Comments for It's @cloften http://www.cloften.com He'd rather be funny than good! Fri, 29 Jan 2016 20:05:26 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 Comment on Marriage is a Trust—Handle with Care by Carolyn Loften http://www.cloften.com/?p=2279&cpage=1#comment-1403 Carolyn Loften Fri, 29 Jan 2016 20:05:26 +0000 http://www.cloften.com/?p=2279#comment-1403 You had me at - " if you are married, you have been entrusted with the heart of someone who is precious and valuable to God". What wisdom you have and being able to put it in writing. I am proud of you. Thanks for sharing God's wisdom. Mimi You had me at – ” if you are married, you have been entrusted with the heart of someone who is precious and valuable to God”. What wisdom you have and being able to put it in writing.

I am proud of you. Thanks for sharing God’s wisdom.

Mimi

]]> Comment on Why Men are Scared to Have Daughters by Carolyn Loften http://www.cloften.com/?p=2256&cpage=1#comment-1376 Carolyn Loften Fri, 20 Nov 2015 21:01:36 +0000 http://www.cloften.com/?p=2256#comment-1376 This from the man that carried his infant girls around tucked in his arm like a football. This man also held his girls upside down in his hands. No Fear!! This from the man that carried his infant girls around tucked in his arm like a football. This man also held his girls upside down in his hands. No Fear!!

