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Comment by karen on November 7, 2008 at 12:48am

Hi Renee,
Thanks for the post you typed out to me. Halloween has come and gone. We didn't have one single kid come to our door and I didn't see any youngsters out and about on our city streets. I think that's GOOD. I've always thought Halloween was/is an evil holiday to celebrate. The idea you have about Gospel tracks is great.
Thanks for the God Tube video, too. There's plenty of people I can think of who could benefit from watching that. The Scripture from Romans 5: 3 is great. Hope is an amazing thing. H-hells O-only P-possible E-excape is another way to look at it, if you'd like. It's amazing that we have that hope in Jesus Christ and it's sad that alot of people aren't seeing it. Do you believe 'once saved, always saved'? I've heard it from both sides. Some say we have eternal security once we get saved because of the Grace of God and others say we can lose it somehow. If you give somebody something and then take it back - that makes you an Indian giver . . right? I say - if salvation doesn't depend on us but on the works of Christ - why would it be any different for everything else - which includes KEEPING what we've got? I don't know . . I'm just sorting things out now that I know I'm not an exception to the rules.
I still haven't said "hi" to Dawn but that's cuz I have been busy and all that but I hope she doesn't think I'm trying to avoid her or anything. I think she's a super sweet human being and I'm glad that she has been there for you. I'm glad that you're telling me things are looking good in your life and I hope that you and your family all have a wonderful Thanksgiving this month. It's always nice chat-talking to you on this thread. This forum is a wonderful place to be and I'm glad we have met, even if it is only through our type written words. I try to imagine what you look like. Here's what I see - I see a lady with a slender build, about 5'3' and I see light colored eyes and hair - but I'm not a sighkick (psycic) so I can't be all that sure. Me? lol, don't even ask. hee! hee! Take care and talk to you later.

In Gods Hope,
Karen

Comment by karen on October 24, 2008 at 8:19pm

Hi Renee,
Thanks for posting the video. I hope everything is great in your life. It sounds like you're loving God and loving life alot more than you ever did in the past, eh?
By "touchy subject" I meen my parents don't like to openly discuss how they feel about God all that much. I haven't been to the 'Sinner's Annoyomous' trend you talk about but I'll look into it. I respect what you're saying about not wanting to give me advice, etc because you're a "babe in Christ" but thank you for the encouragement you give anyway. I appreciate it alot.
And about Dawn, I'd be tickled pink to say 'hello' to her myself but I don't log onto her blog at all (you know me & blogs hee! hee!) which is why I was asking you to do it for me but if I see her post in here or on the forum, I'll be sure to say 'howdy' to her. She's a great lady.
I haven't heard the Mark Shultz's song yet. I'll put in a web search about the guy. It sounds like a good song. It's amazing how many musical artists I hear about being saved. I meen they say that Bob Dylan accepted Christ but then said it wasn't real. If he got it then, he got it. That's all I can think. Even John Lennon who wrote such anti-God songs as "Imagine" and the such was talking about how he had come to peace with God just months before he was killed. It was in a Rolling Stones article. Did he accept Christ? Is that what he meant by "coming to peace with God?" I hope so. He was a great musician.
Your posts are always an inspiration to me.
It's a creepy time of the year, what with Halloween and all, but I have a feeling God has everything under control. One thing for sure, I wouldn't allow my kid to go out trick-or-treating in this day and age. I always did think it was an evil holiday... even when I was a youngster.
Have a great weekend, Renee. I hope to be talking to you soon.

In Gods Hope,
Karen

Comment by karen on October 11, 2008 at 12:48am

Hi Renee,
Thanks for explaining that to me. I thought you couldn't see any of those old messages from me.
I was listening to someone talk about the kindness of God and how sad it is to see the multitudes of people who aren't accepting the simplisity of His plan for us. What are your thoughts on this? I was wondering if you could pray for my parents. I love them both alot and I want to make sure they are both born again Christians. It's a touchy subject with some people. Have you noticed that? People don't like to be told they are sinners, expecially "good" people. What do you tell a man who has been decent all of his life? I hope my folks live to be 100, believe me, but I'm having trouble finding the right words to say to them. Do you have any ideas?
I hope things are going well for you & your kin.
It's cooling down here in Arizona and my husband is looking forward to having a couple of days off. He works hard and needs time to relax.
Tell Dawn I said "hi" for me, will ya? Thanks.
I don't go to your blogs, not that I don't feel welcomed there but I'm just a little uncomfortable with blogs, for some reason, and perfer to stick with this format. I think about the two of you alot though.
Take Care & I hope to be talking to you soon.

