tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149664287965616549.post2152956301011114073..comments2024-02-19T03:41:59.932-08:00Comments on Sew country chick: DIY and couture sewing: God drove my carJustine of SewCountryChickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03818220592978383305noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149664287965616549.post-56534460672611862692013-08-27T10:32:20.946-07:002013-08-27T10:32:20.946-07:00I had been a 'Church Hopper" from age 12 ...I had been a 'Church Hopper" from age 12 to 29 never feeling like I really 'fit in' to any of the denominations, but still knowing in my heart that my God loved me and was with me. I am now settled into a Church home that truly feels like home.<br />I am grateful for all the experience and wisdom gained while searching over those years. It gave me a broader picture of Christianity.<br />Our God is an AWESOME God - one who loves us, protects us (as in your story), forgives us, and provides that fresh new start each day.<br /><br />So glad I found your blog :)Jennhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06248298349300857666noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149664287965616549.post-64101797197586261892013-08-06T20:40:36.057-07:002013-08-06T20:40:36.057-07:00Interesting post. I'm not going to any church,...Interesting post. I'm not going to any church, but I believe in God and He protected you that night. Thank you for sharing, Justine.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02157702642175176713noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149664287965616549.post-57955886822040674882013-08-06T20:34:32.518-07:002013-08-06T20:34:32.518-07:00The honesty here is lovely. I really love that you...The honesty here is lovely. I really love that you are seeking religion not just for the sake of your young children, but in order to understand where it fits in your life alongside them. We are at the point with our girl where we're trying to decide which of our community's churches (a newish community to us as we moved here only three years ago) best fit in with our beliefs and values. It's no east task :)Ajairehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04234340624642346969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149664287965616549.post-56722149293465182952013-08-06T15:07:52.219-07:002013-08-06T15:07:52.219-07:00I was raised catholic and when I reached my twenti...I was raised catholic and when I reached my twenties the questions and doubts I had made me turn away. But having that foundation was so comforting. All children need a shoulder to lean on that doesn't judge like parents do ....even though we try not to.Sallyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12260732157726473580noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149664287965616549.post-80449279261115121092013-08-05T05:37:02.887-07:002013-08-05T05:37:02.887-07:00Hello. Thank you for this post. Your honesty and ...Hello. Thank you for this post. Your honesty and your vulnerability. There are so many things that are taboo to talk about, but I believe if everyone has the approach that you have taken ... things like religion would be much easier to talk about. We all have our own paths. And we should all be encouraged to take those paths and have our own stories, just as you have shared yours. And if we accept each other in our in our humaness (faults and all). And accept that life is not black and white. But very, very gray. Just like God is - to me gray = the grace and mercy he extends to each of us. Thank you again for this post. It was a wonderful way to start my day.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149664287965616549.post-46648772400378056842013-08-04T22:51:35.525-07:002013-08-04T22:51:35.525-07:00I love this. I too mess up a lot. I was raised in ...I love this. I too mess up a lot. I was raised in a religion, and left it for a short time. When my life was almost taken, I knew I needed to go back to God and my faith. I need to remind myself everyday, when I am complaining about something or someone in our faith, is that the people of any religion are not perfect, and neither am I. The Gospel is perfect, no matter what our minds believe or society tells us to think or accept. The Gospel will always be perfect. Even if I think differently in certain ways, my mind has more growing to do and more testimonies to build - because in the long run, the Gospel has been right all along. God has a plan for all of us. I applaud you for sharing this post. You are a major influence on others, and are strong in so many ways. Much love to you Justine. Bethanyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03941972765810908740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149664287965616549.post-91829628644710161722013-08-04T21:28:54.434-07:002013-08-04T21:28:54.434-07:00Thank you for sharing such an honest story. Thank you for sharing such an honest story. Without Directionshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12707870003402755734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149664287965616549.post-69428773190572600032013-08-04T20:29:52.346-07:002013-08-04T20:29:52.346-07:00Oh, that driving story is amazing! And isn't c...Oh, that driving story is amazing! And isn't confession such a gift?? Such beautiful thoughts you shared!Jennifer Gregory Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03677077951743177153noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149664287965616549.post-72404159303212483282013-08-04T19:50:10.712-07:002013-08-04T19:50:10.712-07:00I love how God protects and guides us - thank you ...I love how God protects and guides us - thank you for sharing!!RaeAnna Gosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07403479715802579908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149664287965616549.post-60185089562814988692013-08-04T19:30:03.318-07:002013-08-04T19:30:03.318-07:00We're all on a journey, that's the beauty ...We're all on a journey, that's the beauty of it. It doesn't all have to make sense now. But on every single issue, when I've really looked into what the Church actually teaches about it, I have found a compassionate and thoughtful reason behind the stance. I have great faith in her wisdom.Kendra Tierneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04212829372556908004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149664287965616549.post-25149745603924484512013-08-04T19:28:13.081-07:002013-08-04T19:28:13.081-07:00Justine, it's