8/29/09
So, this is an interesting twist: My 11 year old son, Hunter, decided to try playing his game on Xbox Live, and he is somehow getting Xbox Live for free. I don't know if maybe Microsoft is giving him Live for free because we are in dispute, but I won't look a gift horse in the mouth. The strange thing is that Xbox Live Support has all my other son's information, not Hunter's. So, I don't really know why or how Hunter is getting Live access. I even checked my credit card to make sure he hadn't "accidentally" purchased a month or something, and there is nothing there. Hunter, of course is extremely happy! He has actually saved up enough money to purchase a few months of Live, and has been begging for me to sign him up again, but I won't let him because I want to see how this dispute gets resolved first. And the saga continues...
Monday, August 31, 2009
Thursday, August 27, 2009
DEALING WITH MICROSOFT XBOX LIVE TECH SUPPORT HELP
Okay, so I am taking a complete left turn in my blog, and as you can see, I haven't blogged in a very long time!
I decided to keep track of all this XBOX LIVE trouble on this blog, mainly for my own sanity (It's all getting blurry at this point!) and to maybe get a little help from anyone else who might have gone through this same thing.
So, here's the story, and it's a LONG one!
6/29/2009
After working for serveral months, my 11 year old son Hunter saved up $180.00 to pay for his half of an Xbox 360. I took both him and my 18 year old son, Cody(he had the other half of the money) to purchase an Xbox 360, an additional controller, and 1 game. Their total price was $434.57.
Hunter actually beats his one and only brand new Xbox game in one hour! That same day Hunter signed up for the free month trial of Xbox Live Gold. When he went to play his new game live, he kept getting an error message. A few days later I decided to call Xbox Tech Support to see what the problem was. The tech said to take the game to a friends house that had an Xbox 360 and Xbox Live. If the game worked correctly at the friends house, then we needed a new Xbox 360 console. If the game did not work correctly, then we needed a new game.
7/4/2009
We went to a friends to celebrate 4th of July. They have Xbox Live. Hunter tried his game at their house and it worked just fine.
7/7/2009
We packed up the entire Xbox 360 and took it back to the store. We were given a new Xbox 360 and we purchased the 2 year "Buyer Protection Plan" for an additional $39.99. We came home, hooked up the new console and tried the game. Guess what, it still did not work!
7/8/2009
Back to the store again to exchange the original game for a new one. Yeah!! We now have a game that you can play on Xbox Live. Now that it works, Cody has decided to get his own Xbox Live "Gamer Tag" and play online, also.
7/15/2009(apx.)
Hunter informs me that there are places his Xbox Live friends can go but he can't because he needs to purchase "map packs". Are you kidding me??!! You just spent $59.99 plus tax on this game and now you need to spend additional money on it?! For $59.99 it should come with everything! But, it's his money not mine, so I decide to let him make the purchase. We are all new to all this, so he shows me how to plug in my credit card number. The "map pack" he wants is 800 Microsoft Points. They sell only 1000 Points for $12.99. Hunter gives me the $13 in cash and I charge the $12.99 to my credit card. Now he has the new "map pack" and 200 unused Points. Cody then goes to play after Hunter, not knowing he has downloaded a "map pack". He asks Hunter how he got to that "new" place. Hunter tells Cody he downloaded a map pack. Cody then asks me how to download stuff. I'm thinking, why can't they share? Well, apparently, two separate Xbox Live accounts need to each download their own stuff. In the meantime, I have done a little research and saw that I can get Microsoft Points cheaper on Ebay than through the Xbox Live Marketplace. So, I tell Cody to buy the points through Ebay and then buy the map pack. Hunter had "map pack 2" and Cody then purchases "map pack 1" and "map pack 2".
7/25/2009
Hunter saves up more money and wants to download "map pack 3". He actually does this without my permission! He decided on his own to purchase additional Microsoft Points through the Xbox Live Marketplace using my credit card information that I did not realize is stored in his account for ready use! He gave me the cash, but I told him he could never do that again. I explained to him that I could have saved him quite a bit of money by getting the Points from Ebay.
