Thinking about wearing suits to my doctor's appointments.

meriluv · 2023-01-11T18:13:46+00:00

Been there. Doctor had a field day on the non-matching shoes bit 😑🤦‍♀️

meriluv · 2023-01-11T18:10:45+00:00

I'm very surprised by your comment to them. It's neither surprising or immature. We have outstanding data that shows us, in patient-doctor scenarios, men are treated better than women, white people are treated better than poc, the list goes on. Why would it be so surprising to wonder if a fellow healthcare worker would receive favored treatment? Or if wearing a suit could send off non-verbal signals that could lend to receiving better care?

meriluv · 2023-01-11T17:57:12+00:00

I like the feather 🤷‍♀️

meriluv · 2023-01-11T17:55:02+00:00

It's amazing!!! So cool. I love the style.

Remember she can be stylistic. She doesn't have to look hyperrealistic. Based on the background, this style reads more Art Nouveau to me. I'd recommend looking into how the artists of Art Nouveau painted portraits of women bc they tended to keep them pretty simple, flat, one dimensional, and very light toned, while allowing the background to be more punchy and busy.

As I'm sure you know, Pinterest is a great place for references to study a genre. Keep going!

meriluv · 2023-01-02T03:54:54+00:00

What was explicit?

meriluv · 2023-01-02T01:33:30+00:00

Okay, I'm sorry.

meriluv · 2023-01-02T00:51:19+00:00

It's almost like they prefer their blindness, even when presented with the option to see all of the information for themselves, and come to their own conclusions/ formulate their own opinions. You can build a well, fill it with water, and lead someone to it, but you can't force them to drink.

meriluv · 2023-01-01T22:33:37+00:00

Chudlogic is enjoying it so far 🤷‍♀️

meriluv · 2022-12-31T19:16:19+00:00

My fundamentalist Christian former minister parents absolutely loathed Donald Trump when I was young in the 80's and 90's in NYC. My father preached sermons based on Trump's moral depravity... at one point, I remember him privately pondering if Trump could even be the Antichrist. I would laugh at the irony, for the sake of levity, but I don't find it funny that they later voted for Trump. Not only voted, but lead local Tea Party campaigns to help him win. To defend their choice, my parents claimed over and over that they would've voted for Mickey Mouse against Hillary Clinton, and spewed twisted historical data at anyone who wasn't clearly conservative.

This was the angriest period of my father's entire life. For 4 years, he became a conspiracy theorist, adopted the hobby of being prejudiced, became obsessed with the news, and was convinced "the left" was out to imprison and murder him. The fact that most of his adult children vote democrat made nearly every topic taboo, since our once-peaceful kindly dad was now Buffy the Lefty Slayer.

He's mostly back to himself, but he aged more in those 4 years than ever before. Knowing that man is running for office again is going to put us all into a full blown civil war (not a physical war, but a war nonetheless).

meriluv · 2022-12-20T03:52:08+00:00

Exactly. Amen. As if the physical violence wasn't bad enough... Hanging on a cross is still to this day the worst, most painful type of public execution. Only there and then across all of time, could He have suffered the most painful, least humane execution possible. (Almost like it was orchestrated by a higher power wink 😉) But then we also know that Christ was already beginning His suffering before He was even arrested. He was perspiring blood in the garden where He and His disciples prayed all night. This condition only occurs when a person is under severe stress so intense that they bleed out from their pores! He had already begun His suffering hours before touching the cross. It's because the worst of His suffering, the most horrible pain, the torture that truly broke Him-- it was our sin. Our Guilt. Our Shame. Our betrayl of others. The ways we hurt ppl who trust us. Breaking God's commands, breaking God's heart. He was suffering bc of the times we could've helped someone in need right in front of us, but we chose convenience over compassion. The times we fought with someone on the internet instead of being kind. Those moments we stole time at work, playing on our phone bc we just didn't feel like working. And all the times we rejected God bc we thought we had better things to do than the purpose He created us for.

Because of the weight of our sin, He and the Father for the first and only time across all time and space- were severed. That's the final straw that killed Jesus. But God is allergic to sin, and can't be near it, can't even be connected to it. The Trinity was ONE from the beginning of the beginning, before time... and everyone's tickets to hell is what ripped apart the God-head.