so nice to get to know you bette...Justine, it's so nice to get to know you better, what an interesting life you have lived!nest full of eggshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16943916385545316495noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149664287965616549.post-14069278288143264862013-08-04T08:30:07.161-07:002013-08-04T08:30:07.161-07:00I go to church most weeks, I try to follow Jesus&#...I go to church most weeks, I try to follow Jesus' teaching and love most of my Church family. The church can get it soooo wrong and when it boils down to religious activity rather than a building a relationship with God that's when it fails to have any relevance to everyday life. I truly believe that there is no spiritual/ secular divide and that what god wants is a people who want to follow him, love him, learn from and follow Jesus and accept that they are not perfect, but that He is. I'm still learning, getting it wrong, sometimes getting it right. I know that my Church family are in the same boat, we are not perfect, just forgiven.Claire Cooperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15923437480914463238noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149664287965616549.post-67496616608768275142013-08-04T07:08:02.487-07:002013-08-04T07:08:02.487-07:00I totally agree with Jamie above. My child is bein...I totally agree with Jamie above. My child is being raised without a religion, I think at some point she will be aware of what religion/path she'll want to follow. Magdahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07247442966829636679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149664287965616549.post-66186950679231443722013-08-04T04:28:44.005-07:002013-08-04T04:28:44.005-07:00Your story was very interesting to me, I was raise...Your story was very interesting to me, I was raised just the opposite, I was raised in the Catholic religion, and believed in it, but as I got older and traditions or beliefs started to change so did I, I don't believe that a church should change their views to please the congregation. So I decided to raise my children without religion, not to say that we don't believe in God or pray, but I don't believe in belonging to a congregation for the sake of it, I consider myself more spiritual than religious.Jamiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06159099769206250435noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149664287965616549.post-54212177765902987342013-08-04T01:35:34.103-07:002013-08-04T01:35:34.103-07:00I too was not raised with religion; I had to find ...I too was not raised with religion; I had to find it all on my own. When we moved back to the states after the first time living overseas, now 7 years ago, I had myself and my children baptized at my husband's parent's church. I'm still learning too. I just wanted more of a foundation for my children than I had received, which was nothing. Now with my recent health challenges, I am sitting down and writing verses on index cards to learn. I still haven't found a church, but I have found different ones online that I love to listen to and get their Podcasts on my ipad. I enjoyed reading your post this morning. Sewing by Shirleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14073228812439584262noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149664287965616549.post-47124023512699299132013-08-04T00:37:48.924-07:002013-08-04T00:37:48.924-07:00Thanks for sharing! I'm Catholic convert too, ...Thanks for sharing! I'm Catholic convert too, baptised just before I turned 20! That's amazing that you had your children baptised in faith! Love it when God whispers (sometimes yells) in your ear!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149664287965616549.post-75999411926122954022013-08-03T18:27:22.378-07:002013-08-03T18:27:22.378-07:00Justine,
I honestly believe [no, I know] that G...Justine, <br /> I honestly believe [no, I know] that God delivered you and your friends , that awful night from the thugs , who were trying to get you. Not only , did He let you drive backwards with no lights, and go down a one way street [that could have been the fatal end for you girls]..But, just at the right time, He had the police officers right there. He loves us and He is there for us. <br /><br />NO matter how many times I fail, I know He cares for me and hears my cries. God is a loving and caring God.. He wants our love also.<br /><br />I am a Baptist, but , I feel like putting a title over you, is not the important thing, I try to love the Lord and do what He would have me to do. And I must say, I fail Him miserably, but He loves me the same. Thank God .<br /><br />I have 2 grown children. One is a high school history teacher, and one is a Baptist preacher. I am very proud and thankful to God, for protecting my children and helping them through the trials of life.. and there has been some for sure.. Some times, it is so hard to know what to do.. But, I know, if only I would turn my heart and life over to God, He would lead me .<br /><br />Your friend ,that wants her children to decide their way themselves. I pray that she will decide differently.. Churches and religions do have there troubles and things that are wrong.. but God doesn't. Children need that love and care of knowing God, and knowing that He loves them. I just can't imagine going through the hardships of life with out my God. He is there to help through all things. one of my favorite bible scriptures are: <br />Psalms 46:1-- God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. <br />this really comforts me.. God is our strength, and I love the "present help",<br />it means right now when we are in trouble, He is there. [Just like He was for you<br />many years ago.]<br /><br />My husband was raised in church and taught about God all his life. Myself.. not as much, My parents occasionally went to church.. But, I didn't get the grounding in faith, that I wished I could have. I would love to have been taught about God , and learned all the wonderful stories in the bible.. But, I didn't know very much at all , when I got married. <br /><br />hugs to you.. and I have to say, I am so thankful that God was there to protect you girls. I had cold chills just reading this horrific story.<br /><br />Hope you have a good weekend.. Sew Blessed Maw [Judy]https://www.blogger.com/profile/15474519379303505290noreply@blogger.com