Bill.

   So much Love flows from that heart of gold!    

Treat yourself as if you were already where you'd like to be.

     Connie,

Let what Bill said sink deep into your heart, It's soooo true..........and I see you exactly the same way he does. If you could really look into our hearts you'd have no more doubts or insecurities about how you're seen in the eyes of others. I love you and I value your thoughts and personality and all that you are.....

<<>Don't let a performance requirement of "demonstrating 'life' in what you say" keep you from posting your wonderful thoughts and encouragements or asking the demanding questions that require real answers, simply because you think it wasn't well written or won't garner agreement. Trust us, we see the Life in you and hear Him loud and clear!>>>>

Treat yourself as if you were already where you'd like to be.

Hey Ray and McDave ...

There are some very excellent shack quotes in a few of the posts in this here thread.  I'd rather not start with adding long posts to the quotable section, though I can link to the post from there so any who are intrigued by a quote can find it.

So, pick your favorite quotes and post them here and I'll add 'em!  :)

Love, Jim

Diggin' the Life!

Quote: Originally posted by Connie on 8/11/03

---

Nette, and everyone here:

Sometimes it takes the ones who can write a lot of their feeling and insights down to get through to others.....like me, for one.  I so admire your all's ability to write down things about the inner life!!!  It matches my thoughts and ideas, but for some reason I can't say it as well as you all.. Vinnie, and Nette, and Bill and Ray, and Journey and barbi!  I think sometimes, "Connie, why don't you write some of what you think down?", but when I do, it doesn't seem to "come off" right or something.....or maybe I don't have the courage because I feel vulnerable to the degree that I back off and delete my posts.  But you guys are the brave ones and the ones that keep things hopping.  I appreciate you, don't stop posting!  You're like the point men, so you'll get shot at sometimes more than those of us  following your leads.  But your determination for the truth and your love of the truth will compel you to keep at it inspite of yourselves,,,,,you know that.  It's a gift of God, thank you!

---

Connie,

You'll never know how timely this post of yours is that I just read.  You mention struggling with putting your own thoughts down.  You'll find it interesting that I have had the same struggles. 

Speaking from my own personal experience, writing is a healing thing for me.  I have countless things I've written over the years.  What I bring myself to write on a forum is only a needle in a huge haystack of writings I have here at home.

I tend to use forums for reading.  Then I often take what I read & write about it.   Despite trying not to ...  I eventually will speak-up (respond by posting) because I am connecting to someone & often want to say 'yeah, me too', or I just plain want to come alongside of them to validate, encourage & comfort. 

Connie, often when I write here on the forum or any other forum I just 'spill the beans' so to speak.  I just do it on the spot.   I often leave after posting, fighting that 'mist' Dave S. speaks of where I think to myself, 'good grief Journey ... did that make any sense at all?  Immediately, I'm concerned with what 'others' will think.  The truth is, for 'me' what I did write down, did make sense. 

When I write, I'm telling 'my' story.  So, it is 'my' truth.  Finally, I'm starting to get it.  So, if anyone doesn't understand, or even if it doesn't come across right, it's okay.  It still doesn't change the truth of 'my' story.  I grew up in a home where I would hear from my mother 'oh Journey, that's NOT true.'  Good grief, by the time I was 21 yrs. of age, all 'my' truth was not truth at all.  The only 'truth' was her truth.  Same with my dad.  [Oh there's a big tangent in this line of thought.]

Going public with what we write does make us vulnerable.  Talk about deleting posts.  Been there.  I'm finding that as I heal though, the degree of vunerability I sense, is decreasing.  I use to love to debate.  (I grew up in a household that debated to death, so it's no wonder.)  However, as a maturing adult (now Bill be nice), I'm choosing not to debate.  I won't even use that mindset anymore.  I'm just 'sharing' from 'my' story, my 'journey'.  The internet forums have been a great place for me to sort out a lot of my 'mist'. 

I personally do believe that for 'some' people it does take courage to write. 

It takes courage to admit we are vulnerable.  To say, I fear what other's might think or say.  To know that other's out there may not suport us, believe us or think we have anything else to offer to the discussion ... AND THEN, go ahead & write anyway.