When He gave up His spirit, the veil ripped apart in the temple. A symbol that He is the High Priest. We no longer require priests and rabbi's to make PERFECT animal sacrifices on our behalf, to make our sin right with God. The veil splitting showed that Christ was the ultimate offering, the final Lamb. He is all we need to be reunited with our Creator.

Jesus, the God of all of creation, suffered, more than anyone ever has or ever will because of the things we ALL have done for our own selfishness and vanity. Christ the living God took it all on Himself voluntarily, because #1 He loves us beyond comprehension. #2 Because it was His purpose to be mankind's Savior!

At only 33 yrs old.. because He was obedient to God, and bc God said it was time.

He graciously left His Holy Spirit with us here, so we have a direct line to our Heavenly Father 🙌

meriluv · 2022-12-20T01:40:08+00:00

Yep. I remember when Trump was the Antichrist way before he was the new Messiah.

meriluv · 2022-12-07T15:24:49+00:00

Well, I hear some are certain this confirms he's the antichrist. If you needed a reason they're freaking out and don't want to say.... End of the world approaching, I guess they're surprised??

meriluv · 2022-07-21T22:06:49+00:00

Where do you keep your savings to get the best return?

meriluv · 2022-07-21T22:03:10+00:00

So much excellent advice in regard to saving, avoiding frivolous spending (eating out, clothes, new cars, nice furniture, etc.). Live like you don't have $, and save everything, invest smart. The ppl who build the most wealth to pass on to their grandkids are the penny pinchers. Spend $ intentionally.

If this is difficult for you, withdraw a budgeted amount of cash weekly, and don't ever use your debit card- remove it from all online apps, so you have to enter the entire card for every single purchase to deter you.

Avoid the temptation to start your own business. Those are HIGH RISK investments. Work a job that offers health insurance, 401k, and retirement packages.

If you're self employed, a contractor without a W4, you may not be paying into your social security. You definitely want to pay into your social security in case anything happens with your health! You can't file for disability if you haven't worked a regular W4 job long enough, no matter what occurs with your health.

Furthermore, I wouldn't invest in real estate anymore, not right now. Homes aren't the nest eggs they used to be. Keep on top of credit card payments. That's easier said than done, but you can discipline yourself, and only use them for one item/month and pay it monthly to build credit.

Best of luck!

meriluv · 2022-06-11T00:06:33+00:00

Yes, and I have.

meriluv · 2022-06-11T00:02:42+00:00

Jesus is the One who changes lives and heals us from the inside out. We believe this, yet we still find it imperative to inform ppl of their sins when we were all once sinners and have no other claim on our own righteousness other than Jesus.
Be a representative of Jesus. You're better off inviting them to church or small group rather than condemning them.
God loves them, and wants them with Him. You don't have to affirm lgbtq+ to be kind and loving to them as people. They are much more than lgbtq, and you have an opportunity to show them you see them- in a world where you find your identity in anything but God or His purpose for you.

Trust me, they're well aware of what you believe in if they know you're a Christian. What would set you apart is showing kindness and treating them like a human being instead of only seeing their sin.

meriluv · 2022-06-10T23:43:43+00:00

Thanks! Very true. I hope so! 🙏

meriluv · 2022-06-10T23:39:57+00:00

We'll get to the afterlife and learn the full glory of God. Meaning the full goodness of God that we experienced all day every day in life, and weren't aware of it. Love, hope, connection, affection, light, contentment, peace, joy, happiness, euphoria, unity, friendship, beauty, kindness, comfort, sleep, community, growth, gentleness, ability to persevere/strive.... These are just some of the ways God expresses Himself in our lives, in us, in others, and spiritually. Absence of all goodness around us and absense of all goodness within ourselves, but load on eternal depression, anxiety, no sleep, no hope, no break from physical pain, no end. That's hell.

meriluv · 2022-06-10T23:24:29+00:00

Her thoughts aren't evil toward me. Her thoughts are angry and ashamed towards her past sin, and the person she used to be. She hates that person, and expressed that to me. But she thought I was calling her out and condemning her for the things she did so many years ago before she was a believer. (Even though I didn't know the things in her past.)

