Sunday Coffee and Chat -- 31st August 2025

@avant-garde I am so sorry that you thought I doubted you, and that what I said was not very nice. Thank you for overlooking my fault and judgemental behaviour.

When I was first born again I was on fire for God and made a comment about my mum not being more than a Sunday Christian. A friend of mine who had been a Christian for many years admonished me and told me not to judge others and their path. We are all children of God and regardless of whether we are charismatic, Pentecostal, Baptist or more conventional like my mum, Jesus knows our hearts and that's what is important.

You have an amazing gift of a beautiful singing voice, I have the gift of tongues and prophecy. Another Christian friend and my former pastor has the gift of healing.

Your faith journey is a struggle for you, I believe the devil attacks us because of our strong faith - he's not interested in lukewarm or non believers as he knows he's already got them.

I am not backward in coming forward and can be harsh with my words. Again, I am sorry that I hurt you and I'm glad we can speak with love and friendship now.

You are a blessing to me 😍

I will also add that in no way am I making negative comments to non believers. If what I said is upsetting to anyone please let me know, that is the last thing I would want to occur.

@ENKELI

It reminds me of the comic of a woman getting out of bed and then the devil saying something like "oh darn it she's up"

I've been in Pentecostal, charismatic, Baptist, Presbyterian and church of Christ.

I could never go back to Pentecostal, my grandmother was 90 with cancer and they said to me that she'd still be alive if I had fasted and prayed more. I blamed myself for 3 years for her death 10 years ago.

@avant-garde now that just peeves me no end. This is what I can't stand about the Christian religion. No wonder you were upset with what I said! I have been fortunate with my journey, I too have attended Church of Christ, Baptist, Presbyterian, Uniting (which is what the Presbyterian and Methodist churches combined to become) and Pentecostal. I refer to myself as Pentecostal but if anyone ever said something like that to me in a Pentecostal church I too would walk away with a bad taste in my mouth.

The only church I haven't attended is Catholic. My dads' family are Catholic and when he was at school he wrote left handed. He used to get hit on the hand because the nuns told him writing left handed was the devils' work. Mum said a friend of hers also experienced the same thing.

I am so sorry you had that put upon you. No Christian regardless of denomination EVER has the right to say that about you. That makes me so angry. I hope you know now that it had nothing to do with you, and that the people who said that will have some explaining to do when they meet with God. All I can say is to forgive them (for your benefit not theirs) and remember you are nothing short of a blessing. Your grandmother I'm sure knew that too.

This is the saying right? 😁

@ENKELI

My grandmother was my best friend and the reason I'm still Christian with all that I've been through, God used her in such as mighty way in my life and I miss her dearly.

My birthday is the day before hers and she said to me that I was the best birthday present she could ask for, her only granddaughter.

She, like you, had a gut feeling about me and so when my aunt said to avoid me, that I'm a black sheep, she said no.

She loved me like a daughter those last 2 years and they're the years that saved my faith.

And yes that's the quote

@avant-garde that's so interesting about your grandmother. My birthday is the day before my grandmother's also and she was the reason I clung to my faith. She passed away too young from cancer but the peace she had, knowing she would soon be with God has stayed with me. Like you, she is the reason I kept my faith at times.

I am always so amazed at how God places people like you in my life that help improve me and my faith.

@ENKELI

I reckon @Jynx would like this conversation, they just lost their grandmother

I enjoyed upsetting my aunt because she treated my grandmother was a job and not a human. She called me the night gran died at 10:30pm telling me to get on public transport and travel over an hour so I could be there. Gran wouldn't have wanted me to put myself in danger like that though. But my aunt was jealous over the relationship we had and made it very known.

I accidentally feel asleep earlier and so I'm not tired but I know it's getting late for you.

@Jynx my darling Jynxy I am so sorry you lost your grandmother. You are in my thoughts and prayers sweetheart.

@avant-garde I am wide awake. My sleep patterns are all over the place at the moment, I am not sure whether it is because of menopause, new diagnosis of diabetes 2 or trauma response to losing my job last year and my former best friend cutting me out of her life along with her 2 kids, my God children who I had helped care for for nearly 9 years. I have been to my GP about it but he keeps telling me it's just my body getting used to new medication. I have an appointment to see him again next Thursday so I am hoping and praying we'll find a resolution.

Good for you going against your aunt. Of the 3 aunts I have I only have time for 2. Mums' youngest sister is one of the most horrible women I know and I have nothing to do with her. The next time I speak to her will be to tell her she is not to attend my fathers' funeral. When my parents split instead of siding with her sister, she sided with my dad who had cheated on my mum several times. We suspect she and my dad had a fling at one stage too, despite both being married to their current spouses at the time.

@ENKELI

I remember last year being hard for you, that it wasn't right what happened.

I got a paper mache tombstone and wrote a letter to my dad on it, decorating it in flames instead of doing it when my dad actually dies.

I wrote this 5 years ago about my grandmother and would like to share it

Thinking of her today

I'm reminded of who she was

How she loved me without limits

No matter the expense or cost

Ignoring words from others

Saying to not get close to me

Her tenacious and loving spirit

Says that she was much like me

Thankful to have a granddaughter

Amongst a lot of boys

Someone she wanted to get to know

That in me she saw worth

Loving me like a daughter

She showed how much she cared

When I let her in like she let me

What a friendship we did share

That even in her final days

It was her I saw

Nobody understood it

But many were in awe

That God's love was so evident

That she could love me

The black sheep of the family

When she was told to flee

To love me like God loved her

To show how much she cared

That she's in heaven waiting

And one day I'll see her there

@avant-garde that is the most beautiful tribute to your grandmother. I have no other words but that it is beautiful.

Thank you for sharing it with me, I feel honoured to be able to read it.