His Sacrifice
Posted by Jayce Tamulevich in Testimonies on August 31, 2010
A spot sits black in the sky,
where a gold sphere used to give life,
but now the earth is cold,
and all life must erode,
because without the light,
we are trapped in night,
cold and confused, worn and abused,
gasp for air but the greens are beyond repair,
just thorns and snares, taking your share,
in this land of the blight only God has might,
no one else can save you from what you do,
cause in truth there is only one light and it is true,
that without the light we are gone, no hope to live on,
the light is there for all, to get up from the fall,
defeat yourself and get washed in the light,
or suffer eternal night and never see true life,
see only pain, nothing to gain, so far from Christ,
it’s a wonder you can stand in fight,
Satan will fly you like a kite, you puppet,
cut the strings and be free,
be redeemed or be a part of the symphony of screams,
in the fire your soul has only one desire, to get higher,
but your trapped in a cage of hurt and rage,
don’t wait go and get the key today,
follow the way and live in his light,
at the foot of truth who died for you,
don’t let his sacrifice be a waste tonight.
Coming Soon – the return of God Chat…
Posted by Christoferl in Commentaries on August 29, 2010
details to follow…
Islam Proven False 1
Posted by Christoferl in Commentaries on August 29, 2010
Muslims claim that the Qur’an is a scientific masterpiece. Yet with one verse from the Quran one can see how deceived the Muslims are. The Qur’an is filled with statements that are completely false. Let’s consider the formation of sperm.
Sura 85 represented by four different translations:
(5) He is created from a water drip-ping, (6) That issueth from between the loins and the breast-bones. (Daryab)
(5) He is created from a water gushing forth, (6) Proceeding from between the back-bone and the ribs, (Mohsin)
(5) He is created from a gushing fluid (6) That issued from between the loins and ribs. (Pickthal)
(5) He is created from a drop emitted? (6) Proceeding from between the backbone and the ribs: (Yusuf)
Famed commentator, Abdullah Yusuf Ali tries to explain this obvious error on the Quran’s part. Here’s Ali’s footnote:
“A man’s seed is the quintessence of his body. It is therefore said metaphorically to proceed from his loins, i.e., from his back between the hipbones and his ribs. His backbone is the source and symbol of his strength and personality. In his spinal cord and in the brain is the directive energy of the central nervous system, and this directs all action, organic and psychic. The spinal cord is continuous with the Medulla Oblongata in the brain.”
As you can see… they have no answer other than to take a direct and literal statement and claim its metaphorical. I know, a lot of people do this with problem areas of their own religions, but we are strictly looking at Islam here. Do not be distracted by the ‘they do it too’ arguments…
The fact of the matter is the Quran is clueless about where semen comes from despite the claims of scientific excellence by zealous Muslims. Be aware my brothers and sisters.
MISSING: FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT
Posted by Christoferl in Commentaries on August 23, 2010
Here’s a free flyer for downloading and printing. Use it with your ministry or to promote your favorite ministries. Just imprint the information at the bottom of the flyer when your print it out! Of course, we have provided a copy of our version of the flyer just in case you need a ministry to recommend… just click for the largest version, save to desktop, import into any word processor, and modify to needs! Then print! It’s cool and easy!
GBU and HJD
FREE Blank Version of the Flyer so you can promote your ministry (PDF FILE)
FREE HJD Version of the Flyer if you’d like to promote this ministry (PDF FILE)
Closing the Book on the KJVO
Posted by Christoferl in Commentaries on August 17, 2010
I object to the use of Easter on the basis that there is absolutely no justification to use the word Easter in the Greek.
I object to the position that claims ‘file’ is the correct translation for the word PIM. The fact is that the KJV translators had to guess at the meaning of the word PIM because no one knew what a PIM was until they were discovered in the 1900′s. The fact they guessed incorrectly should tell the KJV Onlyist something about their claim that the KJV is the perfect Word of God in English, but if it doesn’t, there’s nothing more I can say on the matter.