Connie, I have countless writer's who have been the point men/women in my life.  In the sharing of their stories I find healing for myself.  I find help for my journey.  I find comfort in my time of sorrow.  I receive encouragement for my suffering.  I find hope from my pain.  I find someone to laugh with.

Recently, a friend of mine gave me one of those Willow Tree angels.  It's the Angel of Courage.  I started to cry.  It wasn't my birthday or anything like that.  She saw it & it reminded her of me & she thought of all I've been through in my life physically & emotionally & thought to herself, 'courage, Rebecca has courage', and she got it for me.'  I was so thrilled with this gift.  It is a reminder to myself that in fact, I do have courage.  Courage to say for the first time in my life, 'yeah, I DO have courage.' 

It takes courage to admit we don't have courage.  It takes courage to admit we do have courage.

So, tell me Connie ... is any of this making sense?

Connie, I just want to encourage you to write whatever it is you wish to write.  You don't have to share it on a forum necessarily.  Do it for you!  And if you happen to share it with other's, I think you'll find out that you are a point women too! 

 

 

 

I'm just 'sharing' from 'my' story, my 'journey'.  The internet forums have been a great place for me to sort out a lot of my 'mist'. 

It takes courage to admit we don't have courage.  It takes courage to admit we do have courage.

Thanks Rebecca   Rich-man

Hi i sensed God (not audibly) whispering this to my soul as i read your posts:

To each of you accepted ones:  Well done, my good and faithful servant.   Very good.  You did it thru me, and I did that thru you.  I've done everything you do thru you, and all you do is thru me.  You've done nothing apart from me, and i want nothing more than to be with you, just like we are.  That's all. 

That includes all your heart-felt vulnerable deleted posts too, as well as the very deep and special posts that are still resting in your heart.  Like shining songs waiting to be sung in someone elses night.

i've lavished you with ME, and you've lavished back my love.    :-)   It's NO LONGER you, but Me.  you are mine and I KNOW you.  And you know me.  You are being still, cause deep inside, the life you now live is   ME.         love, yours truly,  jesus.    ps  Each of you together make up ME. 

(that's how i hear my jesus)

HI  again shackers (not slackers or slack-key guitarers or big mackers...) :=)

Boldly (HA, if you only knew how scared i am sometimes, but HE says!) we've entered His throneroom of grace.  Grace that shines buckets of the brightest paint, from His heart thru the tiniest parts of His Body, HIS fingertips (a very sensitive part of our bodies) to the place where and when his accepted ones most need it.   His grace shines thru our posts (Marine cry of Heeyahh!) thru our deleted posts, to each action of HIS desired will and pleasure.  His pleasure to love you and me.  HE reaches to the lonliest, the most scared and the very weakest one.  at the best moments.  now. He reaches to me.

love, the great deleter!  (usually cause the computer gobbles it up! hehe).

dave c.    ps  i've been able to walk for the past 4 days!  it's been so nice.  my wife's visiting hawaii in a week (for 2 wks), so i'll be missing my lady.

It takes courage to admit we are vulnerable.

I think to be vulnerable is to be naked, to be sort of back before the fall and not ashamed.

Would just like to share with you guys, briefly the day here, Marion's mum walked into hospital today at 2 p.m, her body was afflicted and she thought she was just going to have a little fluid removed from the lungs. We both went to visit, thinking she'd be out the next day. By 7p.m she was gone, it was so quick. Marion just sang to her quietly the Lord is my shepherd, and as her breathing got heavier, I said it's o.k, just on the last stretch home now.I felt such a fool when the doctors came in and were talking about further treatment in the next 24 hrs, but within half an hour she was gone.

It was sort of a joyous thing to be there kinda like waving off someone who was going on a journey. Marion had a little cry and then that was it. We both thanked Father for mercy. Marion said she didn't want her Mum lingering in pain, but never imagined it would be that quick.

so tonight there is a body lying in the hospital mortuary, but Marion's Mum has moved on. There is no sting in "death".

Love ya's XXXXXXX

Dave and Marion,

"To live is Christ, to die is gain." Can't help but feel a bit of rejoicing and victory for Marion's mum! Kind of the opposite reaction I'd expect to have, especially when I was sharing in the pain of Mary's losses and Nette's troubles just a few days ago.  