In Gods Hope,
Karen

Comment by karen on October 5, 2008 at 1:08am

hi Renee, thanks for your message. I'm sorry to hear that posts are missing from your coorespondance, maybe there's some sort of glitch in your computer, huh? I'll copy & paste the previous message here for you, if you wanna read it. k? I posted this to you on September 12, 2008.
hi renee,
i sure hope and pray your son will come shining through somehow. i'm not going to pry and ask you exactly what is wrong but i will tell you that it's inspirational to me to see how you handle it all. you could just as easily, turn bitter to God, and blame him somehow but you don't. You lean on him for understanding and guidance. With me, I'm looking to God with 100% of my being, believe me, miracles are known to grow on a little bit of hope so I'm not giving in. I notice you're not giving in about your son and I think that's great. It's got to be hard though. I can remember when i was 19 years old. Don't you? It was a tough time. I knew I was a legal adult and under the thumb of my parental home but the world looked like a giant, coming fresh out of that plastic thing called "High School life." I hope you'll keep me posted with what happens with your boy. I care and I want to know what's going on in your life. You seem to care about me and I appreciate it. The most important thing is that your son knows God. That's really a GOOD thing to have on his side, at such a young age, when there's so many directions he could go. I hope he uses his head and thinks but only he can decide about alot of things. I'm sure it meens something to know that he's got a mother who loves and cares for him as much as you obviously do.
Thanks for your reply yesterday. I hope we will talk again soon. Take care.

In Gods Hope,
Karen
Do you see that or is that one of the msgs you lost?
Anyway, I hope things are going a.o.k. with you & the people you care about. My husband and I are hanging in there. I'm still sober and I'm always talking to God but you know how THAT is, right?
I just can't imagine the amount of prayers that are sent up to Him on a given day. It boggles my mind that God knows all thoughts simuntanously. (I don't spell good, sorry). How could he "have His mind on something else" when His Mind is on all things? When we were kids (atleast it's true for me, anyway) we didn't know that. What's that word - immudable? We can be on a roller coaster but God doesn't change.
Renee, can I ask you something? What exactly does our soul consist of?
Do you know what I meen?
Take care and I hope to be talking to you soon. (Hope your son is ok too, btw).

In Gods Hope,
Karen

Comment by karen on September 15, 2008 at 1:09pm

God bless you too, Renee. I hope you will also stay encouraged. I'll keep looking up, like you say, because that's exactly what I need to do. Hope to talk to you again soon.

Comment by karen on September 12, 2008 at 1:12am

hi renee,
i sure hope and pray your son will come shining through somehow. i'm not going to pry and ask you exactly what is wrong but i will tell you that it's inspirational to me to see how you handle it all. you could just as easily, turn bitter to God, and blame him somehow but you don't. You lean on him for understanding and guidance. With me, I'm looking to God with 100% of my being, believe me, miracles are known to grow on a little bit of hope so I'm not giving in. I notice you're not giving in about your son and I think that's great. It's got to be hard though. I can remember when i was 19 years old. Don't you? It was a tough time. I knew I was a legal adult and under the thumb of my parental home but the world looked like a giant, coming fresh out of that plastic thing called "High School life." I hope you'll keep me posted with what happens with your boy. I care and I want to know what's going on in your life. You seem to care about me and I appreciate it. The most important thing is that your son knows God. That's really a GOOD thing to have on his side, at such a young age, when there's so many directions he could go. I hope he uses his head and thinks but only he can decide about alot of things. I'm sure it meens something to know that he's got a mother who loves and cares for him as much as you obviously do.
Thanks for your reply yesterday. I hope we will talk again soon. Take care.

In Gods Hope,
Karen

Comment by karen on September 10, 2008 at 2:24am

Hi Renee,
Thanks for your reply and thanks for explaining what the word sovereignty meens. I appreciate that. I'm really motivated by your message to me to keep looking to God. How has your salvation affected the people in your family? Do you mind me asking you this? Prior to getting saved did you think about God alot? Did you grow up in a church going family? I know you said your Dad was drinking but I thought maybe your Mom might have had you all attending church or something. I attended a church when I was a kid but everyone looked so unhappy, it stayed in my mind, that not a single person ever had a smile on his face! The Minister wore a robe of some sort (it wasn't Catholic) and I can remember the harshness in his voice, wondering what on Earth he was so angry about. This can be scarry when you're a kid.
Then I tried being a Jehovah's Witness for awhile but that didn't last all that long. Adam and Eve had it the easiest when it comes to accepting Christ because there were no religions formed yet. I hear that God gave them the Gospel right there in the Garden of Eden and they said "Yes." I like reading what you post. I'm not always good at knowing just what to say but I hope you know I am thankful for reading what you have to say. Have a great rest of the week ok? I hope to be talking to you again. Take care.