I object to the word Lucifer being found in ANY English Bible. The word ‘Lucifer’ cannot appear in a true translation from Hebrew to English. No matter how they try to squirm out of it, no matter how it is justified in their minds, the KJVO are stuck defending a LATIN word which the Catholic Church translated from Hebrew to Latin as another name for Satan.
Concerning 1 John 5:7-8 – it was not part of the first or second editions of the Received Text. The KJV used the third edition of the Received Text which added the Comma Johanneum, and as a result it appears in the KJV. The evidence is clear that the passage was not known in the 4th century when the Church debated the Arians over the doctrine of Trinity, other wise the Church would have used such a clear Trinity passage in their arguments… it is also clear that the passage first appeared in the LATIN as a margin note – and that it wasn’t added to the manuscripts until much later. The problem I have with this isn’t what it says – but that the KJVO don’t recognize this as an addition to the text that originates from the Catholic Church which they profess to despise as corrupters of the Word in modern translations. Hypocrisy!
I object to the KJVO claim that the Alexandrian manuscripts which the modern translations use as their primary reference to translate the Greek into English is missing words, verses, and even chunks of chapters. Despite their confidence, it is just as likely that the Byzantine Manuscripts that they favor had words, verses, and even chunks of chapters added to them. Without the autographs – that is – the originals – we truly have no way to determine which is closest to the original. Maybe that is why Christ sent the Holy Spirit to teach and guide us?
I agree with the KJV Translators who did not believe their work to be ‘perfect’ – and believed that even the poorest translations of the Word of God into English were the Word of God – not just containing the Word – but also BEING the Word.
Now to the latter we answer; that we do not deny, nay we affirm and avow (declare assuredly, openly, bluntly, and without shame), that the very meanest (of poor shabby inferior quality or status or worthy of little regard.) translation of the Bible in English, set forth by men of our profession, (for we have seen none of theirs of the whole Bible as yet) containeth the word of God, nay, is the word of God. As the King’s speech, which he uttereth in Parliament, being translated into French, Dutch, Italian, and Latin, is still the King’s speech, though it be not interpreted by every Translator with the like grace, nor peradventure so fitly for phrase, nor so expressly for sense, everywhere.
I’ve heard all the praise the KJVO speaks about the translators of the KJV; their faithfulness, their academic excellence, their Christian values… but they spit on the words of the KJV translators…
I object to the words that no longer mean the same thing today – or are even out of use… The KJV is not in the common English of today.
Now despite all these objections, I have to say once again I read the KJV daily! I read it right along side my NASB. Please understand my objections are truly not against the KJV, which I accept as a translation of the Word of God, but against the theology that professes this translation to be the end all for the Word of God in English.
I got back into this argument because I saw a very condescending, degrading, and insulting video from a guy who goes by the name of Husky in the YT KJVO community. I tried to explain why the KJVO position is wrong, and instead of getting intelligent responses and reasonable answers, I received insults, slander and liable; KJVO’ers attempting character assisination… I have witnessed blasphemy of the Holy Spirit and I’ve had to listen to complete lies being spoken about myself and the ministry I was led to by Jesus Christ – which is happy Jesus day.
Without a doubt, there are times when my pride and flesh tried to take hold in these heated debates – and at times – I believe I have spoken too harshly. Granted – I was returning blow for blow with the attacks coming from the KJVO camps – but thats no excuse. I love to preach turn the other cheek but when the KJVO guys made it personal and got stupid, I was right up in the batter’s box ready to swing away. For these reasons I am sorry.