7/29/2009
Hunter's free month trial of Xbox Live Gold has now expired but he does not have any more money to purchase additional months.
8/8/2009
Cody's Gold membership expires but he purchases 3 additional months through the Marketplace using his own credit card. Occasionally he allows Hunter to use his "Gamer Tag" so Hunter can play online, also.
8/17/2009
Cody is very excited because he "suddenly" is able to use the "map pack 3" that Hunter had downloaded. I find this odd and begin to think something is wrong. I decide to call Xbox Tech support again. I expain to the agent that I am very confused about all the charges for two boys to play one game on a console that they both share. I tell her that I pay ONE fee for cable TV in my home and everyone is allowed to use it. I tell her I don't have to pay for each person in my house to use the internet or have their own e-mail address. I pay only ONE fee and everyone uses it. I also only pay ONE fee for the telephone! She explains to me that the boys can share ONE "gamer tag" and pay only one fee, but if they want separate ones, it is separate fees. Well, I am sorry, but an 11 year old CAN NOT share a "gamer tag" with an 18 year old! I might as well let my 11 year old see R rated movies and such. She also informs me that they don't need to purchase the downloads separately. Only one download needs to be purchased and it can be shared. Well, we did not know this! Of course, I then tell her I would like a refund of the points we paid for the "map pack 2" that both my sons paid to download. She, VERY NICELY, informs me that they do not allow refunds on downloaded content. She can not issue a refund. I ask to speak to her supervisor or someone who CAN issue a refund. I am placed on hold and a supervisor(at least I am told he is a supervisor) is put on the line. I then have to explain the entire situation to him. He tells me that when my other son could not play the downloaded content we should have called Tech Support, not download it again. I told him we did not know he could even play it and did not know there was an issue or I surely would have called Tech Support. I had already called Tech Support before and have no probelm doing so. I told him it was his employee who just informed they could share. He then informs that no refunds can be given on downloaded content. I then ask to speak to his supervisor. I am again put on hold. He comes back on the line and tells me my issue has been sent to a "Resolution Specialist" and I will be getting a call back within 24 hours. I am then given a "reference number" for my case. I hang up and immediatly look at the phone and see that I have spent 78 minutes on the line with Xbox Tech Support! Unbelievable!
8/18/2009
Of course, there is NO call back from Xbox Tech Support!
8/19/2009
I call Xbox back myself. I spend many more minutes re-explaining the problem to a whole new person. I spend 30 minutes talking to various people to finally be told that my case is still in the "resolution" department and no decision has been made. I am told it will take 3 to 5 days. I then ask why I was told 24 hours at the first phone call. He did not know why the other tech had told me this.
8/21/2009
Xbox Tech Support calls me at home and leaves a message. I was not home at the time. This is basically the message: "Hello Mrs. Farenga, this is so-and so from Xbox calling. Please call us back at 800-4MY-XBOX and have this reference number ready. Have a good day."
8/25/2009
I call Xbox Tech Support back. I give them my reference number. I am asked my first name, last name, who the account is under(which they are using Cody's info for some reason), the "Gamer Tag" name, the phone number, the address, the e-mail address, and the last 4 digits of the credit card used on the account. Oh, and the answer to Cody's "secret question". After all this I am told there is no additional information and the case is still pending in "resolution". I then asked why I was left a message to call back if there was nothing to tell me. He told me that I was probably given a call to "update" me. Okay, I ask what the "update" is. The update is that they are still working on it! Another 15 or 20 minutes of my time given to Xbox! At this point it is now out of principal that I have decided to pursue this any further. I am sure many other customers have just said "forget it!".
