Post by barb43 on Oct 3, 2019 2:15:26 GMT
Okay, not sure where to put this, but thought I'd share among y'all because this is my "safe space" and I wanted to be accountable to someone & you guys are the best. I think you'll be honest with me and call me on it if I get off the narrow path (it's like in AA we used to say it was a great place to be if you were serious about sobriety because people would call you on your sh*t 
).
The Realtor I'm closest to is a gal whose husband just retired from the military, & it brought big changes in their lives, naturally. She's walked through some major family deaths in the last couple of years and she's been very open about those. She's been there and very supportive of me in real estate and in dealing with my mother. She's missed me while I've taken this time off, and she's been super supportive and encouraging.
I've suspected off 'n on, from little things she's said, that she might not be a Christian, but there hasn't been an opening to flat out ask her. When we had that super full moon on Friday, the 13th in September she went full on posting her activities on facebook. She cleaned her crystals, set her intentions (wrote them out & posted them), and then either held or at least attended a very pretty full moon goddess circle social thing. The photos, the descriptions, everything just reeked of paganism, if not outright witchcraft.
My reaction? It quickened my pulse, made me breathe a little harder, and I wanted a part of that. I was shocked and excited; wondered if there was a way to get in on that power to a small extent but not so deep that I'd lose my salvation. I went searching on google for answers. I didn't play with this for very long ... a few days, not quite a week. Basically, I was looking for how to be good at being a witch, without giving up my faith in God and Jesus. Even after I quit actively searching, it was tough not to think about those things I'd seen and read.
Everything I ran into or had found hit me right between the eyes as being things I don't believe in or that I believe are evil. The whole Law of Attraction thing, that book The Secret, all the stuff out there that tells you how to "ask the universe" for what you want & the universe has to give it to you, the whole use of crystals & bells & incense, & how to think about all of this goddess stuff, etc. I was shaking my head & all wrapped up in disgust. So much of what I found out about goddess groups is that they are outright into witchcraft. I knew I didn't want to go there! I grew up with a mother who was into things that today I consider to be outright witchcraft - I was disgusted & disappointed by all that back then, not sure why I'd even allow myself the time to search on that in the present. I've shook my head at my reaction to how cool, sweet, fun, and seductive all that looked - and I was falling right in step.
So I quit. I came back to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in repentance and contriteness. I'm so thankful I did not get any further away from God than I did; it was enough.
Rosh Hashanah - the Jewish New Year - came at just the right time! I took Sunday afternoon & Monday to set some goals and write out some action plans for the remaining 3 months of the year. The first is to grow in my faith in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. There are about 13-1/2 weeks remaining in the year. One of the things I put on my action plan for growing in faith is to memorize a scripture a week that teaches me more about God the Father or Jesus Christ my Savior, or the Holy Spirit who leads me daily.
I wasn't sure how I'd find a scripture for each week. It would be so easy to pull out the Bible, or a commentary on something, or google for a list on specific subjects ... etc. But I don't want to do the leading on this. I'm turning it over to God.
It didn't take long. I went to Atwood's yesterday to pick up a jar of honey for Edward. When I walked in the door, there was a display of ranch-type framed art pieces. One was a beautiful horse and it had a version of Psalm 25:5 on it (not King James). It struck me that was it for this week!
When I got home I looked up and read Psalm 25. I looked for a reference on the teaching points in Psalm 25:5. There was a short essay by Charles Spurgeon that struck me as what I wanted so I took notes.
I also read something about how the best way to memorize scripture is to write it, and stand up and read it out loud. So that's what I'm doing - and I'm saying it a few times a day.
Okay, you know what I've been up to, where I'm at right now, and what I'm planning to do for the remainder of this year.
Being honest with you, I'm not sure whether I'll leave this post up or not. I'm not bragging about anything I've done or am doing, no humble bragging either (I can't stand that in a person). I'll leave this up to the Holy Spirit to provide guidance.
I will share my weekly scripture with you though.