To those of you who have thought it just to do evil against me – Despite it all… your slander and lies spoken against me – your refusal to look objectively at the evidence presented to you concerning your beliefs about the KJV – despite all that – I do believe you believe in Jesus Christ…
Even if you call Satan, Lucifer, I know you aren’t a Satan Worshipper…
So I disagree with your beliefs concerning the perfect Word of God in English… so what? That doesn’t make me any less of a believer and it doesn’t affect my salvation. It also doesn’t make make me Satanic. ChristoferL you say – the L for liar – L for Lucifarian? Could demons scream any louder from your tongues? The ‘L’ is for ‘Levich!’ What kind of twisted individual would say such a thing against a brother in Christ… unless you ain’t my brother… but that’s for the Lord Jesus Christ to decide… I’ll accept your testimony concerning your belief in Christ even if it seems like your fruit is rotten to the core… I have to learn to love even when in the face of such wickedness… thats what the Lord leads me to –
So I do say shame on you King James Onlyist… you’ve made the greatest works of the KJV translators out to be something they themselves knew it wasn’t… you have attacked the Word of God in any other edition in English – in some cases claiming the KJV to be better than the texts in their native languages. This is absurd.
You say God promised to preserve His Word… and I agree! His Word is preserved in many ways… but you are acting like Pharisees when you declare that your translation alone is the Word of God in English. You are like Roman Catholic Church which you claim to despise in that you seek to control the Word of God – forcing people to conform to your opinions… Perhaps the Lord did not want us tethered to a single version of the Word – as the Jews are tethered to the Torah…
It has occurred to me that the KJVOer’s faith may very well rest on the concept of a perfect Bible in English. For this reason alone I have to stop engaging in this topic with ya all. You say I don’t believe God could preserve His Word in English… but I say I do believe He has preserved His Word… but it is not contained solely in the KJV. I mean, ask yourself this question… if someone DID prove a falsehood in the Bible, would it change anything for you? It wouldn’t for me! The Bible may be the single greatest physical gift we have on earth today, but the Holy Spirit – He is so much more. God is Great – God is the Greatest.
The debates and arguments will surely continue… as I pull away from the KJVO arena others will take my place – but I pray that they will consider the fruit of the Spirit as well as the example of Christ and the Apostles and be sure that they haven’t forgotten the Way of the Lord Jesus Christ. Even if they are right about everything they believe about the KJV, that doesn’t give them the right to treat brothers and sisters in Christ like dirt. In fact, God might just see their attacks as kicking a weaker brother or sister when they should be helping them…
As for me – I am finally done – I believe God has told me to close the book on the KJV Onlyim debate… I have spoken the truth and it will stand here on Youtube for the foreseeable future.
Just remember – we will be held accountable for every idle word… and we’ve already piled up a mountain of insults and attacks between the lot of us…
May God bless us – and have mercy on us all in the name of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ…
Let’s Talk About Lucifer
Posted by Christoferl in Bible Study on August 10, 2010
Ok – so one of the things I keep hearing from KJVOnlyist is how the modern translations, such as the NIV calls Lucifer ‘Jesus’. The argument goes as follows…
KJV – 12How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
NIV: 12 How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, ? you who once laid low the nations!
So it would seem to any serious Bible reader that there is a problem with the NIV, because 2 Peter 1:19 and Revelation 22:16 refer to Jesus as the Morning Star… how dare those guys at Zondervan?! Right?
Well, no… in fact… neither is really ‘wrong’ – but the truth is, the KJV should have never used the word ‘Lucifer’ there and despite what the KJVOnlyists might tell you – it is not the only Bible to use the word LUCIFER… notice, by the way – that I called it a word, and not a name…
You see, Lucifer also appears in the Douay Rheims Bible! Thats right – the KJV agrees with the official Catholic Bible! One of the same Bibles they declare corrupt! One of the so-called Catholic corruptions even!
Now a KJVOnlyist might say, “Big deal though right? The DR is bound to be right about some things, right?”
The problem here is the word Lucifer is not of Hebrew origin… IT IS LATIN! Jerome, the man who translated the Hebrew to Latin for the RCC, translated ‘heylel’ as Lucifer…
The KJVO who freaks out about the difference between the KJV and modern translations with Isaiah 14:12 needs to bone up a bit and check out the Strong’s concordance… do you know what ‘Lucifer’ means? It means shining one, morning star!
