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 Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2012 10:12 am
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Edit: In advance, I'm probably rambling in the first paragraph, but I thought I'd mention it regardless.
Honestly, I've never made something like this, because I don't know what I should or shouldn't say, and I don't want to do or say something wrong. Plus it's only been recently throughout this year that I've been strengthening myself religiously. Before, I guess you would say I wasn't a "true christian", or something like that, which I hope isn't the case anymore (like as if I was going along blind or something, if you get it). So, even though I feel kind of embarrassed with talking about my personal issues, and because I've never done something like this, I'm being straightforward and truthful with my honesty despite me being the stubborn type (on occasion). Enough of my backstory though. Sorry about that.
I'll try to be brief. My family's having hard times at the moment. Bills are starting to pile up, arguments are happening, and trust issues have been taking place. Most of it is over money and going to the casino, but some of it is also over family issues (some of which originate or relate to the casino/money related problems). My mother and brother go to the casino pretty much every payday (my mother to a lesser extent than my brother), and they have been going for a long time now. It's gotten bad, and gotten better, but it's a cycle that needs to stop. It's placed a lot of tension on a lot of things, such as my parent's marriage for example. It's also created trust issues, to the point of them sneaking out on occasion or lacking trust with money, etc. There's more I could add to the list, but I'll stop there. My family's held together over the years pretty fine, but due to how fed up my father has been, and a couple of things he's said lately, I feel that something seriously has to be done soon in order to prevent heartbreaking repercussions/consequences. It brings a tear to my eye thinking about it all in whole, but I try not to dwell on it. And I apologize if I'm speaking too personally, it just kind of comes out like that since this is such a personal thing to me.
So, if you can and don't mind, including my family and our issues in your prayers, I'd greatly appreciate it. sweatdrop
God bless.
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Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2012 10:49 am
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Are the rest of your family members believers too? If so, I'll share what helped me: I often called my family out on their behavior, then showed them in scripture where it condemned what they were doing/saying. They had no excuse after that. It was a bumpy ride early on because I didn't know the bible told us we're suppose to keep fellow believers in line with his word (I had always heard "don't judge" when I was a nonbeliever; oh boy, is that ever used out of context). When a fellow believer starts to stray, we should bring it to their attention (Jas 5:19-20, Mt 18:15-17, Gal 6:1, 1 Cor 2:15).
In your case, concerning money:
Quote: 1 Timothy 6:9-10 (ESV) 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
Quote: Matthew 6:24 (ESV) 24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.[a] Footnotes:a. Matthew 6:24 Greek mammon, a Semitic word for money or possessions
You need to bring it to their attention that their love of money is crippling the family's chance of surviving, which is hateful and self-centered, not Christ-like at all. Yeshua taught that love was self-sacrificing, we live and manage our lives to benefit the others around us. They need to repent and ask our Heavenly Father for strength to help them get rid of this idol in their lives. It IS an idol. You can't worship God and money at the same time. You'll either worship God, and use money as he deems fit or you'll worship Money and use it as you deem fit (spent on self, not to support the survival of a larger whole, whether it's family or the community at large). In a way, they turn themselves into idols because it's what "they" want to do, not what YHWH wants them to do.
Pray for boldness if you have to, but this must be brought to their attention. Or are they aware already that this gambling habit is considered an idol? in that case, I'll pray that YHWH opens their ear and softens their heart to receive the truth. They need to be guided back into repentance, he'll do the rest.
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Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2012 3:04 pm
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Don't be embarrassed, Recite. Real eyes realize is correct: we are called to help build each other up, to admonish each other with scripture so that we don't wander from Jesus' Body. But most of all, we are called to love each other.
Now, most modern societies (though I can only speak for the US) have an idea of love that heavily relies on emotion; and while loving emotions are perfectly relevant in relationships, what matters even more is the love of God. The love of God is an action—it transcends any emotion and focuses on selflessness, trust, endurance, and forgiveness. It holds no wrongdoings against others; it believes, is patient, and is kind. This is our God's love, and we have to be prepared to give this to others.
When we are in a selfish mindset, we can't give each other the greatest love in all the universe. We can't love our friends, our spouses, our families overall. As a result, our relationships suffer. Your mother and brother need to understand this, but I wonder if doing so is going to be complicated.
It sounds like they're in a tricky position where they're trying to hide their behavior—that shows they feel some sense of shame despite their choice to gamble. And where there is shameful action, there's most likely a good amount of pride. So when it comes to approaching them about their behavior, you have to do it carefully. Even then, they might react in anger or denial; they already know what they're doing is wrong, but they're obviously not willing to give it up yet. They don't want to be told it's wrong because it convicts them to let go of a preferred, albeit sinful, action.
