xjwsforChrist

Joy yes, isn't it wonderful?

There's the fake kind, our enemy can provide that, flimsy pleasures at material gains, false praise and possessions. He does his best to simulate it to attract us all...because that's all he has to fight with, an imitation joy. Not the REAL joy though. He can't copy that. Can't even get anywhere near enabling us to taste that.

That joy only comes from Jah and Jaheshua, and when it does we feel the way it is expressed by John: 'Ask and you will receive, that your joy may be made full'.

Peace, and wishing you all the TRUE joy from above,

Loz x

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"This is my son. LISTEN to Him!"

FULL... YES, dear, dear Loz (peace to you and dear hubby!). Your other comments remind me so much of JWs, though (and other people I've known in my life, including right now - LOL!): a people who have an outward appearance of being happy (for JWs, now even making dance videos to a song by the same title to try and convince people that being a JW is "happifying." Cheah... RIGHT! LOLOL!)... yet, some of THE most UNhappy people I have ever had the privilege of encountering! Afraid, fearful, superstitious, pseudo-submissive, angry, sad (ooohhh SO sad!!!!)... black clouds always over their heads... always pursuing some form of PHYSICAL "perfection"... but losing their minds... and TRUE love (for self, spouses, children, brothers, friends, neighbors, strangers, ... because such doesn't exist and so they always come up [feeling] "empty"!

These, too, not only (try to) fool others (with mixed results - some were/are greatly fooled... and others are not at all!)... but mostly just fool themselves. They CLAIM joy, even saying they're happy, but if you listen to their WORDS... what they SAY (and, sometimes, watch what they DO)... you can't help but know just how UNhappy they are!

I have a hard time with Schleprocks... people who are NEVER happy, NEVER satisfied, have NO joy... and worse, try to rob others of theirs at almost every turn. And for the most part, most of the JWs I knew and know fit this bill. No matter what the topic, they MUST throw in something negative, something dark/doom/gloom, something dramatic ("Yes, there will be a PARADISE! BUT... 'Jehovah' is gonna kill all the non-JWs FIRST!!"). Their own life actually SUCKS... and so, well, I guess it's as they say: misery loves company.

Sadly JWs LOVE misery! They THRIVE on it, considering themselves THE most "persecuted" people on the planet. Which completely negates their OTHER claim... that they are the most LOVED people (by employers, governments... or, the same people who persecute them)... on the planet. Why? Because that is what the WTBTS TEACHES them: if you're not SUFFERING, you're doing something wrong!

Of course, that's because they misinterpret Paul. We suffer with and for Christ, yes, but NOT is a way that robs us of joy. To the contrary, like our first century brothers, WE consider it ALL joy when we are persecuted FOR THE SAKE OF Christ. Like what some of us experienced on other forums. Or what our early brothers went through BECAUSE of their work witnessing to CHRIST. THAT is what he meant. NOT that people don't like you because you're self-assuming, haughty, judgmental, holier-than-thou, etc.

Sorry for the tangent but, again, people like this are just very difficult for me to take. You can never make them happy. Nothing can ever make them happy. Well, except negativity... doom... gloom... and drama.

Thank you, dear sister, for YOUR joyFULL comments... and, again, peace to you!

YSFS of Christ,

Shel

Just an update and hello to all.

Off to Isle of Wight for long weekend with 2nd eldest daughter & family for a long weekend tomorrow. Although she and her girls are inactive as JWs, her ex mum in law is still fanatical and has raised an issue about her and my grand children staying with us this weekend seeing as I'm "disfellowshipped" and therefore contaminated. Thankfully my daughter's eyes are currently very open to the WTBS, but still it saddens me that this lady would want to come between family, or inspire guilt in children. The lack of love promoted in this organisation just beggars belief....

*shakes head*

As for me, happy days, hubby and I are looking forward to the trip very much!

Hoping all here are well and sending you all peace as our Lord gives it, and love from your sister in Christ,

Loz x

Ps. Isle of Wight is a small Isle off the south coast of the UK, usually very warm and always very pretty!

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"This is my son. LISTEN to Him!"

Yaaayyy Loz,
You and family have a wonderful time this weekend. Glad you are able to do this.