Thanks brothers

Can't help but feel a bit of rejoicing and victory for Marion's mum!

This just sums it up Bill, it was so weird, Marion and I were winking and smiling at each other at her Mum's bedside. It was like we were stifling a laughter inside of us, something I've just never experienced before. I mean you're supposed to feel all sad and sombre on these occassions. But for the last few days, everything has been, "but who told you that". I guess that has been coming out in my posts, huh.

I love you guys 

Bill,

    No more grieving here!  A couple of pms from Dave S. with words from the Father broke up that dilusion.

Amen, Dave C.   REJOICING with the wonderful ability to walk!  That's another tear-jerker, and I am really "professional" at crying.

Quote: Originally posted by mary on 8/13/03

---

No more grieving here!  A couple of pms from Dave S. with words from the Father broke up that dilusion.

---

...sweet brother...

Don't let a performance requirement of "demonstrating 'life' in what you say" keep you from posting your wonderful thoughts and encouragements or asking the demanding questions that require real answers, simply because you think it wasn't well written or won't garner agreement. Trust us, we see the Life in you and hear Him loud and clear!

Thanks Bill and Nette for this observation and encouragement.  I see the Life flowing from others and know that it isn't about us, but HIM! A more objective attitude about what He's doing through me is taking place in me together with you all! 

BTW i see Christ in all you guys,connie,nettie, bill,vinnie,adam,phil, mary, rich ,joyce,val,dave s ray rebecca,jim.....everyone here.to me it is a blessing and a privilige to be a part of what is happening here.

Amen, Dave, the same here.  It's a blessing to know others that are found in Him.....so hard to find in this work-a-day, right vs. wrong thinking we find ourselves surrounded by.  I'm just seeing that maybe it's going to be a longer process of ousting the PBC mentality than I had originally thought.  To be able to just speak out whatever like Journey has recently started doing is where I am headed!  Hey, Journey, you've really made strides in jumping that box!  In fact, if you turn around and look behind you, that ol' box is now clean out of sight!  I guess your acknowledgment of what courage is has really caused me to rethink what it is to be bold in the Lord.   It's to just be me,( like you say with each post)  This is something I've been learning to enjoyi to a greater degree than I ever have before! (Isn't that right, Ray?) To find the ultimate freedom that Dave S is always pointing to will elicit all sorts of wonderful things, huh?  No telling where this "journey" is going to lead you/me!  That is a wonderful name....Journey! And your encouragment to just write is well noted.  I've so admired the blogs of others and think, now that is really something....to be able to just write a little something everyday!  Bill's have been so enjoyable and refreshing to read.  I just so admire writers, I guess.  But keep thinking, I couldn't do that, but just maybe I should, if just for the healing that will ensue.

dave c.    ps  i've been able to walk for the past 4 days!  it's been so nice

Dave c, it's such a thrill to hear this from you! I'm happy for you!  Thank you for the Jesus love letter!  You've got such a tender heart, a daddy- heart and it always shines through to me!   

Mary, I'm so glad you've been given joy in the midst of your sorrow.  Grace manages to just win the battle everytime!  What a glorious God He is to you, sister! 

Dave S, What a wonderful testimony of a life that truly knows Life!  To have joy in  the passing of your loved one! Victory for you and your sweet wife! Your mother is not gone, just in another place. Sounds like what the angel told Mary:  "He is not here, He is risen" ! And you know, Dave, maybe you should sign each post with the saying "But who told you that".  Hey, it works for me!  More than once I might add!

I so appreciate everything you all have said and the heart of it.  No matter what happens here, it really ends up being all about Christ, and for that I'm grateful.

  Connie,

You just did the very thing that you think you cannot do!!!! And it was wonderful!                

 ......now that is really something....to be able to just write a little something everyday!  Bill's have been so enjoyable and refreshing to read.  I just so admire writers, I guess.  But keep thinking, I couldn't do that, but just maybe I should, if just for the healing that will ensue

 Dave, Marion, and Mary...Everyone here.....

  God is the kindest Person I've ever known........  

Treat yourself as if you were already where you'd like to be.

Connie,

        Nette said it and I'll add another......you're so damn special.....what a sister you are!

         Nette....just s as you are a beautiful sister in Him.  Dear, dear, dear to his heart, and all those here..... for you....