I love you all, and I'm glad you're here!
Psalm 25:5 (KJV) -
Lead me in thy truth, and teach me:
for thou art the God of my salvation;
on thee do I wait all the day.
).The Realtor I'm closest to is a gal whose husband just retired from the military, & it brought big changes in their lives, naturally. She's walked through some major family deaths in the last couple of years and she's been very open about those. She's been there and very supportive of me in real estate and in dealing with my mother. She's missed me while I've taken this time off, and she's been super supportive and encouraging.
I've suspected off 'n on, from little things she's said, that she might not be a Christian, but there hasn't been an opening to flat out ask her. When we had that super full moon on Friday, the 13th in September she went full on posting her activities on facebook. She cleaned her crystals, set her intentions (wrote them out & posted them), and then either held or at least attended a very pretty full moon goddess circle social thing. The photos, the descriptions, everything just reeked of paganism, if not outright witchcraft.
My reaction? It quickened my pulse, made me breathe a little harder, and I wanted a part of that. I was shocked and excited; wondered if there was a way to get in on that power to a small extent but not so deep that I'd lose my salvation. I went searching on google for answers. I didn't play with this for very long ... a few days, not quite a week. Basically, I was looking for how to be good at being a witch, without giving up my faith in God and Jesus. Even after I quit actively searching, it was tough not to think about those things I'd seen and read.
Everything I ran into or had found hit me right between the eyes as being things I don't believe in or that I believe are evil. The whole Law of Attraction thing, that book The Secret, all the stuff out there that tells you how to "ask the universe" for what you want & the universe has to give it to you, the whole use of crystals & bells & incense, & how to think about all of this goddess stuff, etc. I was shaking my head & all wrapped up in disgust. So much of what I found out about goddess groups is that they are outright into witchcraft. I knew I didn't want to go there! I grew up with a mother who was into things that today I consider to be outright witchcraft - I was disgusted & disappointed by all that back then, not sure why I'd even allow myself the time to search on that in the present. I've shook my head at my reaction to how cool, sweet, fun, and seductive all that looked - and I was falling right in step.
So I quit. I came back to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in repentance and contriteness. I'm so thankful I did not get any further away from God than I did; it was enough.
Rosh Hashanah - the Jewish New Year - came at just the right time! I took Sunday afternoon & Monday to set some goals and write out some action plans for the remaining 3 months of the year. The first is to grow in my faith in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. There are about 13-1/2 weeks remaining in the year. One of the things I put on my action plan for growing in faith is to memorize a scripture a week that teaches me more about God the Father or Jesus Christ my Savior, or the Holy Spirit who leads me daily.
I wasn't sure how I'd find a scripture for each week. It would be so easy to pull out the Bible, or a commentary on something, or google for a list on specific subjects ... etc. But I don't want to do the leading on this. I'm turning it over to God.
It didn't take long. I went to Atwood's yesterday to pick up a jar of honey for Edward. When I walked in the door, there was a display of ranch-type framed art pieces. One was a beautiful horse and it had a version of Psalm 25:5 on it (not King James). It struck me that was it for this week!
When I got home I looked up and read Psalm 25. I looked for a reference on the teaching points in Psalm 25:5. There was a short essay by Charles Spurgeon that struck me as what I wanted so I took notes.
I also read something about how the best way to memorize scripture is to write it, and stand up and read it out loud. So that's what I'm doing - and I'm saying it a few times a day.
Okay, you know what I've been up to, where I'm at right now, and what I'm planning to do for the remainder of this year.
Being honest with you, I'm not sure whether I'll leave this post up or not. I'm not bragging about anything I've done or am doing, no humble bragging either (I can't stand that in a person). I'll leave this up to the Holy Spirit to provide guidance.
I will share my weekly scripture with you though.
I love you all, and I'm glad you're here!
Psalm 25:5 (KJV) -
Lead me in thy truth, and teach me:
for thou art the God of my salvation;
on thee do I wait all the day.