And the ( ex) mom in law?....Ummmmm, ex and still wanting a say so huh? Ooh well, they always have their noses everywhere but where they should be, LOLOLL

Have fun, hear from you soon!
Love and peace to you as well my sister, Kim.

Have a great time, Loz! I'm so happy for you that you are getting to see your children (and grandchildren) so much.


As for 'ex mominlaw'... I guess that whole 'honor your mother and father thing' doesn't fly.


Peace and love to you and yours,
your sister and servant, and fellow slave of Christ,
tammy

Okay, see THIS is where the REAL "me" would come out (peace to you, dear, dear Loz... and SO happy you can now spend precious time with your daughter and grandbabies!). You're a MUCH better woman than I, my dear sister. Because ME? I would take this opportunity to call ex mum up... no, wait, knowing ME, I'd go visit her hiney... and ask her... who the heck she thinks SHE is that she could... would... DEIGN... to tell MY daughter what to do. First, as to ME ("Honor thy father and mother"...) AND as to her own children. Who DAUGHTER feeds and clothes. I mean... say WHAT, now???

Not sayin' I would cuss her out. No. I truly wouldn't. And wouldn't raise my voice, either. I would say everything calmly, quietly... mildly... and TRULY with love. No, seriously. LOVE. And in the spirit of our dear Lord's direction (Matthew 18:15. Because I TRULY wouldn't want this woman to seal her OWN eternal fate by meddling in MY business. No, I could NOT be a part of that! And I would tell her so {"I'm sorry, sister, but I can't let you speak ill of my family without calling your attention to Christ's words about judging. Because, you see, you ARE judging my daughter... well, you're also judging ME, but I forgive you... you are judging my daughter and Christ said that with the SAME judgment that you are JUDGING you will BE judged. You DO believe what HE said... yes? And so, out of LOVE, I can't let you use my family to seal YOUR eternal fate of judgment. So, please, stop it. For YOUR sake.")

Now, she probably would FEEL "cussed out" by the time I finished. For some reason, I have that kind of effect on some folks when I tell them the TRUTH. But that's not my concern. She can either hear... and perhaps actually STOP judging (my daughter - how she feels about me, I couldn't care less)... or "refrain." In which case, her blood is on her own hands.

But... that's just me... and how I would help sister-woman get herself right on back in HER "place." If you get my meaning. Because while folks can attack ME and speak ill of ME and judge ME and try to make ME feel bad... NONE of which will succeed... I'll be DAMNED if they'll get to do so to my children/grandchildren... and not hear from me ABOUT it.

Lordy, I wish I was as nice as your dear, dear sisters here. TRULY, I do. I am not, though, and I know it. And so... I TRULY... NEED a savior. Praise JAH!.. there IS One: the HOLY One of Israel and Holy Spirit, JAHESHUA, the Chosen One of JAH (MischaJah). If That One had NOT given his life... for ME... I would TRULY be doomed. For eternity.

Oh... how I love... and am SO grateful for... him.

Enjoy your weekend... and your daughter and grandbabies, dear Loz... and do NOT let this woman sully ANY of it. For you OR your dear daughter. LOVE your daughter and grandbabies SO hard... that they will KNOW who YOU serve! I know you won't speak ill of ex mum in front of them. But SHOW them the love... and JOY... that one can receive from Christ. In contrast to the burdensome, tiresome, "exacting" and judgmental ENSLAVEMENT that is the mentality of the WTBTS... and those who cling to it.

Peace... TRULY... to you... AND to your ENTIRE household, both those who have gotten away from the harlot... and those who cling to her right now (but hopefully at some point will flee from her as well).

YSSFS of Christ,

Shel

Good morning everyone.....

Happy Saturday and weekend to you all.

Been under the weather this past week with a bad cold, body aches and allergies, but feeling better as of Thursday. Don't get sick very often thank goodness.

Wanted to pop in and say hello and wish everyone a wonderful day.
Peace and love to you all, Kim

Most JWs I know did that..
I saw that in myself when I was 1st leaving and decided,that was one of the things I would change about me..
When you stop doing it..
You notice how "SOUL SUCKING" it was..


...............................


