Leave Your Enemies in God's Hands - iContact Community

Leave Your Enemies in God's Hands - iContact Community

I love to read Max Lucado...


Leave Your Enemies in God's Hands
by Max Lucado

Some years ago a rottweiler attacked our golden retriever puppy at a kennel. The worthless animal climbed out of its run and into Molly’s and nearly killed her. He left her with dozens of gashes and a dangling ear. I wrote a letter to the dog’s owner, urging him to put the dog to sleep.

But when I showed the letter to the kennel owner, she begged me to reconsider. “What that dog did was horrible, but I’m still training him. I’m not finished with him yet.”

God would say the same about the rottweiler who attacked you. “What he did was unthinkable, unacceptable, inexcusable, but I’m not finished yet.”

Your enemies still figure into God’s plan. Their pulse is proof: God hasn’t given up on them. They may be out of God’s will, but not out of his reach. You honor God when you see them, not as his failures, but as his projects.

God occupies the only seat on the supreme court of heaven. He wears the robe and refuses to share the gavel. For this reason Paul wrote, “Don’t insist on getting even; that’s not for you to do. ‘I’ll do the judging,’ says God. ‘I’ll take care of it’ ” (Rom. 12:19 MSG).

Revenge removes God from the equation. Vigilantes displace and replace God. “I’m not sure you can handle this one, Lord. You may punish too little or too slowly. I’ll take this matter into my hands, thank you.”

Is this what you want to say? Jesus didn’t. No one had a clearer sense of right and wrong than the perfect Son of God. Yet, “when he suffered, he didn’t make any threats but left everything to the one who judges fairly” (1 Pet. 2:23 GOD’S WORD).

Only God assesses accurate judgments. We impose punishments too slight or severe. God dispenses perfect justice. Vengeance is his job. Leave your enemies in God’s hands. You’re not endorsing their misbehavior when you do. You can hate what someone did without letting hatred consume you. Forgiveness is not excusing.

Nor is forgiveness pretending. David didn’t gloss over or sidestep Saul’s sin. He addressed it directly. He didn’t avoid the issue, but he did avoid Saul.

Do the same. Give grace, but, if need be, keep your distance. You can forgive the abusive husband without living with him. Be quick to give mercy to the immoral pastor, but be slow to give him a pulpit. Society can dispense grace and prison terms at the same time. Offer the child molester a second chance, but keep him off the playgrounds.

Forgiveness is not foolishness.

Forgiveness is, at its core, choosing to see your offender with different eyes. You don’t excuse him, endorse her, or embrace them. You just route thoughts about them through heaven. You see your enemy as God’s child and revenge as God’s job.

By the way, how can we grace-recipients do anything less? Dare we ask God for grace when we refuse to give it? This is a huge issue in Scripture. Jesus was tough on sinners who refused to forgive other sinners. In the final sum, we give grace because we’ve been given grace.


From
Facing Your Giants
© (Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006) Max Lucado

Conviction on lesser charges in MySpace case - Crime & courts- msnbc.com

Conviction on lesser charges in MySpace case - Crime & courts- msnbc.com


Prosecutors said Drew and two others created a fictitious 16-year-old boy on MySpace and sent flirtatious messages from him to teenage neighbor Megan Meier. The "boy" then dumped Megan, saying, "The world would be a better place without you." Megan promptly hanged herself with a belt in her bedroom closet in October 2006.

Prosecutors said Drew wanted to humiliate Megan for saying mean things about Drew's teenage daughter. They said Drew knew Megan suffered from depression and was emotionally fragile.

"Lori Drew decided to humiliate a child," U.S. Attorney Thomas O'Brien, chief federal prosecutor in Los Angeles, told the jury. "The only way she could harm this pretty little girl was with a computer. She chose to use a computer to hurt a little girl, and for four weeks she enjoyed it."