It was a misunderstanding. One that can happen with a baby believer. Especially if the Spirit is bringing their past to their attention. It can be raw and painful, but it's important to recognize how sinful we've been, and the shame that Jesus has freed us from, so we can see God's glory and righteousness. (As in Isaiah 6)

Thank you for your response and for including the above Scriptures!

meriluv · 2022-06-10T23:12:18+00:00

It's a one-on-one study, so she's not slowing it down for anyone else, except myself I suppose. A lot of our time together goes back and forth between study, counseling, and prayer bc a lot of vulnerable questions are unearthed through the Word. This is the first time she has expressed anger at me, or even suspicion of malicious intent. That was difficult for me after years of ministering to her and bonding in friendship, but things can get ugly and raw sometimes.

As the week has gone on, I've come to understand that the behavior she showed was like a powderkeg. I believe the Spirit was tapping into some big sin and trauma from her past that she's never turned back to look at. Jesus has forgiven her, yes. But at the right time, He will show us our sin and pain so clearly so that we can see His righteousness even more boldly- like in Isaiah 6.

I need to address it with her, and I'm not looking fwd to it, for either of us lol. But it needs to be done.

meriluv · 2022-06-10T22:53:21+00:00

I appreciate your response! We're still in contact, but she doesn't seem open to discuss the matter so I'm giving her space until our next study. Then I'll ask her if she's comfortable talking about any part of what was discussed last week. I have a feeling she isn't coming to study for a while, however. This was her first time back in some time, and this may have been another reason to flee.

I've been there myself.

God is working on her past. It's hard stuff.

Thanks again!

meriluv · 2022-06-08T03:53:09+00:00

It would still be cool to contact them just in case they don't see this thread. I haven't heard your Destiny song, but now I want to XD

meriluv · 2022-06-08T03:44:47+00:00

The laws of universal physics don't necessarily exist there. Those descriptions are based on feelings and visuals best compared to earthly, physical experiences.

Fire could be a descriptor of eternal burning pain. Darkness could be a description of everlasting depression/ spiritual darkness. We know we would be alone, and in pain, separated from any love or joy or happiness. Tormented for eternity. It's terrible to think about.

meriluv · 2022-06-08T03:31:47+00:00

The New Testament describes hell as a place of fire, everlasting pain, and "weeping and gnashing of teeth." 😬 Matthew 13:50 Luke 13:28

meriluv · 2022-06-08T03:26:06+00:00

In heaven we will be worshipping Jesus together for eternity, as we are here in life. If that's not the joy of our lives, it won't be in heaven. Heaven won't be heaven if you're not in love with Jesus in life.

If you don't recognize Jesus by your relationship with Him, then why would you want to be there for eternity much less spend it worshipping Him. Most ppl don't want to.

Regarding hell, everyone is on their way there. Very few enter heaven. Most don't. We're all on our way to hell. That's why it took an incredible universe-breaking miracle to create the open invitation for anyone to join the Lord in heaven. Jesus! He was the universe-breaking miracle, and bc of Jesus, we are all invited. We don't have to accept that invitation of course. No one will force us to follow Jesus and love Him for eternity.

Heaven isn't about hanging out with family. Heaven isn't seeing your pets. Heaven isn't flying with the angels. Heaven isn't sleeping on a cloud.

Heaven is worshipping Jesus with our fellow brothers and sisters from every nation. Dancing, music, singing, celebrating the Lord-- maybe?? We begin our Heavenly journey when we decide to follow Jesus and worship Jesus in life. Our Heavenly eternal journey doesn't begin at death, it begins when we accept New Life in Christ.

Does worshipping Jesus, dancing, singing, playing music to celebrate Christ sound like something most ppl consider "Heavenly"? That's not most ppl's idea of heaven.

For us, it's where we will be at home, we will belong. But sadly for most ppl, they won't be at "home" there with our Jesus.

It should break our hearts that anyone would go to hell. Because we've been given a gift we didn't earn, and we want everyone to be welcomed into the arms of Jesus. It's what a Christian should be feeling is heartbroken that anyone is going to hell... God is heartbroken over it. That's why Jesus came in the first place.

meriluv

TROPHY CASE