8/27/2009
I am left another message, much like the first one, only this time it was an actual "Resolution Specialist" who left the message! Yeah! I call back as soon as I get this message. I again have to explain the entire situation to a new person. I give the "reference number" and am asked the same 20 questions. She then informs that my case is still pending. WHAT?? Why am I asked to call back if nothing has happened. I inform her I am only calling because a "Resolution Specialist" left me a message to call back. If there was nothing to tell me, then why am I told to call back? I am put on hold again and then informed that I will be transferred to a "Resolution Specialist". I am put on hold and I actually get DISCONNECTED!!! Mind you this entire time I am on my cell phone. I made the call at my house, I am now at the store picking up cupcakes for my sons birthday. I now call back and I immediately tell the person that I was on hold for a "Resolution Specialist" and I was disconnected. She wants me to explain everything to her. I refuse and tell her I just want to speak to the "specialist" because I have already explained everything to someone else. I tell her I have a "reference number". She then wants the number so she can see if she can help me herself. I tell her she can not help me but I give her the number. Again, the 20 questions! I am put on hold and transferred to someone else. This person wants me to answer all the same 20 questions. I ask if I really have to do that again, as I had just done it with the other person. He asks just for the "Gamer Tag". He then wants me to explain the situation. "Can't you just read all about it on your monitor? I've explained this problem so many times I'm getting confused!" He reads about it and then tells me it is still pending! OMG!!! I then ask him how am going to know when I REALLY need to call back to get NEW information if I am just left random messages to call back? He didn't have an answer. He told me there was nothing that could be done because they don't refund points for Downloaded content. I tell him that SOMEONE can do SOMETHING or my case would not have been sent to a "Resolution Specialist". He did say that, yes, someone could if that is what is decided, but since it is still pending, nothing can be done. I then give him my cell phone number and tell him to make sure I am called back on that number if there is no answer at my other number. I am now back at home after having left the store, gone to my sons school to drop off the cupcakes, and run into the post office to mail a package! Another 30 or 45 minutes!
So, there you have it! My Xbox Live nightmare! And it isn't even over! Good luck to me, right?
I decided to keep track of all this XBOX LIVE trouble on this blog, mainly for my own sanity (It's all getting blurry at this point!) and to maybe get a little help from anyone else who might have gone through this same thing.
So, here's the story, and it's a LONG one!
6/29/2009
After working for serveral months, my 11 year old son Hunter saved up $180.00 to pay for his half of an Xbox 360. I took both him and my 18 year old son, Cody(he had the other half of the money) to purchase an Xbox 360, an additional controller, and 1 game. Their total price was $434.57.
Hunter actually beats his one and only brand new Xbox game in one hour! That same day Hunter signed up for the free month trial of Xbox Live Gold. When he went to play his new game live, he kept getting an error message. A few days later I decided to call Xbox Tech Support to see what the problem was. The tech said to take the game to a friends house that had an Xbox 360 and Xbox Live. If the game worked correctly at the friends house, then we needed a new Xbox 360 console. If the game did not work correctly, then we needed a new game.
7/4/2009
We went to a friends to celebrate 4th of July. They have Xbox Live. Hunter tried his game at their house and it worked just fine.
7/7/2009
We packed up the entire Xbox 360 and took it back to the store. We were given a new Xbox 360 and we purchased the 2 year "Buyer Protection Plan" for an additional $39.99. We came home, hooked up the new console and tried the game. Guess what, it still did not work!
7/8/2009
Back to the store again to exchange the original game for a new one. Yeah!! We now have a game that you can play on Xbox Live. Now that it works, Cody has decided to get his own Xbox Live "Gamer Tag" and play online, also.
7/15/2009(apx.)
Hunter informs me that there are places his Xbox Live friends can go but he can't because he needs to purchase "map packs". Are you kidding me??!! You just spent $59.99 plus tax on this game and now you need to spend additional money on it?! For $59.99 it should come with everything! But, it's his money not mine, so I decide to let him make the purchase. We are all new to all this, so he shows me how to plug in my credit card number. The "map pack" he wants is 800 Microsoft Points. They sell only 1000 Points for $12.99. Hunter gives me the $13 in cash and I charge the $12.99 to my credit card. Now he has the new "map pack" and 200 unused Points. Cody then goes to play after Hunter, not knowing he has downloaded a "map pack". He asks Hunter how he got to that "new" place. Hunter tells Cody he downloaded a map pack. Cody then asks me how to download stuff. I'm thinking, why can't they share? Well, apparently, two separate Xbox Live accounts need to each download their own stuff. In the meantime, I have done a little research and saw that I can get Microsoft Points cheaper on Ebay than through the Xbox Live Marketplace. So, I tell Cody to buy the points through Ebay and then buy the map pack. Hunter had "map pack 2" and Cody then purchases "map pack 1" and "map pack 2".