Follow the link to read the entire story

The Internet goes to the dogs - Today Technology & Money - TODAYshow.com

The Internet goes to the dogs - Today Technology & Money - TODAYshow.com

Writer’s Digest - Home

Writer’s Digest - Home

Blue Mountain Arts :: Poetry Contest :: Winning Poems :: Contest #11:: First Place Winner

Blue Mountain Arts :: Poetry Contest :: Winning Poems :: Contest #11:: First Place Winner

I love reading these :)

Live Space ~ Excellent Way to Keep links you might want to refer back to in the future for whatever reason

Regina's space

This is my LIVE Space and I enjoy adding a lot of books I've read and those I'm looking forward to reading. I also like that I can add links directly from websites where I find something I'm interested in reading or might want to refer back to in the future as I'm researching a topic for an essay or article. It's nice to have a site like this where I can keep up with a variety of subjects for future reference. And, there are a number of interesting authors and others on the site who post some very informative material. I've really enjoyed this site and hope to continue my membership here.

NCCADV - North Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence

NCCADV - North Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence

Max Lucado: Official Site of the Christian Author and Inspirational Speaker

Max Lucado: Official Site of the Christian Author and Inspirational Speaker

The TRUE Miracle

Regina's space

Anyone else ...



Would have died in a miscarriage

on the hard road to Bethlehem ...

Would have perished of disease,

being born in a public stable ...

Would have been among the countless infants

who were slaughtered in Herod's jealous rage ...

Would have grown up only to be

stoned to death as a heretic

for speaking the Truth ...

Would have drowned

in the storm on the Sea of Galilee ...

Would have STAYED dead when crucified.



But not Messiah ...



* * *



'The light shines in the darkness;

And the darkness did not overpower it.'

(John 1.5)



This year,

May you discover the true miracle of Christmas.



His name is Jesus.



* * *



VEILED IN FLESH, THE GODHEAD SEE.

HAIL THE INCARNATE DEITY!





(Copyright © 1985, 2007 by Edward Waters)



[See also 'The Christmas Spirit' -- Edward's short essay on celebration and wonder in the Season of the Incarnation]

Key Life Network

Key Life Network

The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz: They Don't Have to Be Perfect - Beyond Blue

The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz: They Don't Have to Be Perfect - Beyond Blue

This is an excellent essay for anyone interested in reading something enlightening. I can remember reading the book, The Four Agreements, and it was definitely a inspirational read that focusing on helping others get along better in their lives and relationships.

God's Song

God’s Song

Regina's space

Regina's Space @ Window's LIVE Spaces. I like to blog all over, as you can see from the various sites I tend to post on.

TALK Asheville NC

Talk Asheville is a community for those who are interested in the Western NC Mountains, local events, news, business, weather and anything related to Western North Carolina or to the Asheville area. Those who join are given a very nice profile much like My Space and Yahoo 360... only those who are members are most interested in Asheville and the surrounding area.

My Avon Site

REGINA HILL , Avon Representative... You can shop my brochure for the latest Avon products at my online site. There are TONS of great CHRISTMAS sales :)

Where I write

This is my MY SPACE Profile, where I have a blog with poetry and other posts.

Some other places you can find my writings on the web include Epinions.com and Helium.com.

Worry

War on Worry

by Regina Hill

Worry or anxiety is intense concern for someone else's well-being or, more frequently, negative self-appraisal that distracts the mind from focusing on the present moment with a positive outlook. Worry is the mind’s line of attack on happiness, enjoyment and self-confidence. When I worry, I am my own worst enemy.

I can tell you about worry because I’m known to be one of the world’s worst worriers. I don’t do it intentionally, but habitually, time and time again, even though I KNOW that I shouldn’t worry. The smallest incident or dilemma can initiate an enormous congregation of tribulations for my mind to ramble through. So you can imagine the consequences of any real life problem I’m met with.

Most often, there isn’t a person or even a problem worthy of attention that pulls this inner trigger. It is my own thoughts. My own mind.

Joyce Meyer , a minister who writes inspiratational books for Christians, wrote Battlefield of the Mind, a book focused on encouraging Christians who worry to change their thoughts from pessimistic to optimistic. This isn’t an easy “battle” to fight but the book provides readers with incentive through scriptures and the author’s personal experiences. She reaches into the heart of the matter, convincing Christians with reminders that worry is a sin. And, it shouldn’t be taken lightly.

