Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2009 David Raets
It is hard to argue the fact that no matter what the point of debate, whenever any subject regarding religion is approached there is a real tendency for argument. Bear with me because there is a very real correlation to the subject of this text with the way we raise to the defense of our beliefs. These arguments are not simply against non-believers, or those who do not share our particular faith... these arguments can spring up between the closest of those sharing the same faith. Any point of faith is an extremely personal emotional trigger that has as much of a defense in our core as the need to protect our family and home.
Of all the debates and arguments revolving around belief none is quite as confusing as that surrounding the Holy Spirit. It is easy for people to accept that the Holy Spirit is the word of God handed down to those in ancient times and that the Bible is a resource of those encounters. What is hard for many to truly grasp and accept, even when their minds recite the concept, is that the Holy Spirit is more than just ancient words on a page. The Holy Spirit lives and breathes today as much as centuries ago. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are alive within each of us if we choose to accept this most gracious gift from God.
In fact, the fullness of the Holy Spirit cannot be contained in the written word. Anyone who feels the overwhelming satisfaction of being filled with the Spirit of God knows that. It can hardly be put into words even though we try. We try because we are compelled to share the joy we feel within us and even as we attempt to explain the feeling we have it can be frustrating because we know we fall short. Take heart, however, because you do not have to live up to the feeling through your words. No one can and only those who are touched by the gifts of the Holy Spirit will ever completely understand. You are compelled by the Spirit within you to share the news that God is with us and within us, but you are not expected to change anyone's mind. That is for God himself, and that person to undertake.
One of the reasons so many people have a hard time accepting the presence of the Holy Spirit inside of them is how we live in the hectic world today. Everything is so full of commotion it is hard to "be still". It is hard to listen to that voice that speaks softly to us, guiding our steps and actions. The blessing from God is that if we accept the gift in baptism of the Holy Spirit we can never be separated from it. It can't be taken by any means of man. Nothing can tear it from us - nothing but us ourselves. The only way the Holy Spirit can be taken from us is for us to intentionally deny it, and send it away from us. This is a lot harder too than it sounds, because it takes more than a disgruntled anguished statement of anger towards God made in pain or distress. Some think that because they have cursed God during hard times he is no longer with them but nothing could be further from the truth. God does not leave when things get tough. His Holy Spirit hangs in there even when we are not listening, even when we are angry and in pain, and unless we actually say get out, it will never leave.
Think about that. Even in the deepest despair and pain it is rare for someone to actually say those words. They may ignore the voice inside or be unable to hear it when life is so hectic and crazy that the noise from without drowns out all within, but people who are not completely turned to Satan do not actually say those words.
And the most blessed news of all is that even if someone does say those words God loves them so much that all they have to do is say please forgive me, I believe, and he will rush back in with the strength of a million tides and replenish that broken soul.
The fact that the Holy Spirit is always at work in the world and seeking to reconnect with those who are lost is one of the reasons we are so compelled to share with others how we feel and what we believe. The fruits of the Holy Spirit are always being sown. It is present in the Word of God, it is present in our words, and it is present in our actions. We present a living proof that God exists in the world and is ever caring and loving.
Know that no matter how you present it, whenever you speak of your love and the fulfillment of God's presence in your life, whenever you read from the Holy Bible or others read the Word of God, the Holy Spirit rains down upon them. This Holy Spirit rain will flood their soul and they will hear your words with all of the resonance of God's own voice if they are willing to let it enter.
Keeping that in mind will allow your spirit to flow freely and give you the ability to share the Word of God without argument. Knowing that the greatest Gift from God is that nothing can ever take his Holy Spirit from you and that all you have to do is share what you feel and he will do the rest.
About the Author:
Written by David Raets. For more on the gracious Gift of the Holy Spirit and how it can enter your life or how you can share it, visit The Holy Spirit Guide (http://www.HolySpiritGuide.com)
Read more of David Raets's articles.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Friday, July 17, 2009
Why We Women Are Our Own Greatest Enemy When Dating
Article Presented by:
Copyright © 2009 RoseMary Alberts
It is rightly said, "Women never know what they want."
I begin by saying this because, I have learned that while there are women who want to be committed to one man, there are some others who seek only attention, gifts, dinners, movies etc, and still others who are only interested in having a physical relationship. But all these three categories cannot be used as a base to judge women and their point of view about relationships only because, like I said, "Women never know what they want."
So read on and you will know what I mean...
When I was in my twenties, I was once walking my little dog "spark", and I noticed a man staring at me.