7/25/2009
Hunter saves up more money and wants to download "map pack 3". He actually does this without my permission! He decided on his own to purchase additional Microsoft Points through the Xbox Live Marketplace using my credit card information that I did not realize is stored in his account for ready use! He gave me the cash, but I told him he could never do that again. I explained to him that I could have saved him quite a bit of money by getting the Points from Ebay.
7/29/2009
Hunter's free month trial of Xbox Live Gold has now expired but he does not have any more money to purchase additional months.
8/8/2009
Cody's Gold membership expires but he purchases 3 additional months through the Marketplace using his own credit card. Occasionally he allows Hunter to use his "Gamer Tag" so Hunter can play online, also.
8/17/2009
Cody is very excited because he "suddenly" is able to use the "map pack 3" that Hunter had downloaded. I find this odd and begin to think something is wrong. I decide to call Xbox Tech support again. I expain to the agent that I am very confused about all the charges for two boys to play one game on a console that they both share. I tell her that I pay ONE fee for cable TV in my home and everyone is allowed to use it. I tell her I don't have to pay for each person in my house to use the internet or have their own e-mail address. I pay only ONE fee and everyone uses it. I also only pay ONE fee for the telephone! She explains to me that the boys can share ONE "gamer tag" and pay only one fee, but if they want separate ones, it is separate fees. Well, I am sorry, but an 11 year old CAN NOT share a "gamer tag" with an 18 year old! I might as well let my 11 year old see R rated movies and such. She also informs me that they don't need to purchase the downloads separately. Only one download needs to be purchased and it can be shared. Well, we did not know this! Of course, I then tell her I would like a refund of the points we paid for the "map pack 2" that both my sons paid to download. She, VERY NICELY, informs me that they do not allow refunds on downloaded content. She can not issue a refund. I ask to speak to her supervisor or someone who CAN issue a refund. I am placed on hold and a supervisor(at least I am told he is a supervisor) is put on the line. I then have to explain the entire situation to him. He tells me that when my other son could not play the downloaded content we should have called Tech Support, not download it again. I told him we did not know he could even play it and did not know there was an issue or I surely would have called Tech Support. I had already called Tech Support before and have no probelm doing so. I told him it was his employee who just informed they could share. He then informs that no refunds can be given on downloaded content. I then ask to speak to his supervisor. I am again put on hold. He comes back on the line and tells me my issue has been sent to a "Resolution Specialist" and I will be getting a call back within 24 hours. I am then given a "reference number" for my case. I hang up and immediatly look at the phone and see that I have spent 78 minutes on the line with Xbox Tech Support! Unbelievable!
8/18/2009
Of course, there is NO call back from Xbox Tech Support!
8/19/2009
I call Xbox back myself. I spend many more minutes re-explaining the problem to a whole new person. I spend 30 minutes talking to various people to finally be told that my case is still in the "resolution" department and no decision has been made. I am told it will take 3 to 5 days. I then ask why I was told 24 hours at the first phone call. He did not know why the other tech had told me this.
8/21/2009
Xbox Tech Support calls me at home and leaves a message. I was not home at the time. This is basically the message: "Hello Mrs. Farenga, this is so-and so from Xbox calling. Please call us back at 800-4MY-XBOX and have this reference number ready. Have a good day."
8/25/2009
I call Xbox Tech Support back. I give them my reference number. I am asked my first name, last name, who the account is under(which they are using Cody's info for some reason), the "Gamer Tag" name, the phone number, the address, the e-mail address, and the last 4 digits of the credit card used on the account. Oh, and the answer to Cody's "secret question". After all this I am told there is no additional information and the case is still pending in "resolution". I then asked why I was left a message to call back if there was nothing to tell me. He told me that I was probably given a call to "update" me. Okay, I ask what the "update" is. The update is that they are still working on it! Another 15 or 20 minutes of my time given to Xbox! At this point it is now out of principal that I have decided to pursue this any further. I am sure many other customers have just said "forget it!".