Worry is one of those things in my life that I am forever fighting with. My personal war with worry isn’t something I really care to admit or address, even though it’s certainly something I’ve had my share of battles with. Worry has driven me to plenty of destinations I didn’t ever intend to arrive at. Drugs, drinks and destructive behaviors that left me with even more worries, are only a few of those destinations that I don’t want to mention. I can’t begin to list the disruption worry has welcomed into my life. Without any doubt, worry is a part of me and worry is my worst enemy.

Today I was reminded, once again, of the effects worry has had in my life. As I was reading through my email I came across a link to a Grace To You article written by John MacArthur, entitled “A Worried Christian”. Naturally, being the worrier that I am, I clicked on the link that led me to conclude that worrying truly is, and has always been, the main reason (at intervals) for my defeat as a Christian. Worry has been the culprit for innumerable life choices and decisions that went beyond self-destructive and harmful. The injustice and injury I’ve allowed into my life because I “worry” goes beyond insulting or offensive. Worry has corrupted my life and I’ve finally come to the conclusion that this evil inner fiend has to go.

I came to this conclusion a long time ago, but haven’t yet completed the transition from worried to worry-free. The minute I decide to clear my mind of worry I discover something new (and, sometimes, something old) to worry about. Clearly, worry is something I will be wrestling with for a lifetime but recognizing that worry is the enemy helps to keep me focused on fighting instead of giving into the enemy without objection. Finally, I’ve taken the initiative and declared war on worry.

And, the battle continues. ..

Quotes for people who worry:

If I had my life to live over, I would perhaps have more actual troubles but I'd have fewer imaginary ones. ~ Don Herold

Let us be of good cheer, remembering that the misfortunes hardest to bear are those which will never happen. ~ James Russel Lowell

Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow, it only saps today of its joy. ~ Leo Buscaglia

If you can't sleep, then get up and do something instead of lying there worrying. It's the worry that gets you, not the lack of sleep. ~ Dale Carnegie

I've developed a new philosophy... I only dread one day at a time. ~ Charlie Brown (Charles Schulz)

Troubles are a lot like people - they grow bigger if you nurse them. ~ Author Unknown

If you want to test your memory, try to recall what you were worrying about one year ago today. ~ E. Joseph Cossman

I keep the telephone of my mind open to peace, harmony, health, love and abundance. Then, whenever doubt, anxiety or fear try to call me, they keep getting a busy signal - and soon they'll forget my number. ~ Edith Armstrong

People gather bundles of sticks to build bridges they never cross. ~ Author Unknown

You can't wring your hands and roll up your sleeves at the same time. ~ Pat Schroeder

The greatest mistake you can make in life is to be continually fearing you will make one. ~ Elbert Hubbard, The Note Book, 1927

Worrying is like a rocking chair, it gives you something to do, but it gets you nowhere. ~ Glenn Turner

Panic is a sudden desertion of us, and a going over to the enemy of our imagination. ~ Christian Nevell Bovee

Somehow our devils are never quite what we expect when we meet them face to face. ~ Nelson DeMille

For peace of mind, resign as general manager of the universe. ~ Author Unknown

If you treat every situation as a life and death matter, you'll die a lot of times. ~ Dean Smith

Worry often gives a small thing a big shadow. ~ Swedish Proverb

Worry bankrupts the spirit. ~ Berri Clove

Worry, doubt, fear and despair are the enemies which slowly bring us down to the ground and turn us to dust before we die. ~ Attributed to Douglas MacArthur

You can never worry your way to enlightenment. ~ Ed Northstrum

I am reminded of the advice of my neighbor. "Never worry about your heart till it stops beating." ~ E.B. White

A day of worry is more exhausting than a day of work. ~ John Lubbock

As a rule, what is out of sight disturbs men's minds more seriously than what they see. ~ Julius Caesar

Worry is a complete cycle of inefficient thought revolving about a pivot of fear. ~ Author Unknown

Loneliness, insomnia, and change: the fear of these is even worse than the reality. ~ Mignon McLaughlin, The Second Neurotic's Notebook, 1966

Some patients I see are actually draining into their bodies the diseased thoughts of their minds. ~ Zacharty Bercovitz

Some of your hurts you have cured,
And the sharpest you still have survived,
But what torments of grief you endured
From the evil which never arrived.