]]> Comment on Stop Whining and Start Winning by Nicole http://www.cloften.com/?p=2241&cpage=1#comment-1374 Nicole Wed, 18 Nov 2015 04:19:22 +0000 http://www.cloften.com/?p=2241#comment-1374 Good word! I think that sometimes there are trials that are chronic, and that is sometimes not taken into account in a lot of teachings. It seems to mostly be with family, or with a disability. Mine was with family, as a child, growing up in a verbally/emotionally abusive home, and going through that as a person doing everything in their power to follow Christ; to be obedient; to be a peacemaker...and from the voices around me just hearing condemnation, disrespect, and mockery...it was a very difficult time. I started taking my faith seriously about 11 or 12, and the following years up until really the last couple months....were really hard. My family, who claims to be Christian but don't live in the truth, or in love, has went through the final spirals of destroying itself...and while I'm very grateful to not be in that negative environment...and also very heartbroken that things did not change....sometimes, the situation is not your fault, and the hearts around you are very hard, and you just have to endure it, and live in love regardless of whether anyone is following you. I know God used those hardships to make me who I am today, but despite my many prayers, and living by the Spirit...the situation really did not change, and actually only got worse and worse. It ended in my parents divorce, (my mom left) both my Dad & my sister (who claim to be Christians) living in sexual sin (as of now), and my one little brother addicted to drugs and totally against God in every way, and an entire family (including myself) who does not speak to the mother in the picture. (And please note, I am at peace about this decision. It was not made out of bitterness or anger, but out of respect. Maybe someday things will be different, but right now its for the best for everyone.) Add into that the Churches I attended (not the Grove) when I was younger did not accept me or my family, and did nothing, did not speak out...even when things were obviously bad...and never really cared. I'm in a good place now. I have good, godly women in my life who encourage me toward Christ, and I'm attending a small group and a Church (Cross Church Fayetteville)...but for many years, it wasn't that way. It was just me & Christ in a very dark hopeless valley...his word sustained me and he truly was my only hope. I went to Church but I was not loved at Church. I would have jumped of a bridge years ago if it were not for Christ holding onto me and keeping me here. That was really more than I meant to say, but my point is, sometimes you just have to stand. Sometimes the only word to be heard is, God still loves me even though that's not what I'm hearing from the voices around me. God still has a purpose for me even if I can't see it. God is still Sovereign even though nothing is changing. And through it all...God's grace is sufficient for me...his power is made perfect in my weakness. I'm 22 now, and really, I would say nearly my whole life was lived in that very destructive environment (with some respites, thank God), but it was particularly hard for 10 years...but God never gave up on me. He also didn't take me out of the situation for many years. (Until really the last 2 or 3 months has been the finish line for that trial) Suffering isn't always because of your sin. Sometimes you suffer for doing right. I don't know what he is going to do now, but I do know his love and faithfulness holds me here. "Surely his goodness and unfailing love will follow me, all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." Anyway, this isn't a critique, but its just what I thought of after reading this. Sometimes, suffering is chronic and out of your control, and harder and more devestating than anyone told you it would be. But God is still good. He is faithful. Even if I had never seen the end of that trial, I know God had already saved me for a wonderful future in heaven. I couldn't see it then, not like I can now, how much he loves me, and how deep his grace still runs for both me and my family. His Grace covers all my mistakes, and all the situations I really couldn't handle then, from lack of knowledge, being young, to just mentally not having anything left....He filled in. I'm not a perfect person and won't be for awhile now (haha ;) ) but He was and is enough for me. I still hope for my family to turn back to God...for them to trust in him again. It seems impossible and a long way off, but I know nothing is impossible with God. I look forward to heaven with all my heart (don't we all!), and I'm also learning to be thankful for this life here. Anyway, just my thoughts and story about suffering. Good word!
I think that sometimes there are trials that are chronic, and that is sometimes not taken into account in a lot of teachings.
It seems to mostly be with family, or with a disability. Mine was with family, as a child, growing up in a verbally/emotionally abusive home, and going through that as a person doing everything in their power to follow Christ; to be obedient; to be a peacemaker…and from the voices around me just hearing condemnation, disrespect, and mockery…it was a very difficult time.
I started taking my faith seriously about 11 or 12, and the following years up until really the last couple months….were really hard. My family, who claims to be Christian but don’t live in the truth, or in love, has went through the final spirals of destroying itself…and while I’m very grateful to not be in that negative environment…and also very heartbroken that things did not change….sometimes, the situation is not your fault, and the hearts around you are very hard, and you just have to endure it, and live in love regardless of whether anyone is following you.
I know God used those hardships to make me who I am today, but despite my many prayers, and living by the Spirit…the situation really did not change, and actually only got worse and worse. It ended in my parents divorce, (my mom left) both my Dad & my sister (who claim to be Christians) living in sexual sin (as of now), and my one little brother addicted to drugs and totally against God in every way, and an entire family (including myself) who does not speak to the mother in the picture. (And please note, I am at peace about this decision. It was not made out of bitterness or anger, but out of respect. Maybe someday things will be different, but right now its for the best for everyone.)
Add into that the Churches I attended (not the Grove) when I was younger did not accept me or my family, and did nothing, did not speak out…even when things were obviously bad…and never really cared.
I’m in a good place now. I have good, godly women in my life who encourage me toward Christ, and I’m attending a small group and a Church (Cross Church Fayetteville)…but for many years, it wasn’t that way. It was just me & Christ in a very dark hopeless valley…his word sustained me and he truly was my only hope. I went to Church but I was not loved at Church.
I would have jumped of a bridge years ago if it were not for Christ holding onto me and keeping me here.
That was really more than I meant to say, but my point is, sometimes you just have to stand. Sometimes the only word to be heard is, God still loves me even though that’s not what I’m hearing from the voices around me. God still has a purpose for me even if I can’t see it. God is still Sovereign even though nothing is changing. And through it all…God’s grace is sufficient for me…his power is made perfect in my weakness.
I’m 22 now, and really, I would say nearly my whole life was lived in that very destructive environment (with some respites, thank God), but it was particularly hard for 10 years…but God never gave up on me. He also didn’t take me out of the situation for many years. (Until really the last 2 or 3 months has been the finish line for that trial) Suffering isn’t always because of your sin. Sometimes you suffer for doing right.
I don’t know what he is going to do now, but I do know his love and faithfulness holds me here. “Surely his goodness and unfailing love will follow me, all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
Anyway, this isn’t a critique, but its just what I thought of after reading this. Sometimes, suffering is chronic and out of your control, and harder and more devestating than anyone told you it would be. But God is still good. He is faithful. Even if I had never seen the end of that trial, I know God had already saved me for a wonderful future in heaven. I couldn’t see it then, not like I can now, how much he loves me, and how deep his grace still runs for both me and my family.
His Grace covers all my mistakes, and all the situations I really couldn’t handle then, from lack of knowledge, being young, to just mentally not having anything left….He filled in. I’m not a perfect person and won’t be for awhile now (haha ;) ) but He was and is enough for me. I still hope for my family to turn back to God…for them to trust in him again. It seems impossible and a long way off, but I know nothing is impossible with God.
I look forward to heaven with all my heart (don’t we all!), and I’m also learning to be thankful for this life here.
Anyway, just my thoughts and story about suffering.