..................................OUTLAW

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It's Saturday. Today was Free Comic Book Day. I co-own a small comic book company and attended a local shop ran by my friends. We were giving out copies of a book we made. A couple of people picked up a couple of books I worked. That's always a cool thing. I stepped out to go to a book sale at a church, which I made a separate post about.

My daughter is over and we are hanging out watching Freaks & Geeks. In a little while me and my girlfriend are going to the bar and check out this band she likes. It's a beautiful night so I'll probably sit out on the patio and drink a gin and tonic.

Here is a goofy picture of me and my friend Cat. She is a great bartender and is amazing with makeup.

Ahhh, I thought that was you, dear Ant (peace to you!). Welcome back, glad to "see" you... and looking forward to the next installment of Rose's story. Which brings me to look at another dear author here (and you know who you are - LOLOL - peace to you, too, luv!)... raise an eyebrow... and ask "SOoooo... how's the WRITING coming?" and hope the answer is "Great! You'll soon see!" I digress.

Glad to hear you're feeling somewhat better, dear 'Mom (peace to you, girlie!). I haven't caught any of the various grunges going around... yet. Hopefully, YOU weren't already incubated and contagious when I saw you last ('cause I really cannot handle being sick, right now - LOLOL!).

Peace to all you chikkens!

Shel, on her own... winking hello at the dear Sher'f (peace to you, too, luv!)...

Good Morning everyone, finally it is spring here and we can go outside and sit in the sunshine without freezing to death thought its still only about 68 degrees. It has been a long depressing cold winter.

Hi Anthony - I read your book about Rose, loved it. You are looking good.

I miss you all though I do come here everyday and read the comments I haven't had much to contribute lately.

Have a great Sunday

Hugs

Good morning all of you. Good to see you again Anthony, and to hear from you too Zoe! Hope everything is well for you both. Justmom, I hope you are feeling much better! I rarely get sick these days, but I am kinda a big baby when I do, lol! Shelby, hope you don't get sick too!

(far far too many explanation points in the above paragraph.... um.... !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)


Peace and love to you all,
your sister and servant, and fellow slave of Christ,
tammy

Toward the end of my study I noticed that I was becoming judgmental of everyone around me, and while I didn't yet know they were not 'the truth', I was learning that this was bad for ME. Still considered it a failing on my part though.


Glad you saw it and were able to get rid of that in you. For your own peace and happiness!


Peace to you too!

ZOE!!! Hola, sister, and peace to you (and dear John), dear lady! Oooh, bad winter? Yuck! I really like the "holidays" time, but the rest of it, well, ya'll know: I'm a California girl, raised in San Diego and raised kids in Sacto so I don't "do" cold, wet... snow [[[[[[shudder]]]]]]] as to ALL that!

Glad you're feeling/doing better. Don't worry about not commenting; many's the day I come and take a look but don't always have time to post... or even anything to share (yep, I did say that last one - I know ya'll don't believe it! LOLOL!).

Anyway, glad to "hear" from you, luv!

Peace to you!

Your servant and a slave of Christ,

Shel

Good morning all. (It's past noon, but I had a night and slept in.)

I would like to share something about Kirk. Do you ever run across those people that appear to be in the right place to offer the right word without even knowing it? When I hit rock bottom he pointed the way home. He's a philosophy teacher and it's been fascinating to be able to get an education without paying for it. So we drink too much beer and I sit and listen. I'm starting to pick it up. He suggests I should consider going to college. I'm thinking about. He says if I go for "creative writing" that will allow me freedom to follow my heart wherever it leads because I've been devouring math, physics, psychology, science. I don't know if I will but I'm glad to have met Kirk.

Thanks for the kind words about Happiness. I have some news that I'll share here. The book is going to be published as Happiness, Next Exit. (My publisher didn't want to use my original title because I borrowed it from a JW book.) I'm told the release date is August 24th. I'm waiting for an official confirmation and the final cover art. The publisher is excited because this will be one of three books spearheading their new romance imprint.

I did a major revision and expanded the ending. I'm curious how people will react to the final chapter. It's origin is interesting but really finds the true heart of the story.

How is the writing going? Good. Where is going? I don't know yet.

S - Did I understand correctly that you are writing something?