http://blog.gospelsmith.com Wed, 08 Sep 2010 04:00:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=1.5.1.2 http://blog.gospelsmith.com/?p=100#comment-10934 Tue, 28 Oct 2008 14:23:45 +0000 http://blog.gospelsmith.com/?p=100#comment-10934 Hi Michelle -- I can hardly imagine your friend's pain after the suicide of two children. Every situation is different, and I'm not sure the thought from Romans 8 will necessarily fit for your friend. That said, Romans 8:35-39 says nothing separates us from the love of God. Some have preached that Paul lists everything but ourselves -- "I can separate myself from His love," they tell us. Sounds good, but one day I was convicted that I am listed among the "things present nor things to come." I shared with the woman that her father's strong faith didn't necessarily evaporate just because he took his own life. For your friend, soak and listen. It may not be anything you can tell her. God may show you something to do that will help her or simply express His love. The ministry of comfort isn't always in words - blessings, Stan. http://blog.gospelsmith.com/?p=100#comment-10872 Mon, 27 Oct 2008 07:03:14 +0000 http://blog.gospelsmith.com/?p=100#comment-10872 Hi Stan, can I ask the simple thought from Romans 8, I have a friend who has had 2 children suicide (separately) and it may also be a comfort to her. Thx http://blog.gospelsmith.com/?p=99#comment-10615 Tue, 21 Oct 2008 12:31:50 +0000 http://blog.gospelsmith.com/?p=99#comment-10615 Hi Michelle -- yes, soaking while driving is just a matter of using a worship CD and listening to God. Because of the attention I have to devote to the road,I don't find myself in open visions when I drive. But I can quiet my heart, focus on Jesus, and seek to get into a spontaneous flow of words. One way to do this is with thanksgiving -- prayer that focuses on what Jesus is already doing (instead of trying to get God to do something) -- because it is a smooth shift from giving thanks to getting into a spontaneous flow of words. I'll write more about thanksgiving next month, to coincide with the American holiday. Blessings -- Stan http://blog.gospelsmith.com/?p=99#comment-10556 Mon, 20 Oct 2008 09:06:32 +0000 http://blog.gospelsmith.com/?p=99#comment-10556 Thanks Stan, I found this really helpful. I understand better now that the ministering component can be just small things too. Very curious as to how you soak and drive... I get frustrated that I have limited time at home to soak so to spend my driving time soaking sounds great, is it just a worship CD and tuning in to God ? Please mention on your blog if you ever come near Australia ! :-) ]]> http://blog.gospelsmith.com/?p=95#comment-9607 Wed, 01 Oct 2008 13:05:55 +0000 http://blog.gospelsmith.com/?p=95#comment-9607 Hi Michelle -- I meet a lot of people who are big on 11:11, including a couple JoAnn and I just spent a few days with. The numbers mean a lot to me; I was born on 11-11-52; I was born again on 11-11-67; I moved from Detroit to California on 11-11-99. I don't know that all of this means anything, though it woke me up to hear someone preach from Matthew 11:11 on my birthday about John the baptist. This was one of the passages God used to call me into ministry...Stan http://blog.gospelsmith.com/?p=95#comment-9601 Wed, 01 Oct 2008 06:22:43 +0000 http://blog.gospelsmith.com/?p=95#comment-9601 Hi, this posting really got my attention. My husband and I have had an 11:11 thing going on for months, waking at exactly 11:11, noticing it on clocks, emails, just everywhere. I said to my husband (not yet saved) that it may be a message that we are at the eleventh hour. Numbers fascinate me and God has an amazing way (with humour) of getting our attention. I love it.