangerouse; Surviving it CAN BE DONE!
There are many relationships in my life that I have tried to restore. My mom, my friends from childhood, my kids; but I always seemed to be the one who always took the initiative to make these relationships work. I put forth the effort until I crumbled and felt unworthy of these people.
I am learning more and more about healthy relationships.
To have a friend we must first be a friend. In order to have a healthy relationship, both persons need to put forth effort, both parties must be active within the relationship. If only one puts forth effort the relationship will deteriate.

Spouse #1 spends two days during the week with friends and most of their weekends with their friends instead of home with the family.
Eventually spouse #2 begins to feel that they are carrying the entire load ALONE! and feels ALONE!
Spouse #2 begins to feel as though they are seen as only a caretaker: someone to clean, cook, care for the kids, do laundry, pay the bills, and to provide sex when spouse #1 wants it. It looks and feels as though spouse #1 doesn't care about the feelings and needs of spouse #2.
Can you relate to this? Do you know of someone who can relate to this?
Do NOT ask the following: 'Am I giving more' do to the fact this will only make the problem worse.
DO ask: 'Is there a habitual pattern of disregard for my feelings, needs, desires, goals, or perspectives?'

dis·re·gard [ dìssri grd ]

~transitive verb (past and past participle dis·re·gard·ed, present participle dis·re·gard·ing, 3rd person present singular dis·re·gards)

~Definition:
1. ignore somebody or something: to ignore or pay no attention to somebody or something

2. treat somebody or something disrespectfully: to treat somebody or something with contempt or without respect

~noun~

Definition:
*neglect: a lack of attention or respect
*dis·re·gard·er noun
*dis·re·gard·ful adjective
~Encarta® World English Dictionary [North American Edition] © & (P)2009 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Developed for Microsoft by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc.

How To Wreck YOUR Life....By: GCC

Acts 17:16-18;

Ezekial 14:1-3;

Acts 17:16;

Exodus 20:5;

Matthew 6:21




Peple amaze me! Really they do. They want this, they want that! When they get what they want it isn't enough! What will satisfy them if they are not satisfied with what they already have?
Listen to this from Rob Wengre: A Pastor from GCC:
Did you know that a good thing can sabbatage your life causing a massive wreckage? It's true.
I wanted so much to have a close relationship with my kids that I lost my tough love at some point. Our relationship is now wrecked!

Did you also know that you, as we all do, have an idol in our hearts? Yes, that is correct! We all do, but the question is...What is YOUR idol? What do you cherish? Is it that mom, you want the best for your kids so you place ecspectation on them that eventually puch them AWAY? Or is it dad, that you work so many hours because you feel like you need to in order to make money for your family that you don't have time to spend with your kids, and by the time you DO have the time, they are grown and don't know who you are?
This is a 'SERVE SOMEBODY' Sel-Test and is followed with Scripture
1. Imagination: Your religion is what you do with your sloitude-William Temple
What do your thoughts drift effortlessly to when there is nothing else demanding your attention?
What do you enjoy daydreaming about?
What fills your mind when you have nothing else to think about?
2. Money: (Everyone LOVES that name don't they?): Where your treasure is there your heart will be also
What does our money flow effortlessly toward?
3. Emotion: (Such a touchy topic): What causes almost uncontrollable emotions in YOU?
Anger-"What is so important to you that you must have it all costs, to the point that you unleash rage?"
Fear-"What is so important to you that if it is threatened, you are deeply anxious and almost paralyzed with fear?
Sadness-What is so important to you that if you lost it, you would feel as though you have no more meaning?