The fact is – Jewish scholars laugh at our creation of the word ‘Lucifer’ from the word ‘Heylel’. Satan’s name was never Lucifer until we, than is man, made it so. The rendering of the word ‘lucifer’ was not ‘wrong’ in the Latin anymore than dawn star, morning star, or day star is wrong in English.
So essentially, the KJV is partly responsible for the distortion created by the Latin because not only did it carry over the Latin word for morning star, it embraced this Catholic ‘name’ and ran with it. Of course, it doesn’t help that it mistranslates ‘sheol’ as ‘hell’ in Isaiah 14:15, adding to the confusion.
The passage is actually about the rise and fall of the King of Babylon. Christians are taught that this as the fall of Satan, but it actually has a duel meaning that many Christians aren’t aware of. Personally, I think it is about the rise and fall of the king of Babylon who was possessed by Satan… but thats kust my way of understanding it as I believe God has led me to understand it, ya know?
So – KJVOnyists – please – explain to me how it is that the KJV came to use a Latin word in Isaiah 14:12 that is absolutely alien to the Hebrew… a word that the Catholic Church completely agrees with and embraces. And how is it you criticize modern translations for properly translating Heylel into English. Sure – the Bible calls Jesus the Morning Star – but the Bible also calls many men the sons of God and yet we know they are not the same kind of son as Jesus is either.
The KJV rocks – but the Onlyists have got it all mixed up.
Please Support Nagla Al-Imam
Posted by Christoferl in News on August 7, 2010
This is something brought to my attention by a Youtube user named ‘LoveJesusPlz’. Nagla Al-Imam was a Muslim who was fighting for human rights in Egypt, however, she has turned to the Lord and given her heart to Christ. As a result – she is under extreme pressure from the Muslims around her – she has been prevented from leaving Egypt – and recently – she was badly beaten as she is seen on video battered and bruised.
I am not sure what we can physically do to help her, but we can show our support for her through prayers and by joining her facebook page (click here).
Below are two videos by ‘LoveJesusplz’ concerning this woman and her struggles.
Thanks for your help! GBU and HJD!
Answering the Answer Book pt3
Posted by Christoferl in KJV Onlyism on August 5, 2010
This is the third installment of articles that will be an ongoing series as I take a serious look at “the Answer Book A Help Book for Christians” by Dr. Samuel C. Gipp Th.D. Dr. Gipp is a KJV Onlyist and he has written this book as means to provide other KJV Onlyists with talking points that they believe supports their KJV Onlyism.
QUESTION 8: Where do Bible manuscripts come from?
Gipp’s ANSWER: Most existing manuscripts of the Bible are divided into two “families”. These families are generally represented by the cities of Alexandria, Egypt and Antioch, Syria.
Reality: Gipp tries to build a Biblical argument against Alexandria, Egypt and Antioch, Syria.
He states: “When studying Scripture a fundamental rule that is followed is called “the law of first mention”. This means that it is generally true that the context in which someone or something is first mentioned sets the Bible attitude for that person or place.”
Maybe this is why I avoid seminaries? I’ve never heard of this rule and I certainly don’t agree with it. It ignores redemption and repentance. It ignores the fact that God will use what He will when He wants regardless of our ‘fundamental rules’. For example, Gipp makes Egypt out to be one really bad place… yet God sent baby Jesus, Joseph, and Mary to Egypt to hide from Herod… Gipp also tries to establish Antioch as the place of proper ideology but its all generalizations and uncertain from what I can tell.
What if God preserved the better manuscripts in Alexandria – just as He preserved baby Jesus in Egypt? This theory is just as viable as Gipp’s, but I am sure he would reject it. We shouldn’t jump to conclusions on debatable matters that divide the body!