I ignored him and moved on.
He followed me, and without any waste of time, he introduced himself to me.
As I kept talking to him, I found him to be very interesting and I knew he was attracted to me too.
This went on for a couple of days, until one day he asked me out to dinner. I did not even think twice as this was what I was waiting for.
We went out that weekend for dinner, had a lovely time and I promptly came back home that night. This went on for months. Our relationship was growing, we were becoming more than just friends, got closer emotionally and physically.
Then one evening, I casually asked him where did he think this relationship was going.
He said he preferred not thinking about it.
It was a little disturbing. I mean, I was expecting him to say something that put us on a committed path with one another.
When I asked him what he meant by that and why he did not want to think ahead, he plainly said "because I am a man, and men don't do that."
I was so puzzled. When everything was going so well, I felt like our relationship was actually going somewhere. I wanted him to meet my friends, wanted to have conversations about our future, marriage, kids, our little home over-looking the park, a little dog etc. And the more I thought about it, the more I felt, or rather, the more I assumed he felt this way too. But I was wrong...
This made me sad the first few days, then angry, then I reached a phase where it did not bother me anymore, and finally I was thinking it probably happened for the best and he was not meant for me anyway.
It made me wonder how just a few weeks back I was dreaming of a home, kids, and marriage and now I'm glad I'm alone and free again.
Why is it so hard for us women to decide on one thing? Why do we always want to put our feet into every shoe?
No wonder men find it so easy to move on and say, "there are other fish in the sea".
Why does it take so long for women to figure that out? Why do they wait for reality, or in this case, men, to brutally show it to them?
There's no end to these questions, but there probably is only one answer - "Women never know what they want".
About the Author:
RoseMary Alberts lives in Florida and has a lifetime of dating experiences in her rear view mirror. As a attractive and young 50-year-old, she enjoyed the single life through most of her twenties and for the last ten years, since the death of her late husband. For online dating, visit: http://www.nsadatingsite.com/
Read more Articles written by RoseMary Alberts.
Copyright © 2009 RoseMary Alberts
It is rightly said, "Women never know what they want."
I begin by saying this because, I have learned that while there are women who want to be committed to one man, there are some others who seek only attention, gifts, dinners, movies etc, and still others who are only interested in having a physical relationship. But all these three categories cannot be used as a base to judge women and their point of view about relationships only because, like I said, "Women never know what they want."
So read on and you will know what I mean...
When I was in my twenties, I was once walking my little dog "spark", and I noticed a man staring at me.
I ignored him and moved on.
He followed me, and without any waste of time, he introduced himself to me.
As I kept talking to him, I found him to be very interesting and I knew he was attracted to me too.
This went on for a couple of days, until one day he asked me out to dinner. I did not even think twice as this was what I was waiting for.
We went out that weekend for dinner, had a lovely time and I promptly came back home that night. This went on for months. Our relationship was growing, we were becoming more than just friends, got closer emotionally and physically.
Then one evening, I casually asked him where did he think this relationship was going.
He said he preferred not thinking about it.
It was a little disturbing. I mean, I was expecting him to say something that put us on a committed path with one another.
When I asked him what he meant by that and why he did not want to think ahead, he plainly said "because I am a man, and men don't do that."
I was so puzzled. When everything was going so well, I felt like our relationship was actually going somewhere. I wanted him to meet my friends, wanted to have conversations about our future, marriage, kids, our little home over-looking the park, a little dog etc. And the more I thought about it, the more I felt, or rather, the more I assumed he felt this way too. But I was wrong...
This made me sad the first few days, then angry, then I reached a phase where it did not bother me anymore, and finally I was thinking it probably happened for the best and he was not meant for me anyway.
It made me wonder how just a few weeks back I was dreaming of a home, kids, and marriage and now I'm glad I'm alone and free again.
Why is it so hard for us women to decide on one thing? Why do we always want to put our feet into every shoe?
No wonder men find it so easy to move on and say, "there are other fish in the sea".
Why does it take so long for women to figure that out? Why do they wait for reality, or in this case, men, to brutally show it to them?
There's no end to these questions, but there probably is only one answer - "Women never know what they want".
About the Author:
RoseMary Alberts lives in Florida and has a lifetime of dating experiences in her rear view mirror. As a attractive and young 50-year-old, she enjoyed the single life through most of her twenties and for the last ten years, since the death of her late husband. For online dating, visit: http://www.nsadatingsite.com/
Read more Articles written by RoseMary Alberts.
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