]]> Comment on Stop Whining and Start Winning by Carolyn Loften http://www.cloften.com/?p=2241&cpage=1#comment-1373 Carolyn Loften Tue, 17 Nov 2015 22:13:25 +0000 http://www.cloften.com/?p=2241#comment-1373 Good stuff. It hits right where people live. It's a wake-up call and it is a get going with God call. Good stuff. It hits right where people live. It’s a wake-up call and it is a get going with God call.

]]> Comment on Red Cups, Xmas, Happy Holidays and the Culture of Outrage by Jon Burnside http://www.cloften.com/?p=2233&cpage=1#comment-1372 Jon Burnside Thu, 12 Nov 2015 19:58:41 +0000 http://www.cloften.com/?p=2233#comment-1372 Excellent article written in a time when we need wise and inspiring leadership. Feliz Navidad Carlos! Excellent article written in a time when we need wise and inspiring leadership. Feliz Navidad Carlos!

]]> Comment on Red Cups, Xmas, Happy Holidays and the Culture of Outrage by Carolyn Loften http://www.cloften.com/?p=2233&cpage=1#comment-1370 Carolyn Loften Thu, 12 Nov 2015 02:58:28 +0000 http://www.cloften.com/?p=2233#comment-1370 Thank you again for the reminder to look for opportunities to minister and share the love of Jesus. Thank you again for the reminder to look for opportunities to minister and share the love of Jesus.

]]> Comment on Red Cups, Xmas, Happy Holidays and the Culture of Outrage by Angela http://www.cloften.com/?p=2233&cpage=1#comment-1369 Angela Thu, 12 Nov 2015 00:22:26 +0000 http://www.cloften.com/?p=2233#comment-1369 Wow! Very well said! I miss you at fellowship but I do listen to the podcast and I love this blog. Thank you for giving us guidance. You have made me think a lot differently about the "the war on Christmas" Wow! Very well said! I miss you at fellowship but I do listen to the podcast and I love this blog. Thank you for giving us guidance. You have made me think a lot differently about the “the war on Christmas”

]]> Comment on Book Review: Scary Close by Donald Miller by Sarah http://www.cloften.com/?p=2201&cpage=1#comment-1354 Sarah Wed, 04 Nov 2015 17:56:47 +0000 http://www.cloften.com/?p=2201#comment-1354 Prior to this book, I couldn't stand Donald Miller (Blue Like Jazz, Million Miles a Thousand Years) -- he read insecure and just very sophomoric to me. Based on those books, I definitely wouldn't be interested in hanging out with him. This book was different. I loved it. I would put it in one of my top 10 books this year. Seems like he's faced reality and worked through a lot of hard stuff, and led many of the rest of us to also. Agree with your review; this one is not one to skip! Prior to this book, I couldn’t stand Donald Miller (Blue Like Jazz, Million Miles a Thousand Years) — he read insecure and just very sophomoric to me. Based on those books, I definitely wouldn’t be interested in hanging out with him. This book was different. I loved it. I would put it in one of my top 10 books this year. Seems like he’s faced reality and worked through a lot of hard stuff, and led many of the rest of us to also. Agree with your review; this one is not one to skip!

]]> Comment on Book Review: Scary Close by Donald Miller by Jonathan http://www.cloften.com/?p=2201&cpage=1#comment-1353 Jonathan Wed, 04 Nov 2015 15:19:26 +0000 http://www.cloften.com/?p=2201#comment-1353 I really like Donald Miller and his perspective on some things. Blue Like Jazz had a pretty big impact on my life several years ago — probably time for a re-read. And I'm not sure what this says about me, but the fact that this isn't a "traditional Christian book" probably makes me want to read it more. I really like Donald Miller and his perspective on some things. Blue Like Jazz had a pretty big impact on my life several years ago — probably time for a re-read. And I’m not sure what this says about me, but the fact that this isn’t a “traditional Christian book” probably makes me want to read it more.

]]> Comment on What Every Husband Needs from His Wife by Sarah http://www.cloften.com/?p=2191&cpage=1#comment-1351 Sarah Tue, 03 Nov 2015 23:09:59 +0000 http://www.cloften.com/?p=2191#comment-1351 I am learning a lot from you and Heidi as you post these things. Thank you for sharing your wisdom. Also, I feel ancient. Can you believe Home Alone was released 25 years ago? I am learning a lot from you and Heidi as you post these things. Thank you for sharing your wisdom. Also, I feel ancient. Can you believe Home Alone was released 25 years ago?

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