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~

I am an old man and have known a great many troubles, but most of them never happened. ~ Mark Twain

My life has been full of terrible misfortunes most of which never happened. ~ Michel de Montaigne

If you see ten troubles coming down the road, you can be sure that nine will run into the ditch before they reach you. ~ Calvin Coolidge

When one has too great a dread of what is impending, one feels some relief when the trouble has come. ~ Joseph Joubert

Some men storm imaginary Alps all their lives, and die in the foothills cursing difficulties which do not exist. ~ Edgar Watson Howe

How much pain they have cost us, the evils which have never happened. ~ Thomas Jefferson

When I really worry about something, I don't just fool around. I even have to go to the bathroom when I worry about something. Only, I don't go. I'm too worried to go. I don't want to interrupt my worrying to go. ~ J.D. Salinger, Catcher in the Rye

Anxiety is a thin stream of fear trickling through the mind. If encouraged, it cuts a channel into which all other thoughts are drained. ~ Arthur Somers Roche

There are people who are always anticipating trouble, and in this way they manage to enjoy many sorrows that never really happen to them. ~ Josh Billings

Only man clogs his happiness with care, destroying what is with thoughts of what may be. ~ John Dryden

Love looks forward, hate looks back, and anxiety has eyes all over its head. ~ Mignon McLaughlin, The Neurotic's Notebook, 1960

Worry is interest paid on trouble before it comes due. ~ William Ralph Inge

Do not be afraid of tomorrow; for God is already there. ~ Author Unknown

Real difficulties can be overcome; it is only the imaginary ones that are unconquerable. ~ Theodore N. Vail

No man ever sank under the burden of the day. It is when tomorrow's burden is added to the burden of today that the weight is more than a man can bear. ~ George MacDonald

Fear can keep us up all night long, but faith makes one fine pillow. ~ Philip Gulley

Every evening I turn my worries over to God. He's going to be up all night anyway. ~ Mary C. Crowley


Links for people who worry:

Panic Disorder

New York Times article on Worry

Anxiety

Reasons Not To Worry

We Worry: A blog for the anxious




© 2008 by Regina Hill

Who's She?

Have you ever read someone's blog and wondered, "who is this?" This person, male or female, who is revealing pieces of their hearts and thoughts on a blog entry that can be read by anyone who happens to be scanning pages on the internet. Who is this?

Curious minds want to know and I've decided to open up this blog with a short bio.

I'm Regina Hill (Gina) and I like to write. Various poems I've written are published with Blue Mountain Arts where I've been submitting poetry since 1994. Besides writing for Blue Mountain Arts, I've become fond of blogging and writing reviews on Epinions. Among the masses of blogs out there, mine is usually reserved for personal points to ponder and inspirational items I might have read and reposted for others. I have a few published articles and essays within the back issues of True Confessions, True Romance, Team Penning (equine enthusiasts), Asheville Citizen Times, Carolina Country, Whispers & Shouts (fiction) and Our State, Down Home in North Carolina.

Besides writing, I love reading and couldn't imagine listing the number of novels I've read and appreciated. My favorite authors are usually the ones who can make me cry or, at least, feel something amazing in the way of inspiration and appreciation. There are those favorites that I've read over the years which stick in my brain, the "unforgettable" ones like Scarlet Letter, Gone With The Wind, Where the Red Fern Grows, I Know This Much is True, She's Come Undone, Little Women, Narnia, Agate Hill (most recently), Saving Grace, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, The Notebook, Message in a Bottle, A Walk to Remember. Oh... the list is way too long. I couldn't possibly list the "unforgettable" even. Just say that I love to read, too.

Among my writings, you're likely to find poetry (free verse), although most of my poems are reserved for submission to Blue Mountain Arts. There are some I feel deserve a world wide web readership. Some of the personal experiences, realizations and inspirations that I am inspired to write on are relationships, love, romance, divorce and feelings. And, at times, I simply want to share some common event or evidence that I can be frugal, focused and free of prejudice regarding the subjects I write about. In other words, I might write about any topic I find interesting at any particular time. I reserve the right to do this since I believe in freedom of the press and heart.

If you happen to come upon some writing I've placed here or anywhere, I would love to hear your thoughts. Comments are always appreciated. Well, that's who she is ... now I will move on to writing on more interesting topics. Thanks for your reading time and I hope you'll come back for more.

Gina