The bottom line is that there will always be debates and arguments concerning the manuscripts, and no one truly has the answers about which is better or right because we do not have the originals. I would rather read a wide range of translations that use a wide range of manuscripts than committing to one translation and one set of manuscripts hoping I got it right which is how I view the KJVO.
Question 9: What is the LXX?
Gipp’s ANSWER: A figment of someone’s imagination.
Reality: Here Gipp claims the LXX – or the Septuigant – is a myth… ok – maybe it is – maybe it isn’t – I don’t know – there are good arguments for and against it… either way – its irrelevant to the KJVO argument except to attack the positions of particular critics of the KJV.
QUESTION 10: What does this statement mean? “The King James Bible was good enough for the Apostle Paul, so it’s good enough for me.”
Gipp’s ANSWER: This statement is usually made in a sarcastic manner in order to embarrass Bible believers in their belief. The FACT is, the King James Bible WAS good enough for Paul. (See Question #11) But for now I’d like you to see that it was the only Bible that Luke would use.
Reality: Gipps answer here is speculative at best – he runs with the assumption that the KJV is correct and fails to prove his point by using a circular fashion; comparing the passages of the KJV to the NASB. The fact is the KJV didn’t exist when Paul lived – and Gipp is making a claim based on assumptions concerning the KJV. Its truly pitiful and even shameful – intellectually dishonest.
QUESTION 11: I’ve heard that the italicized words in the King James Bible should be removed because they were added by the translators. Should they be removed?
Gipp’s ANSWER: If we remove any of the italicized words we must either remove them ALL or accept them ALL as Scripture.
Reality: In Gipps answer – he admits the KJV adds words to complete the translation because that is the nature of ALL translations. He contends that the italicized words indicate where those additions were needed and that if we remove one we need to remove them all. This is more bull. The italicized words should be evaluated on a case by case basis. Within his explanation, Gipp claims that Jesus quotes Deuteronomy 8:3 – including the King James italicized word! I guess it didn’t occur to Gipp that the same translators who put in the italicized words in Deuteronomy also translated Jesus’ quote… why wouldn’t we expect them to quote their translation of the Old Testament like that?
QUESTION 12: Aren’t there some great men who use other versions?
Gipp’s ANSWER: Yes, but they are all in subjection to the perfect Bible.
Reality: The answer is simply yes… the ‘but’ is simply Gipp’s attempt to diminish this fact and maintain his KJVO position.
QUESTION 13: Where was the Bible before 1611?
Gipp’s ANSWER: In the available Antiochian manuscripts.
Reality: This is a deceptive way of answering this question.
The fact is – the ‘Bible’ was established in English long before the King James Version… The first being the Wyclif Bible from the 1380′s –
Tyndale’s New Testament in the 1530′s –
1535 brought the Coverdale Bible – then the first English Bible translated from the original Biblical languages of Hebrew & Greek…
the Great Bible authorized by King Henry! It was authorized for public use and was distributed to every church… and was created at the birth of the Church of England – just like the KJV
Then there was…. nope – not the KJV – the GENEVA BIBLE in 1560! The Geneva Bible is said to have retained 90% of Tyndale’s original English translation. It was more popular than the KJV – until decades after 1611. The Geneva was the first Bible brought to America and was the Bible of the Puritans and the Pilgrims. The Geneva Bible, however, contained marginal notes that went after the institutionalized church…
and thus, it was revised and became the less inflammatory Bishops Bible in 1568.
In the 1580′s the Douay/Rheims Bible was produced from corrupted Latin manuscripts by the Catholic Church… but it was English…
Then came the KJV… I’ve read that the KJV is about 95% the same as the Geneva. Oddly… the Geneva Bible was THE Protestant Bible… and the KJV was THE Anglican Bible from the Church of England… No kidding! the Geneva was created by refugees fleeing from Queen Mary during her reign over England – she was who was pro-Roman Catholic… So to get back to Gipp’s answer – where was the Bible again? It seems like an obvious attempt to avoid the facts.
