[continued from previous message]

 
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May 09 2016

TL Spencer replied:

Yes, Debra, that is exactly correct.  I made the decision because 1) it is so 
expensive to live where I am now that I am sure I will not be able to afford
to 
stay here once I retire and my income is virtually cut in half, and 2) the 
relationship I am in is not a good one.  I have given it my best shot for 10 
years or more and it has not improved.  I can no longer live with a hateful, 
angry, negative person and no matter how much I have tried to help, he 
remains that way, so I am out.  Life is too short to be miserable all day
living 
around someone like that.  It's like there's this huge black cloud hanging
over 
my head sucking the life out of me and causing much depression.  I don't 
enjoy life anymore.  I can't imagine that God would want me to stay in such 
a relationship.
 
I guess I have a hard time as you say 'giving life over to God completely' 
because I have always been the one in charge and if I had not accepted the 
responsibilities thrust upon me, other people would have suffered a great 
deal.  So I did what I thought was right and took care of everyone/everything
- 
virtually all by myself with no one to help.  This is not martyrdom, this is 
just fact.  Many would have suffered and had a terrible life had I not taken 
charge of the situation and their welfare.  So to just turn my life over to 
God 	now sounds like kind of a cop out.  Doesn't he help those who help 
themselves?  I could have just said f_ _ - it and gone on the dole and let 
someone else take care of me and my kids - I knew many women who did 
just that - but I didn't. 

Along those lines, in one of your previous replies you said something about 
'doing more for others than yourself', which I do tend to do sometimes in 
large part because I see so much selfishness and ME FIRST from people in 
general all day long that I'm just sick of the self-centeredness and disregard 
for others prevalent in today's societal attitudes.  To me, that really
sucks!!  
We are all living here on this planet together - why can't we help one another 
and raise up "en mass" if you will so that EVERYBODY benefits, not just a 
few.

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May 10 2016

Debra replied:

Well, God has given you free will, and you can either apply it by making 
decisions without God's input, or else with God's input. He leaves it up
to you. But both The Readings and The Bible implore us to do the latter
because God sees all things and knows all things, yet we do not -
He knows what is best for each of us. 
 
Personally I believe in giving my will to Him 100%: I want to desire
what He would have me desire, think what He would have me think,
say what He would have me say, do what He would have me do,
in every area of life, and every second of every day. Why hold 
anything back when He knows what is best for me?
 
The way The Bible puts it is this:
 
Proverbs 3
Trust in the Lord will all your heart.
Lean not on your own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and
He shall direct thy paths. Be not wise
in your own eyes; revere the Lord.
 
In The Readings we find:
 
282-5
Even as He has given, "If ye will turn, even though ye have wandered far
away, and come seeking to know my will, I will not turn from thee.
I will be your God, if ye will be my people." Then, when this is magnified
in the lives, in the hearts, in the activities, of men everywhere, there may
be expected to be poured out the spirit of truth. And the day will dawn
when this shall come to pass, if ye - if each - that know, that claim to
have put on the name of Him - will but be a channel today....(Q) What are
the faults or sinful habits of the body-mind? (A) Doubt. Unstable. Not that
the purposes, the aims, the desires, are lacking; but, the spirit is willing -
the flesh-mind is weak. (Q) Give suggestions for overcoming these.
(A) None better than choosing an hour, a half hour, a twenty minutes
of meditation, and seeking to be shown the way. Not just ANY way, 
but HIS way!....He said, "I do nothing of myself, but the Father would
have me do." Are we, as individuals, ready to be used? Then, blessed
is he that is not found doubting!
 
BEING A CHANNEL AND BEING USED DOES NOT MEAN NOW AND THEN -
IT MEANS ALL THE TIME AND IN EVERY WAY! 
 
AND TO MAKE DECISIONS WITHOUT GOD IS TO DOUBT GOD!
OR TO THINK SELF KNOWS BETTER!
 
Debra Dee Freeman
 
**********

May 10 2016

TL Spencer replied:

Thanks Debra for your input.

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May 11 2016

Debra replied:

You are very welcome.

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 * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)