Christmas Gifts

[StillStanding]

Originally Posted by BeenThinkin

If you're gonna call him for prayer you better hurry before he's translated!

BT

[StillStanding]

Advice on getting the son to throw 90 mph:

Try yelling in his ear at the top of your lungs and see if that helps!

[notofworks]

Originally Posted by Mr. Steinway

Advice on getting the son to throw 90 mph:

Try yelling in his ear at the top of your lungs and see if that helps!

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ADVICE!!!!!!!!!!!! i WILL GIVE IT A TRY!!!!!!!!!!!!

[mizpeh]

Originally Posted by notofworks

At Christmas time, I loaded the bottom of the tree with many amazing gifts. When the evening of the 24th came, I continued our family tradition of sitting the kids down and having them perform several things first before I gave them their gifts. Just recently on Christmas Eve, I made my older son throw a baseball 90mph. He kept saying, "Dad, I can't do that. You know I'm not good at baseball, my sport is basketball", but heck, I had my demands and I wasn't about to give him his stuff before he did what I said.

So I stood there with the radar gun and had the kid throw. I felt bad for him at one point because he was topping out at 77mph, which is decent but WAY short of where he needed to be.

Eventually, his shoulder started hurting. "Too bad", I said. "Tell you what, we'll try again tomorrow and I'll have someone come over and teach you how to throw harder."

But that didn't work. These kids, I'll tell ya.

So I bought him a book about baseball and that didn't help either.

I had him prayed for.

I got the church to do a 24-hour prayer chain.

He managed to get the velocity up to 81, but WAY short of my requirements, but too bad, you know, I have my rules and I have the way I do things.

I thought enticement would help so I told him how AMAZING his gifts were and I'll tell ya, he BEGGED me for them. But rules are rules and I will NOT give that kid his Christmas gifts until he does what I say he has to do.

But it's January 9th and I'm starting to think the kid just isn't serious enough. He's just not throwing the ball the right way. But he'll need to figure it out or......no gifts.

Just wanted to tell you about my Christmas.

The cart before the horse syndrome.

[KeptByTheWord]

N.O.W. - I think your analaog is amazing. I myself am a three-stepper of sorts, having been OP all my life, until recently. I remember many times telling someone praying at the altar that the HG was a gift and all they needed to do was receive it, but meanwhile, asking them if they had repented... and so on...

I need to chew on this awhile and think about it. I'm sure there is a better way of helping someone how to receive the HG than making demands that they live up to a certain standard before receiving it! Although Peter did make certain stipulations in Acts 2:38 - repent, be baptized and then "Ye shall" receive the GIFT of the HG. So repentance, and baptism are part of the process, that can't be denied. As for the gift part, that is up to God, as He is the one imparting HIS spirit to live in us. I do believe that we can snot, cry, jump, run,scream, shout, dance all to no avail. It is still a gift from God, and given whenever HE imparts it to us. I do believe repentance is part of the process, and baptism too. But the giving of the Spirit is something no man can give, teach, or impart.

Do you believe the spirit of God, or the HG, can be given to a person without repentance? Just wondering.

As a side note, I am not of the inclination any longer that one must "speak in tongues" as complete evidence of God's indwelling spirit. However, I do believe, it is an empowering gift given to us more as a prayer language, and to avail us in intercession while praying.

The true mark of the spirit indwelling one's life must be evident in the fruit they are producing, and not just the "tongues".

[notofworks]

Originally Posted by mizpeh

The cart before the horse syndrome.

Tremendous insight

[notofworks]

Originally Posted by KeptByTheWord

N.O.W. - I think your analaog is amazing. I myself am a three-stepper of sorts, having been OP all my life, until recently. I remember many times telling someone praying at the altar that the HG was a gift and all they needed to do was receive it, but meanwhile, asking them if they had repented... and so on...

I need to chew on this awhile and think about it. I'm sure there is a better way of helping someone how to receive the HG than making demands that they live up to a certain standard before receiving it! Although Peter did make certain stipulations in Acts 2:38 - repent, be baptized and then "Ye shall" receive the GIFT of the HG. So repentance, and baptism are part of the process, that can't be denied. As for the gift part, that is up to God, as He is the one imparting HIS spirit to live in us. I do believe that we can snot, cry, jump, run,scream, shout, dance all to no avail. It is still a gift from God, and given whenever HE imparts it to us. I do believe repentance is part of the process, and baptism too. But the giving of the Spirit is something no man can give, teach, or impart.

Do you believe the spirit of God, or the HG, can be given to a person without repentance? Just wondering.

As a side note, I am not of the inclination any longer that one must "speak in tongues" as complete evidence of God's indwelling spirit. However, I do believe, it is an empowering gift given to us more as a prayer language, and to avail us in intercession while praying.

The true mark of the spirit indwelling one's life must be evident in the fruit they are producing, and not just the "tongues".

Thanks, KBTW.

I spent many years doing what would be accepted as tongues. But, I never really understood the power of the Holy Spirit. Only when I acknowledged that I was simply repeating continuously that which I had, basically, memorized (I say that much to my embarrassment), and refused to ever utter another word of tongues unless it was truly and undeniably an utterance of the Holy Spirit, did I truly understand the Holy Spirit.

He has been my comfort when all was tragic, my peace when all was chaotic, my covering when assaulted, my empowerment when I was powerless, my foresight when I couldn't see what was coming, my wisdom when I didn't know what to do...and the list is endless. The Holy Spirit is no longer my salvation...that's what grace is for....but instead, He is my constant companion, the One I run to for the answers when questions puzzle me.

Since that day I stopped, I have never "spoken in tongues" again, but I have constantly had encounters with the Holy Spirit like I never knew in all my years of meeting the demands of a culture which insisted that I meet their dogma. I'm not opposed to tongues...it's just not a part of my life for the last decade-plus.

With all the debating, scriptural consideration, and strong words that often takes place here and in other venues, I would just encourage you, if I may, to truly seek God and His gifts, not just the avenue of those gifts. I can guarantee you a world that you've never known.

[KeptByTheWord]

Thank you for your encouraging words N.O.W. I know the Holy Spirit manifests itself in many wonderful ways, not just tongues. Most of all, the true evidence is not to be in the tongues, but in the fruit manifested in our lives. That is the truest indication that a person's life is surrendered to God, when they begin to manifest the fruits of the spirit, and not just speak "in tongues".

That being said, may I ask again this question to you...

"Do you believe the spirit of God, or the HG, can be given to a person without repentance? Just wondering. "

[Monkeyman]

My Christmas:
I had Kidney Failure! Then my blood rotted!!! My Father offered me one of his kidneys. My family all lined up to give me blood transfusions. They all told me they were giving me the "gift" of life...but I refused, I didn't understand the process and did not accept their "gift"...I died...sucks don't it? But it was only a gift!!! Why did I HAVE to accept it? Well, I guess I found out...wish I would've taken it now...sucks I hate being dead.

[houston]

:-/