8/27/2009
I am left another message, much like the first one, only this time it was an actual "Resolution Specialist" who left the message! Yeah! I call back as soon as I get this message. I again have to explain the entire situation to a new person. I give the "reference number" and am asked the same 20 questions. She then informs that my case is still pending. WHAT?? Why am I asked to call back if nothing has happened. I inform her I am only calling because a "Resolution Specialist" left me a message to call back. If there was nothing to tell me, then why am I told to call back? I am put on hold again and then informed that I will be transferred to a "Resolution Specialist". I am put on hold and I actually get DISCONNECTED!!! Mind you this entire time I am on my cell phone. I made the call at my house, I am now at the store picking up cupcakes for my sons birthday. I now call back and I immediately tell the person that I was on hold for a "Resolution Specialist" and I was disconnected. She wants me to explain everything to her. I refuse and tell her I just want to speak to the "specialist" because I have already explained everything to someone else. I tell her I have a "reference number". She then wants the number so she can see if she can help me herself. I tell her she can not help me but I give her the number. Again, the 20 questions! I am put on hold and transferred to someone else. This person wants me to answer all the same 20 questions. I ask if I really have to do that again, as I had just done it with the other person. He asks just for the "Gamer Tag". He then wants me to explain the situation. "Can't you just read all about it on your monitor? I've explained this problem so many times I'm getting confused!" He reads about it and then tells me it is still pending! OMG!!! I then ask him how am going to know when I REALLY need to call back to get NEW information if I am just left random messages to call back? He didn't have an answer. He told me there was nothing that could be done because they don't refund points for Downloaded content. I tell him that SOMEONE can do SOMETHING or my case would not have been sent to a "Resolution Specialist". He did say that, yes, someone could if that is what is decided, but since it is still pending, nothing can be done. I then give him my cell phone number and tell him to make sure I am called back on that number if there is no answer at my other number. I am now back at home after having left the store, gone to my sons school to drop off the cupcakes, and run into the post office to mail a package! Another 30 or 45 minutes!
So, there you have it! My Xbox Live nightmare! And it isn't even over! Good luck to me, right?
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
I saw God!
"~since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities- his eternal power and divine nature- have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse." ~Romans 1:19-20
I have always loved to go to the beach and look out at the beautiful blue ocean. I marvel at the sea life and birds flying gracefully. I enjoy searching for the perfect seashell and seeing how unique every shell is. Everytime I go to the beach, I feel God there and I pray to Him and praise His greatness.
In Canada this past week, I took an amazing trip up to the peak of Whistler Mountain and then rode a gondola from the peak of Whistler to the peak of Blackcomb Mountain. This trip boasts the worlds longest and highest freespan gondola ride. Between the peaks was a gaping cravass with a creek running through it. It was the most gorgeous sight I have ever seen. The snow covered the ground and the tree tops. The trees were all wintergreens and full of needles. I even saw birds gliding from tree to tree. The most memorable part of this experience was when the mountain was closing. I happened to get separated from the rest of my family while setting Hunter up on a green snowboarding run, so on the way down the mountain, I was in a gondola all by myself. It was breathtaking! There was complete silence up there. Complete peace. All I could see out the windows were the side of the mountain, the trees and snow, the picturesque and truly quaint Whistler Village at the base, and other mountains far off in the distance. It didn't even seem real to me. I couldn't get my mind to understand that this was real and not a painting! I got to spend far too little time just talking to God and praising Him for what He has made! No one, not even a person who does not believe there is a God, can look at this sight and not be awestruck and amazed! It is a spectacular sight that I am so grateful God allowed me to experience and even worked it out that I would be in a gongola alone, so I could spend time with Him and pray. He was there and I saw Him! He is mighty and beautiful and full of LOVE!