Pulling sin from the darkness into light is going to be painful for any sinner. Some might be thankful despite the pain, while others will be angry. Still, God calls us, in love, to help each other see our actions. We can't judge our fates as creatures of God, but we can and are commanded to look at the fruits of our actions: test them and judge them. Anyone who tells you that's bad is a hypocrite, because we judge one another's actions on a daily basis, consciously or not. What matters is if you're doing it through God's love, which in all intention is for the person experiencing that love. It's never selfish, but serving the person sinning in hopes that they will repent.
Approach your mother and brother in all gentleness and kindness, but be courageous at the same time; being courageous doesn't mean you have to raise your voice and sound harsh. Quite the contrary, especially in this situation. Of course, if they close you out, then they do. You have to walk away at that point and maybe try again at a more opportune time, but never give up. Have tolerance. Tolerance isn't ignoring a behavior; it's to have forbearance towards a behavior, to have patience and self-control when enduring it from another person. You can't force anyone to understand something against his will, and trying to is sinning against him and ultimately against God who gave him a free will.
Most of all, pray for them. Pray a lot, and pray that God will always give you His strength to tolerate their actions as you work to love them and help them to see what they do only leads to destruction.
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Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2012 8:24 am
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i have a stronger feeling to share this song with u maybe God is giving me this feeling but heres the song
David Crowder Band Lyrics
"How He Loves"
(originally by John Mark McMillan)
He is jealous for me,
Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of His wind and mercy.
When all of a sudden,
I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realize just how beautiful You are,
And how great Your affections are for me.
And oh, how He loves us, oh,
Oh, how He loves us,
How He loves us all
He is jealous for me,
Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of His wind and mercy.
When all of a sudden,
I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realise just how beautiful You are,
And how great Your affections are for me.
And oh, how He loves us, oh,
Oh, how He loves us,
How He loves us all
Yeah, He loves us,
Oh, how He loves us,
Oh, how He loves us,
Oh, how He loves.
And we are His portion and He is our prize,
Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes,
If grace is an ocean, we're all sinking.
So Heaven meets earth like an unforeseen kiss,
And my heart turns violently inside of my chest,
I don't have time to maintain these regrets,
When I think about the way...
He loves us,
Oh, how He loves us,
Oh, how He loves us,
Oh, how He loves.
Yeah, He loves us,
Oh, how He loves us,
Oh, how He loves us,
Oh, how He loves.
Yeah, He loves us,
Oh, how He loves us...
Oh, how He loves us...
Oh, how He loves us.
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Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2012 8:30 am
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Tyro474 i have a stronger feeling to share this song with u maybe God is giving me this feeling but heres the song David Crowder Band Lyrics "How He Loves" (originally by John Mark McMillan) He is jealous for me, Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree, Bending beneath the weight of His wind and mercy. When all of a sudden, I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory, And I realize just how beautiful You are, And how great Your affections are for me. And oh, how He loves us, oh, Oh, how He loves us, How He loves us all He is jealous for me, Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree, Bending beneath the weight of His wind and mercy. When all of a sudden, I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory, And I realise just how beautiful You are, And how great Your affections are for me. And oh, how He loves us, oh, Oh, how He loves us, How He loves us all Yeah, He loves us, Oh, how He loves us, Oh, how He loves us, Oh, how He loves. And we are His portion and He is our prize, Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes, If grace is an ocean, we're all sinking. So Heaven meets earth like an unforeseen kiss, And my heart turns violently inside of my chest, I don't have time to maintain these regrets, When I think about the way... He loves us, Oh, how He loves us, Oh, how He loves us, Oh, how He loves. Yeah, He loves us, Oh, how He loves us, Oh, how He loves us, Oh, how He loves. Yeah, He loves us, Oh, how He loves us... Oh, how He loves us... Oh, how He loves us.
and this one too
Kings and Queens Audio Adrenaline
Little hands, shoeless feet
Lonely eyes looking back at me
Will we leave behind the innocent too brief
On their own, on the run
When their lives have only begun
These could be our daughters and our sons
And just like a drum I can hear their hearts beating
I know my God won't let them be defeated
Every child has a dream to belong and be loved
(Chorus)
Boys become kings, girls will be queens
Wrapped in Your majesty
When we love, when we love the least of these
Then they will be brave and free
Shout Your name in victory
When we love, when we love the least of these
When we love the least of these
Break our hearts once again
Help us to remember when
We were only children hoping for a friend
Won't you look around
These are the lives that the world has forgotten
Waiting for doors of our hearts and our homes to open
Chorus
If not us, who will be like Jesus
To the least of these
If not us tell me who will be like Jesus
Like Jesus to the least of these
Boys become kings, girls will be queens
Wrapped in your majesty
When we love, when we love the least of these
Then they will be brave and free shout your name in victory
We will love we will love the least of these
We will love the least of these (Repeat) |
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Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2012 2:16 am
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