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Tiff, you are so fortunate to have so many wise and caring people around you here. As I have read everyone's responses, I realize that there is much love here, and lots of good advice and encouragement.

Like everyone, I too have a situation with my own daughter, who will not speak to me. I would have loved to have seen her this Christmas, but she chose again, not to involve herself with the rest of the family. However, she did accept my sister's invitation to spend some time with her, and in the process of their talking, she expressed that she is exploring other faiths, one being not a Christian one. This is a heartbreak to me, but you can be sure that my prayers will increase for her, that she will return to the love of God that she was raised with. My point here though is that instead of "preaching" to her, Mary gave her an understanding ear, and just let her talk. I know my daughter well enough to know that this is the best way to deal with her. It isn't our job to change someone's heart. That's God's responsibility. Arguing and persuading usually only leads to more resistance. She knows what is right, and it is our job to pray for her to soften her heart, so that she can let that Light back into her heart that I know was there when she was a young child.

She lost herself to God's love many years ago, but Tiff, sweetie, you have not lost yourself. I know you are concerned about this right now, but the mere fact that you are concerned about how to deal with these family members who want to put you down when you express your beliefs and your love for God, and what He has done for you, makes me see that you are discouraged, not about yourself, but about your family whom you love.

We know your heart here, and it is one that will be a beacon for those willing to let their hearts open up to the treasures that God has in store for them. Don't let Satan use this discouragement to convince you that you are lost too. You know where you are going, and Who is leading the way. Just continue to pray for those who do not understand, and follow the advice of those much wiser than I who have already responded to you.

I'll be praying not only for you, but for your family, as I desire your prayers for my daughter. We mustn't lose sight of Jesus, and use this heartache to increase our prayers for our loved ones who have not chosen to see the better way.

Love and prayers,

Liz

Hi little princess... Everyone here has given you the tools to stay the course and be yourself. Sometimes it seems easier to go along with the crowd and give in to their wants and attitudes. But you know in your heart that you're living a life pleasing to God so stay strong.
Using words at times cannot overcome the objectives and battles can be fought...so show God's love in the ways of kindness and caring and internal prayer if you have to.
Your family knows exactly who you are and where you stand. You do not have to defend yourself... God will be there for you. Instead, step back and look for the joy or the things that will lift your spirits...They will see how you handle life and in the long run, will see that God's way is better.
You are such a sweetheart and God is right there with you teaching you His ways,
What a Blessing,
Lee

I just now came over here to read some prayer requests and saw that you had posted one. I was so concerned and worried about what it could possibly be. So, I clicked on it and read your problem. Turns out, that you have the same problem that Jesus did .....and still does. If you think about it, it's really not your problem at all. It's His! You're just trying to take care of it for Him. :wink: People didn't want Jesus while He was living on the earth and they still don't want Him messing up their darkness now. People don't want to change because they have never seen the light and don't realize that it's better than the dark. They need the light and Jesus knows it and chose you to be around the "dark people" for Him so HE can shine....not you. Takes a load of stress off your shoulders doesn't it? You don't have to do anything to change your family except be willing. God can do a great deal of things through a willing person.

This is also a growing experience Tiffany. Think about it. You are looking into job situations where you can witness to people and help them, etc. What you learn now, in this situation (and many more to come), is going to strengthen you and give you wisdom in knowing exactly what to ask God for when dealing with people like this in the future. Your family will mostlikely be the nicest sinners you'll ever have to deal with because they love you. Everyone else out in the world won't know you at all and probably won't treat you so well when you live for Jesus in front of them. God is taking it easy on you now and letting you "learn the ropes" while dealing with your loving family. Just think, in the process of you learning, your family will be saved!

So really, there's good news all around! You're gonna' learn to save people in the future and your family will be saved in the process! Yea!

Jennifer

[size=18][/size]Dear Tiffany:
I know what you mean about hating confrontations and criticism. I pray for God to make me willing to yield to the Holy Spirit to do whatever He wants. Sometimes we need to respond and sometimes we just need to pray for the person.

Praying for you and your Dad

Love in Christ,
April

thanks you guys Cheryl you are a special person. thanks for that. i'll keep that in mind when the opporunity arises. I'm getting better thanks for your prayers and beautiful encouraging words

Tiffany, sometimes its more than you can handle without saying anyting. I have found myself in that very same situation.My brother and I were talkng on the phone the other night and I mentioned something from church. He said, I didn't know you were into God and all that. I haven't seen this brother in 10 years because he lives in England and I won't go there. So he really doesn't know anything about my day to day life. I moved to another state with my husband while my brother was still in school. You get the idea that he doesn't really know me right? He said, I just don't get it. No offense or anything, but I think its just a bunch of hooey. I asked him if he still believed in God, and he said yes, just not going to church. I asked him if he ever talked to God at any time other than when he was in trouble. He told me he usually didn't even think about it. I asked him if his kids felt the same way and he said he guessed so. So I told him that I dearly hoped that God didn't forget about him too because I would miss him in heaven. I told him that I wouldn't preach to him because I didn't want him to stop talking to me, but that I would be praying because I didn't want God to forget about him the way that he forgot about God. I ended the conversation there. Yesterday we were on yahoo chatting and he brought the subject up and started asking me questions. I answered his questions and didn't offer anything more than what he asked. He asked me why I wasn't preaching at him and I told him that it was his decision to turn his back on God and only he could change that decision. But that I would continue to pray for him. Again I ended the conversation without pushing. He called me today again and was asking me a ton of questions...lol. I asked him if they didn't have any churches in england...lol. I told him to go there and get his questions answered, unless he was afraid of confessing. When my mother remarried, she converted to Catholic so they were all raised in that religion. I told him I could certainly understand his cowardice in confessing his life to a priest. Right off the bat he informed me that he was not a coward and wasn't afraid of anything. I can't wait to see what he says next!
All I can tell you is that when you are in your home, you should be yourself. If they don't like it they can leave. If you speak of religion and they roll their eyes, let them know that you will pray that when He is needed, God won't just stand there and roll His eyes back. Giving them something to think about without preaching works best for me.
Whatever you do, come here whenever you feel down like this and let us pray you right out of your funk! I know you have a true heart for God, and so does He!
Love ya girlfriend. C

Tiff, the Devil tries to cower us by use of those we love. Don't give in to those feelings of anger or hatred or whatever. Instead say a small prayer that these people will one day see the Light and remember how hard you tried to it to them. Don't change yourself. You know Jesus as our Gentle Saviour and have promised to follow Him if He will lead us. Keep that promise. You don't have to make it a public thing - it is private. They (those non-believers) will not win because you 'get it'. We love you, my phriend. Vent away.

I'll be praying for you Tiff.....I know it's frustrating when you feel the way you do, but just be yourself anyway (I know that's easier said than done). All you can do is pray for your relatives and try to be the example that God would have you to be. Even if they never come around, you'll know that you portrayed yourself in an honest way and did what you could to show them an example of how a Christian should be.

It will come back around Tiff - it always does. Once the Holy Spirit indwells us we may have days when we feel lost, but our faith and love of God take over again and we are right back on the path. Family can do that to you - there's one or some in every family. I just smile and keep on talking - let them be the one to be mad or leave the room. Because I always hope that this time they won't do that - that they'll listen and HEAR and things will be different for them forever. So I'll pray for you and ask God to ease your troubled heart and give you peace.