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Breaking Down the Walls and Getting Rid of the Giants

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 I would like to tell you that when your kids turn 18, your parenting will be done and you will all sail off into the happily ever after. But it simply isn't true. In many ways trying to find my way as a parent of young adults has been the most challenging. Trying to balance letting you be adults and make your own decisions and deal with your own consequences with wanting to help you is exhausting. Every day it seems I am questioning what I should do and shouldn't do, what I should say and shouldn't say and having no idea if I making the right choices or not.  18 was a difficult year for you, Melia and my heart ached for you as you had to walk out some painful consequences. 19 has been the year of the twins. Different than Melia's experience but still very mind bending as we try to find our way.  Tonight, Sabrina admitted after months of  her not being herself that she has felt like I favor Melia - that while she knows I love her - I prefer Melia. It was a hard conve...
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God hates the Sin but loves the sinner - Or does He?

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While preparing to teach on Romans 8:7, I had to challenge the familiar say, "God hate the sin but loves the sinner." I had always been taught this. Guess who said it? Mahatma Gandhi!    Romans says that the carnal mind is enmity against God.  Carnally -  I. the flesh, denotes mere human nature, the earthly nature of man apart from divine influence, and therefore prone to sin and opposed to God Minded -  I. what one has in the mind, the thoughts and purposes Enmity -  the state or feeling of being actively opposed or hostile to someone or something; hatred Psalms 5:5-6 says,  "…You hate all workers of iniquity... abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man."  The workers of iniquity are very foolish. Sin is folly, and sinners are the greatest of all fools; not fools of God's making (those are to be pitied), for he hates nothing that he has made, but fools of their own making, and those he hates. Wicked people hate God; justly therefore are they hate...
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Broken Relationships

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Parenting young adult children is especially hard. I want so desperately to fix your problems. It is difficult to step aside and let God lead you and guide you. Ryanne and her best friend have had a falling out. When Ry reached out to try and work things out, but she refused. My heart hurts for Ryanne. Admittedly I needed a moment (overnight to collect myself I was pretty mad) but in the end I wanted to help Ryanne move forward in a way that would bring her healing and glorify God in the process.  Here is what I shared with her.  I am not sure what all happened with you and __________. But what do you do now?  First, I would pray and ask the Lord to show you if there is anything you need to ask forgiveness for? Even if she doesn’t forgive you, your healing will come easier if you have done all you can do to make things right.  The Bible tells us, In as much is up to your live peaceably with all men. You will then have obeyed this command and rest in knowing He is ple...
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When you question God

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Several years ago, I watched a movie late at night while editing photos. It was a true story, that documented the life of a young boy in India. The movie depicted one tragic scenario after another. By the end of the movie, my heart was troubled, I wanted to pray for the other children in the world that endure similar hardships, but struggled to know how.     There was a part of me that felt God had acted or not acted in a way the I couldn’t reconcile. In fact, the next morning I woke up with a terrible headache from going to bed crying and confused. I sat down intent on working when I heard the familiar knocking at the door of my heart, but I ignored it. I was frustrated with God. How could He let those terrible things happen to children… The knocking didn’t stop, and finally I gave in and answered it. I found myself in Psalms 77.    Notice the psalmist’s state of mind in verse 2 and 3  In the day of my trouble, I sought the Lord; My hand was stretched out in th...
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