tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3664832721116542494.post1249910387697458118..comments2024-01-24T06:37:23.545-07:00Comments on Nothings and Notions from my Noodle: The Dark Lie of "Happiness" (Part 2)Jennifer Hansonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14580329317499402399noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3664832721116542494.post-74387789372983350602010-07-15T21:53:58.150-07:002010-07-15T21:53:58.150-07:00Let me just first start off by saying how much you...Let me just first start off by saying how much your blogs have encouraged, inspired, and challenged me. (I think I may have already told you that.) God is using a number of things (your blog is one of them) to really open my eyes to His heart and the heart of His Word that I seem to have missed my entire life, but was there all along. I think I just skipped over them (the billions of passages in God's Word that deal with giving and sacrifice and justice) because they were just too difficult and uncomfortable to think about.<br /><br />I have been convicted lately about my lack of love for people. I enjoy being alone. I love my alone time. I love my free time and I don't want to use it to reach out. God is slowly, but surely developing within me a love and compassion for people. For me I have to act first and then the feelings of love come. <br /><br />I am praying that I will be paying attention to the needs of those around me and not saying no. Whether that be welcoming our 5-year old neighbor into my house and sharing my food with her, meeting with younger girls for discipleship when I'd rather be napping or sewing or reading, dropping by my neighbor's house with cookies and ask her how she's been doing (she's been having marital problems lately). Instead of focusing on stuff (what clothes I want, how I want to decorate my house, etc.), I want to focus on PEOPLE.Bethanyhttp://www.xanga.com/YoYoYodernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3664832721116542494.post-7454781324726130912010-07-15T19:36:13.966-07:002010-07-15T19:36:13.966-07:00Freeing oneself from the gravity of materialism ha...Freeing oneself from the gravity of materialism has such a liberating effect. Not that I've mastered the practice, but I'm at least moving slowly in that direction. Having lived on this Earth over 5 decades, I've seen both sides - the pursuit of stuff and the pursuit of a more responsible approach to stewarding the resources God has entrusted to me. A word to the wise among those younger than me - begin NOW pursuing stewardship. Moving toward financial freedom and away from material slavery has a very positive effect on your spirit and, subsequently, your relationships. You don't want to get to middle age having sacrificed the stuff of real life to gain stuff that will burn in the end.Rod Robisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16835904007182975990noreply@blogger.com