My Reflections

Is Church attendance optional?

This is one of those days when I feel tired and week. I am trying to force myself to do what needs to be done in spite of how I feel. We all have days like this. I feel like I have been a little out of it lately due to stress and brain fog. So if my typing is a little off, you will know why. There have been 11 people I have known in some way die since January of this year. I am so tired of funerals. I don't know how many more I can stand to watch or attend, nor do I really want to find out. I think I am getting kind of soul tired if that makes any sense. I feel like I could use a break of some kind, but I am not even sure what I need at this point. I am feeling kind of depressed and it seems like the bad news just keeps coming.

I need to remember to put on the garments of praise for the spirit of heaviness. I am trying to train myself to do this. So, I know that God has got this too. He has not left me alone in this spiritual battle. He is good and will work every thing out for my good. He has the best possible plans for me. If I continue to follow him, he will bring those good plans to pass. I love him and he loves me. He desires every good thing for me. Every good gift comes from him. He is so faithful and worthy of every praise. What an awesome God I serve! He has everything under control. He keeps me in the palm of his hand. He delivers me out of all trouble. He allows me to feel his presence and he is strong when I am week.
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Take UP Your Cross

Prompt:
Should churches enforce strict attendance policies with their members? Should there be special considerations? What do you think?

Example: A church will bring up for a vote the continued membership of a member if a member has not attended a church service for 3 months. If they want to continue to be a member of the church, they must write a letter explaining their situation. The pastor will give his recommendation to keep or vote out this church member. The church will then vote on rather that member remains a member or if their membership is discontinued.

Answer:
This is sort of an actual scenario, but I was curious as to how others thought about the subject. I mean, I get that you want to enforce forsake not the assembly of yourselves together, but I am disturbed by this situation. Something doesn't feel right about it to me. I can also understand trying to weed out inactive members too, but there should at least be a proper procedure put into place so that you are still loving others, and not being judgemental or something. I don't know. Something just isn't right with that picture to me. If this is going to be done, shirly there is a better method that can be put into place. As it is now, it seems kind of cold and calloused.

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PROMPT July 10th

What are you particularly passionate about within your career/job? If you are retired, what were you passionate about in your job when you retired?

I am not working, but I am not exactly retired either at the moment. However, I have always been passionate about the way others are treated, customers and employees alike. I have tried to have the attitude, even when working in fast food, that I may have the ability to make or break someone’s day. I always have tried to be the one to put a smile on my face even when I really didn't feel like it. I have tried to control my temper. I have usually been the one to walk away even if I was in tears to control my temper. Some people see this as a sign of weakness, but believe me when I tell you sometimes it takes more control to walk away and cry than it does to stay in the situation and let your temper have it's way.

It seems a bit crazy, but I am more afraid that I will hurt someone else than I am of being hurt in a fight if push comes to shove. I won't fight unless I absolutely have to. And if I do fight, I am likely to enter in a blind rage. I don't want that. That is a scary thought to me.

Another thing, if employees don't treat the customers right, how do they expect to continue to earn a paycheck if they run all the customers off? I see so much carelessness as of late. If there are no customers, there is no business. If there is no business, there is no paycheck.
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FORUM

Feasting On The Word of God   (E) This is for a Bible study group. #2245217 by Marvelous Friend

Current study: "Friuts of the Spirit - Love" 

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Are you in the need for prayer? Let us know here and we will pray for you.

SURVEY

Open Door To Grace Prayer Hot Line  (E) Do you want prayer? Ask for it here! All requests are confidential. #1372909 by Marvelous Friend

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FORUM

Poetry Topic of the Month Contest  (13+) Win Exclusive MBs. It ends at midnight at the end of each month. Suggest the topic. #2216416 by Sharmelle'sThankfulExpressions

Write some poetry. Get inspired.
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This is the link to the group I do these Scripture writings with on Facebook if anyone else is interested in doing so also.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/dailyscripturewritingplan/?ref=share

Scripture writing - Isaiah 42:5-7

Scripture:
5 Thus saith God the Lord, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:
6 I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;
7 To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.

Observations:
Verse 5- God created the heavens and the earth.
Verse 6- The Lord wants us to be righteous. He will hold our hands and walk with us as he leads us down the path of righteousness for his name sake.
Verse 7- He does this so that the blind may see and prisoners of sin can be set free.

Application:
I think Verse 6 says it all. The Lord wants us to be righteous. He will hold our hands and walk with us as he leads us down the path of righteousness for his name sake.

Prayer:
Dear God,
Thank you for saving me. It is so comforting to know you do not leave me alone or to my own devices to do your will. You actually hold our hand and walk with us. Thank you for your love.
In Jesus’s name,
Amen

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Gratitude List

1. Warnings
2. Good communication
3. Kindness
4. Self control
5. Peace
6. The joy of the Lord
7. God holds our hand all the time!
8. Random acts of kindness
9. Paying it forward
10. Weather reports

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You just scored a spot on a major competition TV show that makes its participants do the craziest things. You're partnered up with a handsome but over-confident stranger who, you decide, you instantly despise. Can you work together to win the day and the huge prize?

I will at least make a good attempt at it. It isn’t like I have to deal with him ever again after the show. So I can put my difference aside for that long.

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Prompt: I was ctuising the galaxy with Garfield and found this planet: PiriPica (140)
Read this item:

STATIC

The Art of Flying  (E) Bring another's words to life, take flight! #2250390 by PiriPica

Write about this in your Space Blog entry today.

Hmm! That is an interesting way to express that concept. I do wonder sometimes if what I imagine while I read the story is the same as the writer imagined while writing it.

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Look out your window and share with us what you see around your residence. What's makes you smile the most?

I like watching the birds in the tree outside my window. There is a bush right next to the building and another building across the sidewalk. It isn't the best view, but it is not the worst either.

FORUM

Blogging Circle of Friends Prompt Forum  (E) This is the forum where blog prompts will be posted for the Blogging Circle of Friends. #1901904 by Lyn's a Witchy Woman