In Gods Hope,
Karen

Comment by karen on September 7, 2008 at 3:05pm

Renee,
Thanks for your response. I like what you said about every one of us needing to know about the love, mercy, grace, and sovereignty of our Lord. What does the word 'sovereignty' meen? Is that referring to His Holiness? I'm a little slow!! I lost a few brain cells along the way from all that drinking!
Grace - I think I understand.
Mercy - There's been plenty of times God has given me mercy when I was far from the one deserving of any and I'm sure you can say the same.
Love - This is a tough one, Renee. I look at the picture you posted of Jesus on the cross and cry.
I'm told some people are honestly surprised when they are let into heaven. I'm told that it takes around 30 seconds to accept the Lord but that 9 out of 10 people never get it.
That's a sad percentage, wouldn't you say?
The enemy isn't the unbeliever but the ADVESARY.
Why should any unbeliever be hated when it's the devil that comes to rob people of salvation and he is successful at it, I'm sorry to say.
I think parents need to raise their children to be on guard - expecially if you're Christian parents. We need to get the Gospel to our children at a young age. Give the Gospel to your baby while she or he is still in the womb. Even non-Christian parents should allow their children the freedom to be exposed to the Gospel, if only by taking them to church a few times or allowing them to go to church with friends.
And, it's important for people to make sure the conversion is authentic. There's alot more to it then just saying a few words and, like you said, "something in deep of me changed." Did you look up and see the heavens open up or was it just a matter of accepting the facts? It's not always a big thrilling emotional experience but it's the most important decision ever to be made.
It's hard when there are people we know and love who don't seem to have accepted Christ as they walk in the dark. I know how this can be, believe me. We get so caught up with life that we're just not seeing what's really important but it's never too late. I say we should pray we should never give up on anyone . . not even ourselves . . until we know we have eternal security.
You really sound like a great Christian woman to me and I appreciate every word that you have to say. If you only knew my life, you would understand. I think it's great that you want to share your happiness with the people you meet. None of us were ever MEANT to be left out. How can any lost person ever understand this if there aren't any Christians to make knowing Christ appealing?
(Another long post, oops!)
Thanks again and I hope you have a great week coming up. I'm kinda-sorta shy about posting to you but I'm glad we're able to talk.

In Gods Hope - Karen

Comment by karen on September 1, 2008 at 10:59pm

Hi Renee,
It was nice to read your reply from Aug. 30th, I appreciate that.
The "self-help" groups are ok. Alot of people have been helped by them even though some Christian affiliations refer to all of it as "human view point."
The way I see it, who is to judge what's right for anyone, right? Some people started out with these "self-help" groups and found God.
I think it's different for each person but the "self-help" groups say, "Bring your body and the mind will follow."
As alcoholics, we don't always like being told what to do and the "steps" that you find in "self-help" group are used as a SUGGESTED guideline for recovery.
Some people get on the band wagon about "self-help" groups that aren't particular about what a persons Higher Power might be. They say "if your HP is a lightbulb and that lightbulb is a power greater than yourself that helps you stay sober, then so be it." "God as you understand it" - they say.
I don't see that as totally wrong because there's alot of confusion going on in a persons mind when they first get sober. I've heard that it takes over a year to get alcohol totally out of our system to begin with.
Sometimes an alcoholic in recovery just needs time to clear his head so that he can begin to think about what it is he wants to do with his sober life.
If he's looking for God, he may start going outside of the "self-help" meeting rooms to a church or he may begin to read the Bible on his own. (Sorry this post is so long). I think the "self-help" groups are great for getting an alcoholic on his feet, planting seeds, and giving a person the fellowship of others who have his problem.
Some knew Christ before they even started self-help and others find Christ after some time getting help. Some never do find Christ but they stay sober and others are seeking. You may not like what I'm about to say but I think some people out there are a little bit too hard on the "self-help" groups such as AA. I've talked to some people who say they found more love in the meeting rooms then they ever did in a church so there's a bit of bitterness about "fundamental religion" in some of the people.
About the guilt and writing everything down . . I agree with you that it's not always good to hash over ever fault and flaw that we have, and that it's not healthy to live in the past of our drunken woes.
Some people just need to understand the LOVE of Christ. Did you find it easy to accept such love in your life? Have you met other alcoholics in recovery (or even still drinking) that struggle with it? If you have, what would you say to that person?
Thanks for your reply. I'll come back to this site during the weekend sometime to keep up with what's going on. Have a great week. Please say "hi" to Dawn for me, k? Thanks.

Karen

Comment by karen on August 26, 2008 at 2:40pm

Hi Renee,
I like your attitude about things, how you say you'd like to be an encouragement to others and I bet that's exactly what your father would have you do, on his behalf. His pain is over now and you have found God.
My husband is a recovering alcoholic as well and he says it becomes "natural" after awhile, staying sober, but we're not much into the self-help groups though.
My problem is with guilt, knowing the pain I've caused others as well as myself. The self-help groups talk about doing "inventory" work but I'm not at all ready to sit myself down and write page after page of all the terrible things I've done.
I've changed in a positive way but, I kid you not, when I tell you how much I need God in my life. Don't we all?
I got one monkey off my back (alcohol) but the circus hasn't left yet. Round and round on the merry-go-round but I don't drink today.
I appreciate your reply and I hope that things will continue to go well for you in your life. We'll talk again soon, hopefully. Take care.

Karen

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