I have always loved to go to the beach and look out at the beautiful blue ocean. I marvel at the sea life and birds flying gracefully. I enjoy searching for the perfect seashell and seeing how unique every shell is. Everytime I go to the beach, I feel God there and I pray to Him and praise His greatness.
In Canada this past week, I took an amazing trip up to the peak of Whistler Mountain and then rode a gondola from the peak of Whistler to the peak of Blackcomb Mountain. This trip boasts the worlds longest and highest freespan gondola ride. Between the peaks was a gaping cravass with a creek running through it. It was the most gorgeous sight I have ever seen. The snow covered the ground and the tree tops. The trees were all wintergreens and full of needles. I even saw birds gliding from tree to tree. The most memorable part of this experience was when the mountain was closing. I happened to get separated from the rest of my family while setting Hunter up on a green snowboarding run, so on the way down the mountain, I was in a gondola all by myself. It was breathtaking! There was complete silence up there. Complete peace. All I could see out the windows were the side of the mountain, the trees and snow, the picturesque and truly quaint Whistler Village at the base, and other mountains far off in the distance. It didn't even seem real to me. I couldn't get my mind to understand that this was real and not a painting! I got to spend far too little time just talking to God and praising Him for what He has made! No one, not even a person who does not believe there is a God, can look at this sight and not be awestruck and amazed! It is a spectacular sight that I am so grateful God allowed me to experience and even worked it out that I would be in a gongola alone, so I could spend time with Him and pray. He was there and I saw Him! He is mighty and beautiful and full of LOVE!
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Fasting!
Our leaders have called for a day of fasting tomorrow, so I decided to study about fasting today to get my heart prepared. I was very encouraged and convicted at the same time. When I read the examples of fasting throughout the book of Acts it is very clear that fasting was an important and frequent part of the disciples lives. This really convicted me because I have fasted on my own only a few times in 15 years as a Christian. The rest of the times it has been like tomorrow, fasting when I am called to fast. I have had many reasons that I should have fasted but didn't. In Isaiah 58 it seems like the people only fasted when they wanted something, but the rest of the time they ignored God. Then they got angry when God did not answer them.
"If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and the Lord's day honorable, and if you honor it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words, then you will find your joy in the Lord, and I will cause you to ride on the heights of the land and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob." -Isaiah 58:13-14
I have written many times about lacking this "joy" and I can see why in this passage. I do not find living for God a delight or an honor. I do speak idle words and I do as I please. I know that, in general, I try to be a "good" disciple, but I do the very minimum, if that, and I do it for the wrong reasons most of the time. I can be like the person who does everything in vain because my heart is far from God. I am so grateful to God and His Word that leads me and reveals my heart and gives me direction so I can stop "going my own way" and go His way! Tomorrow will be a new day and the beginning of a life of true fasting to help bring me closer to God!
"If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and the Lord's day honorable, and if you honor it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words, then you will find your joy in the Lord, and I will cause you to ride on the heights of the land and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob." -Isaiah 58:13-14
I have written many times about lacking this "joy" and I can see why in this passage. I do not find living for God a delight or an honor. I do speak idle words and I do as I please. I know that, in general, I try to be a "good" disciple, but I do the very minimum, if that, and I do it for the wrong reasons most of the time. I can be like the person who does everything in vain because my heart is far from God. I am so grateful to God and His Word that leads me and reveals my heart and gives me direction so I can stop "going my own way" and go His way! Tomorrow will be a new day and the beginning of a life of true fasting to help bring me closer to God!
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
I need to be reminded!
1 Corinthians 15:1-8 reads, "Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born."
This passage is very encouraging to me because this church was new, young, and had many miraculous gifts of the holy spirit, yet they needed to be reminded of what was most important. They needed to be reminded of the gospel they initially fell in the love with! The wonderful news of Christ their savior. I am just like this! I, too, need to be reminded of what is most important. Jesus suffered for my sins, not just the ones I committed before giving my life to him, but even for the ones I committed everyday since then and will commit tomorrow! He took my punishment! He suffered the horrible consiquences that were mine to suffer! Thank you Jesus and remind me each and every day of the treasure you are! I know I need to hold firmly to this so my belief will not end up being in vain. I don't really understand or know what it means to hold firmly, but I am on this journey right now to find out! What is it I need to do to be holding firm? What is it I need to repent of? What is holding me back instead of firm?