QUESTION 14: Did the translators of the Authorized Version claim to be inspired by God?
ANSWER: No. But Biblically that does not mean that they could not have been inspired.
Reality: No is all that was needed. Surely the KJV translators were great minds of their day – and I also believe they were men of God… and I also acknowledge that there were those in the Bible unaware of who they were in God – such as John the Baptist being unaware that he was ‘Elijah’ – but there is no reason to believe the translators were inspired beyond the wishful thinking of a KJVO. The KJV knew they weren’t ‘inspired’ and even commented on their short comings… Gipp is singing to his choir in his explanation with nothing of substance for the reality of the matter.
Answering the Answer Book pt 2
Posted by Christoferl in KJV Onlyism on August 1, 2010
This is the second installment of articles that will be an ongoing series as I take a serious look at “the Answer Book A Help Book for Christians” by Dr. Samuel C. Gipp Th.D. Dr. Gipp is a KJV Onlyist and he has written this book as means to provide other KJV Onlyists with talking points that they believe supports their KJV Onlyism.
2. Isn’t “Easter” a Mistranslation?
Gipp’s ANSWER: No, “pascha” is properly translated “Easter” in Acts 12:4 as the following explanation will show.
Gipp’s Explanation: Gipp’s answer speculates that in the KJV is correctly translating pascha as Easter even though there is no reason within the texts to do so because King Herod was a pagan who worshipped Astarte and he was waiting for the pagan festival of Easter to pass. Gipp proves in the Old Testament that Passover is technically before the feast of unleaven bread – and therefore, pascha couldn’t be translated as Passover because in the text – it says “And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.) “. If Passover came before the Days of Unleaven Bread, then pascha in Greek could not mean Passover.
The Reality: First – though Gipp does a great job of demonstrating what the OT says, establishing Passover came before the Feast of Unleaven Bread and he also makes a case concerning Astarte being in the OT- there is NO EVIDENCE that Herod was 1) Pagan 2) Pious or 3) a worshipper of Ashtar. Second – even though Gipp claims in his explanation that after April fourteenth was ever referred to as Passover, he is wrong. The Jews called the Feast of Unleaven Bread passover. to them, though the first day was technically passover and the following days the feast – it was ALL passover. It seems that Gipp missed the passage in Luke 22:1 as well, which clears the entire problem up Biblically when it says “ 1Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover.”
So, in his stubbornness to defend the KJV, he is actually supporting the word Easter appearing in the Bible even though there is nothing but his speculation and ignorance to justify it.
3. QUESTION: I have been told that King James was a homosexual. Is this true?
Gipp’s ANSWER: No.
The Reality: Gipp doesn’t know anymore than you or I do. He is trusting historical sources just as people who say King James was a flamer are trusting historical sources. Its a non-issue because no one but God really knows now.
4. QUESTION: Aren’t there archaic words in the Bible, and don’t we need a modern translation to eliminate them?
Gipp’s ANSWER: Yes and No. Yes there are archaic words in the Bible but No, we do not need a modern translation to eliminate them.
The Reality: Gipp did another huge explanation on this but the bottom line is this – if a person can’t understand what they are reading – if they are in the dictionary more than the Bible they are trying to read it – then YES – we do need a modern translation to remedy the situation.
5. QUESTION: Haven’t there been several revisions of the King James Bible since 1611?
Gipp’s ANSWER: No. There have been several editions but no revisions.
The Reality: He is playing semantics here. He says – oh sure – they fixed typos – spelling errors and what not… but those are editorial issues, not revisions… but the real point isn’t whether or not the KJV has been edited or revised… the point is if the KJV1611 was perfect as claimed by the KJV Onlyist, then there would have been no additional editions needed.
6. QUESTION: Don’t the best manuscripts support the new versions?
Gipp’s ANSWER: No. The best manuscripts support the Bible, the Authorized Version.
