Streams of Consciousness & Thoughts~~~

[Fenner]

We've had a lot of snow for a while now. Sometimes it's beautiful other times it irritates me. Tomorrow when my kids are at school I might go take some cool pictures of the lake frozen over.

 

[Fenner]

Someone posted this on Facebook. Apparently if you're keeping track of who has the most snow right now, my city wins! Horray!!!

Erie, Pa Remains King of The Mountain By Over 2 Feet of Snow | Golden Snow Globe National Snow Contest

 

[iTOREtheSKY]

I leave for work in like 20 mins.

Ever have one of those days where you would much rather throw responsibility out the window & just I dunno...Ugh!
lol

No idea what I am saying now...but yeah...liking the idea of talking to a bunch of strange needy people when I have more important things to think about.

Selfish? Yeah...pretty much.

On my way to work in between my co-worker excitedly giving me a minute by minute countdown until the season premiere of Downton Abbey tonight,maybe I should thank God for the few hours I am working this week & to use this happiness & energy I have today to bless some of these people I will be talking with at work today. Yanno,like do my job as unto the Lord and stuff. lol

Yeah...my co-worker has his thing to look forward to and I have mine! Tru Dat!

 

[lil_christian]

Is it just me, or do churches have kind of like a "Mean girls" group? Though they're not exactly mean, they also aren't extremely accepting of others and can act very "cool." They also have the latest clothes and technology, along with good looks. Though they have a good personality and knowledge of the Bible, it seems to be that social status is right below their relationship with Jesus.

Or do I just look into things too much?

 

[Lecrae]

Is it just me, or do churches have kind of like a "Mean girls" group? Though they're not exactly mean, they also aren't extremely accepting of others and can act very "cool." They also have the latest clothes and technology, along with good looks. Though they have a good personality and knowledge of the Bible, it seems to be that social status is right below their relationship with Jesus.

Or do I just look into things too much?

Definitely not just you! Happened at my last church. It was so bad I ended up changing churches.

 

[Pipp]

Ever felt like this ? I did the other day... I know it isn't right and I dont feel like that anymore. But yeah...,

 

[lil_christian]

Definitely not just you! Happened at my last church. It was so bad I ended up changing churches.

Oh, wow.

See, with mine, it's not terrible. But it is sort of an issue. Where there's all these popular girls and stuff. They're really nice and have a good personality, and serve at the Salvation Army and everything....but. As I said, they can also act sort of "cool" and can even be distant to girls outside of their group. =\ It bothers me. It really does. I sometimes wished I knew what to do about it. But the people wouldn't listen to me, because oh they're so sweet and full of Jesus. Which is true (for the most part). But...they have flaws, just like the rest of us. I'm not trying to gossip, I'm just...thinking. And wondering what I should do.

 

[Grace-Like-Rain]

Oh, wow.

See, with mine, it's not terrible. But it is sort of an issue. Where there's all these popular girls and stuff. They're really nice and have a good personality, and serve at the Salvation Army and everything....but. As I said, they can also act sort of "cool" and can even be distant to girls outside of their group. =\ It bothers me. It really does. I sometimes wished I knew what to do about it. But the people wouldn't listen to me, because oh they're so sweet and full of Jesus. Which is true (for the most part). But...they have flaws, just like the rest of us. I'm not trying to gossip, I'm just...thinking. And wondering what I should do.

I've been on both sides of this. On the "outside" side, I have noticed people who were popular, and even though they were sweet and friendly and there was nothing WRONG with anything they were doing, I felt annoyed with them. I really had to examine myself to see if the problem was them, or that I was feeling left out or jealous. I hate to admit that for me, it was simple resentment. These girls had never done anything to harm me, and probably had no idea that I was feeling like an outsider.

I've been on the popular side too, and felt a burden to make sure that no one else around me felt left out (because I knew how it felt). I would expend great energy trying to bring others into the circle. I would sometimes be frustrated that others in my group didn't see the importance of doing that. I'm in a bit of a "close group of friends" right now at church... and I feel guilty about it even though I don't believe it's wrong, in itself. God gives us close friends sometimes for a reason, and I am so thankful for my close friends. I've done all I can do to draw more people in and make them welcome, but there's only so much that we can do. For one reason or another, many people just can't participate in activities or meetings that our group has outside of church. While I feel terrible that anyone might feel left out, I don't know what the solution would be to fix this.

There are always going to be, in any group, people who are confident, who draw others toward themselves. People with magnetic personalities. They can't necessarily help it. (And they will naturally be more talkative with those that they feel like they know better.) They can use it for good though. I don't really know the situation at your church, but the best thing you can do is find some ways that they might be able to help other people feel included and welcomed, and perhaps encourage them to do those things. It sounds like they are well-intentioned and just need to be made aware of the problem.