This passage is very encouraging to me because this church was new, young, and had many miraculous gifts of the holy spirit, yet they needed to be reminded of what was most important. They needed to be reminded of the gospel they initially fell in the love with! The wonderful news of Christ their savior. I am just like this! I, too, need to be reminded of what is most important. Jesus suffered for my sins, not just the ones I committed before giving my life to him, but even for the ones I committed everyday since then and will commit tomorrow! He took my punishment! He suffered the horrible consiquences that were mine to suffer! Thank you Jesus and remind me each and every day of the treasure you are! I know I need to hold firmly to this so my belief will not end up being in vain. I don't really understand or know what it means to hold firmly, but I am on this journey right now to find out! What is it I need to do to be holding firm? What is it I need to repent of? What is holding me back instead of firm?
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Is God enough for me?
In my first post I wrote that if I believed my sins are forgiven, then I would be so much more grateful, instead of feeling like I don't have enough. Yesterday, I was feeling very sad because I was wondering if my children are going to love God and live their lives with Him as their Lord. I was thinking that all these years I have loved God and lived for him and that my kids should see that love and love Him also. I know they have to forge their own way, find their own faith, but what if they don't? Is God enough for me? In John 15:11, Jesus says, "I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete." I do not feel like His joy is in me and that my joy is complete. 1 Thess. 5:16 says, "Be joyful always." I don't care much about material things and yet I have so much. Maybe that is why I say I don't care much about them. Take it all away and how will I feel? Right now my kids live their lives solely for their own gratification. I know they are young and need to mature. But, what if they don't ever change? Will I feel God has let me down? That He doesn't really love me? Will I just keep going through the motions, like I am now, not truly believing, hoping I make it into Heaven? I don't want to live this way. I want God, and God alone, to be enough. I want my joy to be dependant on Him. That is true joy. I see I have no joy at all. I am "happy" one day, and not the next. I am so very ungrateful! It must have broken Jesus' heart when his mother came to take charge of him because she thought he was going crazy. I am sure Jesus could have felt like me, that it wasn't supposed to happen that way. That his family was supposed to love and trust him more than anyone else. But, he didn't. He just looked around at all he did have, and was joyful for that. He ended his young life giving everything up for God.
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." ~Hebrews 12:1 -2
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." ~Hebrews 12:1 -2
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Babbling!
The Bible has few references to speaking in tongues, yet 1 Corinthians 14:1-25 is a long passage with detailed instructions. It is amazing to me, that with these specific words from Paul, whom he himself could speak in tongues, so many members of many churches claim the ability to speak in tongues and they babble on for minutes on end. They did this often in the many churches I attended growing up. My own dear grandmother claimed the ability to speak in tongues and did so often, even in her home during prayer. I believe she was sincere, but that it was just an emotional gibberish, not true speaking in tongues. It appears in this passage, that Paul is addressing a problem in the Corinthian church where many members were speaking in tongues often and at length, but not doing much else. He points out how unhelpful this is! This makes so much sense! Even at church now, when someone prays or speaks in Spanish or Creole, I don't understand a thing. It does give me comfort to know that there are many other members who do understand what they are saying because it is their language, but this was not the case in Corinth. No one understood what the speaker of tongues was saying at all. Paul says, "I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue." WOW! In my church growing up it was considered highly spiritual to speak in tongues, but obviously to Paul it was not worth much of you didn't interpret what you were speaking. He even says the church was being "childish"(vs. 20). At the end of the passage, Paul tells us what tongues really are supposed to be for, a sign for "unbelievers", not believers! He even says that if an unbeliever comes in to church and hears everyone speaking is a strange tongue he will think the church is out of their minds! When I think about that, I think back to the beginning of this passage. If done correctly, the few who could interpret what they were speaking would speak and interpret and this unbeliever may hear something amazing to him or he may hear someone address the very reason he came to church that day and be convinced that God was really among them.
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