The Reality: Without the originals we do not know which ones are the best. Its a matter of opinion.
7. QUESTION: If there is a perfect Bible in English, doesn’t there also have to be a perfect Bible in French, and German, and Japanese, etc?
Gipp’s ANSWER: No. God has always given His word to one people in one language to do one job; convert the world. The supposition that there must be a perfect translation in every language is erroneous and inconsistent with God’s proven practice.
The Reality: If Gipp is right – then God revealed the Scriptures in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek… the whole idea of the English bible is void and we should all be ashamed. If God gave the New Testament to one people in one language – it was Greek… not English
There is a Time for Everything….
Posted by Diana in Commentaries on August 30, 2010
This passage from Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 resonates deep within my heart. Gazing out into the the horizon of my life, I can see that another season in my life begins to emerge. A season that fills me with sorrow, anticipation, excitement, hope and love.
1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven…2 a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,
The beginning of summer brought both the end of one life and a beginning to another. My daughter Larissa successfully graduated from high school – what a blessing it was to see her achieve this accomplishment and watch this part of her life come to an end. Mixed with bittersweet happiness, I watched as the long, lazy days of summer faded into the hurried rush to shop, pack and pack some more so that she could begin her young adult life living in Vermont attending college.
3 a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build,
It was difficult for me to watch my daughter spread her wings and take flight. At the culmination of her primary education I finally realized that I was overbearing and overprotective for too many years. I was concerned how this might affect her success as she begins her own life journey but God’s whisper in my heart comforted me. I began to slowly let go of the overbearing mom to a mom that is slowly being molded into what my young adult daughter needs.
4 a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,
Embarking on a journey knowing that when you reach your destination it is going to bring weeping, laughing, mourning and dancing can wreak havoc in your soul. Leaving Larissa in Vermont was very difficult but at the same time liberating for both of us. There is something to be said when you have the privilege to watch a beautiful newborn grow into a beautiful woman. It is a gift that God gives us that sometimes is often unappreciated. Although one chapters in our lives brings deep mourning, God has designed life so intricately beautiful that He always give us a time to dance.
5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
I recall her first day of preschool, wondering why God had blessed me with this beautiful child. Entering elementary school, then middle and high school, each year I watched her grow, I watcher her make friends, lose friends and love abundantly. During her 5th grade of school, God prompted me to begin a Christ centered youth group. Larissa eagerly took the flyers took school distributing them to her classmates. Learning when to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ was amazing. Through Larissa and the other children who attended, I was able to grow closer to God leaning on the Holy Spirit for guidance.
6 a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away,
Larissa entered her sophomore year with a heavy heart. Unsuccessful in finding friendship in high school and feeling more awkward among her peers, she hither emotional bottom. Recognizing a crisis, I prayed and asked God for help to understand what was happening to her. God answers prayers. Larissa was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome, ADD and an Anxiety Disorder. Devastated, I was angry with myself for not realizing how much she had been struggling to fit in and keep up socially with her peers. It was not until she withdrew into a state of depression that I took action or for that matter noticed. Learning to forgive myself was hard. I could have spent my entire life searching for the answer to my guttural why, eventually giving up . But I knew I had to keep the good and throw away the bad, it was the only option available.
a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,
Mending my emotions and reconciling the fact, that although I love my daughter, I was unable to provide all her needs. I thank God that He was there for her when I was not. As a young girl Larissa prayed and read her bible daily, I can remember how she approached every day hurdles by asking God what do to or to help her get through a situation. Recalling the dinner conversations or our bedtime prayers will forever be etched upon my heart.
8 a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.
Larissa has been at college for almost two weeks. Daily phone calls have faded and reaching her via cell phone, dorm phone, email or facebook is challenging. I love that she is doing amazingly well at college, I hate the fact that I can’t talk to her every day, I will give her a spaghetti war when she comes home but mostly I am at peace because this is going to be an amazing season that God has planned for me!
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