 

[lil_christian]

I've been on both sides of this. On the "outside" side, I have noticed people who were popular, and even though they were sweet and friendly and there was nothing WRONG with anything they were doing, I felt annoyed with them. I really had to examine myself to see if the problem was them, or that I was feeling left out or jealous. I hate to admit that for me, it was simple resentment. These girls had never done anything to harm me, and probably had no idea that I was feeling like an outsider.

I've been on the popular side too, and felt a burden to make sure that no one else around me felt left out (because I knew how it felt). I would expend great energy trying to bring others into the circle. I would sometimes be frustrated that others in my group didn't see the importance of doing that. I'm in a bit of a "close group of friends" right now at church... and I feel guilty about it even though I don't believe it's wrong, in itself. God gives us close friends sometimes for a reason, and I am so thankful for my close friends. I've done all I can do to draw more people in and make them welcome, but there's only so much that we can do. For one reason or another, many people just can't participate in activities or meetings that our group has outside of church. While I feel terrible that anyone might feel left out, I don't know what the solution would be to fix this.

There are always going to be, in any group, people who are confident, who draw others toward themselves. People with magnetic personalities. They can't necessarily help it. (And they will naturally be more talkative with those that they feel like they know better.) They can use it for good though. I don't really know the situation at your church, but the best thing you can do is find some ways that they might be able to help other people feel included and welcomed, and perhaps encourage them to do those things. It sounds like they are well-intentioned and just need to be made aware of the problem.

For me, I kind of "float" in and out of it, of that makes any sense. Like sometimes I'm right in there, having a good time, then, other times, when they're in their circle, sometimes I'm left out. Or if I do get in the circle, I just get quiet because they talk about stuff I'm not interested in. Or they get tighter and tighter together, and I sloowwllyy get pushed out.

Granted, they might not realize it. And it might be the case where I'm "just jealous." Though either way it goes, I'm not gonna play the victim card and say "They hate me but claim to know Jesus who loves and accepts everyone."

 

[Ugly]

I don't know if i'm going to be around much or not. God and life and people have once again failed me and proven i am not worthy of good or of love.
..."You" can stay here...

 

[Jullianna]

I don't know if i'm going to be around much or not. God and life and people have once again failed me and proven i am not worthy of good or of love.
..."You" can stay here...




View attachment 68549

I, for one, love and appreciate you more than you know. And if you go away, I will mourn, my friend. Know that.

 

[Ugly]

I, for one, love and appreciate you more than you know. And if you go away, I will mourn, my friend. Know that.

Words are meaningless. People use words all the time they never mean. And this is all we do here is words.

 

[Jullianna]

Words are more powerful than we know. Yours have been in my life.

 

[Misty77]

Words are more powerful than we know.

They are definitely powerful. But sometimes we aren't in a place where we can really rely on them, and we need actions to prove that there is substance and meaning behind them.

 

[Ugly]

Words are more powerful than we know. Yours have been in my life.

Yes. They are powerful. But at the end of the day what good are words without action? Nothing. I could sit here all day typing words but they are useless, hallow and meaningless if my actions don't support them. And i find, in my life, this is more and more true. I've heard so many hallow words and i am tired of hearing. Hearing things said and promises made. People saying something that they never live out. Who cares what you say? People throw idle words around like a child throws toys. Big words. Powerful words. But they don't mean any of it. Words are useless for anything but weapons. Lies.

 

[Misty77]

Yes. They are powerful. But at the end of the day what good are words without action? Nothing. I could sit here all day typing words but they are useless, hallow and meaningless if my actions don't support them. And i find, in my life, this is more and more true. I've heard so many hallow words and i am tired of hearing. Hearing things said and promises made. People saying something that they never live out. Who cares what you say? People throw idle words around like a child throws toys. Big words. Powerful words. But they don't mean any of it. Words are useless for anything but weapons. Lies.

Some of us mean what we say.

I'm sorry you're hurting. ((Hugs))

 

[Jullianna]

I suppose, as with many things, the power of a thing comes down to the perspective we choose for ourselves.

We care. We're praying.

 

[rachelsedge]

I'm feeling down. Discouraged. Lost. Tired. Directionless. Guarded.

Sigh.

 

[Jullianna]

Father, we pray now for those in this thread who are so downhearted and discouraged. Use us to encourage them and lift them up. Show us how to be your hands and feet.

Please be with them in ways that we cannot and lead them to a safer, peaceful, healing, loving place, Lord.

In Jesus' Name.

 

[Descyple]

I'm feeling down. Discouraged. Lost. Tired. Directionless. Guarded.

Sigh.

Rachel, here is a video I put together for a worship song from my youth group days (a long time ago), that has always given me an encouraging spiritual lift when I was down and feeling somewhat lost and confused. I hope it can give you a little lift as well.

[video=youtube_share;bRiZHgiCBlA]http://youtu.be/bRiZHgiCBlA[/video]