ADisciple

KC, I've also been through divorce (thankfully, it was just as simple as sending him the paperwork to sign and mail off ... no court involvement necessary). I will confess I royally messed up with that first marriage. I was young and wasn't thinking at all. He ruined my credit (from A1 to bankruptcy) in just 5 short months. Among other things, the last straw was finding conversations between him and a girl online ... about how he wanted to be with her etc etc. I considered that cheating on me. I left. Due to factors I won't go into, it was 11 years before I was able to get a divorce. For 10 of those years, I was with another man ... with whom we both considered ourselves married (we are now officially married). Funny thing ... just a few days ago, I got down on my knees and asked God's forgiveness for how I handled my first marriage (from beginning to end). My current husband and I have been through "heck and back" over the now 13 years we have been together ... and we have stayed true, faithful, and supportive of one another. I consider this my first marriage (for the actual first one was a 5 month farce in my book). Although, I think God sees that differently! LOL Hence why I was asking for his forgiveness for my idiocy. =) I didn't mean to hijack your thread, KC ... but just wanted to let you know that you are definitely not alone when it comes to divorce and wanting to please our God. HUGS from a fellow NC-er. =)

Organic Medicine, Your replies to my post and to Bethany's post were .... well, awesome. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts/advice. I learned a lot from both replies.

Well done! I often wondered about those prefaces in the Psalms, but I hadn't gotten that far down my research-to-do list to find out. Thanks so much for your hard work. Love learning new things.

My strong suggestion is to examine the life, work, and words of Jesus Christ as foundational. There is no Christianity apart from the person of Jesus, and He left a rock solid testimony in the New Testament writings concerning Himself. The evils of certain church organizations through the centuries, supposedly in the name of Jesus, show what they really are in comparison to Jesus Himself and their lack of real love. Jesus then sent the Holy Spirit in His place (John chapters 14-17) so that we would always have His very presence with us. It is the person of God the Holy Spirit who assures you that you are in the faith and secre in your relationship with Jesus Christ. Perfect love casts out ALL fear, and the love of Holy Spirit is perfect and strong! draw near to Him and He draws near to you. It is ALL about an abiding and intimate relationship with the living God. Everything else falls into place out of the strength and power of relationship. Blessings, Andy Andy, You have provided an awesome answer! And it was something I needed to hear again ... so thank you so very much for taking the time to write it out. I've only become a true believer in the last 1.5 years ... so I do have some personal "kinks" to work out (old habits, etc). I think that is where the "fear" is coming from mostly. Time, prayer, and further Scriptural study, all via the Holy Spirit, will heal me of this lingering fear.

Hall7, I will seek out those videos tonight after church. Thank you.

There's a good book called "heaven is real", it's about a child who went to heaven and came back. Inspiring true story . I'm hesitant about those books. I have the recent famous one about the Doctor who saw heaven also. I just don't know if they can be believed.

Psalms Chapter 31. 1-3 In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness . 2 Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me. 3 For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me. Deuteronomy 31:8 8 The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged Love Nigel. Awesome ... thanks, Nigel.

Despite my strong belief in God and our Savior ... there is a small iota of a percentage within me that fears that all of this is all ... I don't want to say "a joke" or "fake", but that Christianity really did start as a way to control the people and it took off on its own. But then again, there is so much historical and archeological evidence that events and people of the Bible existed. That's what I fear ... that when we die .. there really isn't a God or heaven. And I hate that fear so much.

This thread has helped me better understand Isaiah 58. It's my understanding that fasting isn't just about denying onesself ... If you abstain from food for 3 days (for example), then you are to take that food you would have eaten and give it to someone who is truly starving. If you go clothes shopping for yourself more than you should and you want to "fast" from that ... than go and buy clothing for that family down the street who are wearing rags. Love your neighbor as you love yourself = one of 2 commandments that Jesus gave us. By giving up something (fasting) ... and giving that something to someone else who truly needs it ... I think that is the point of Isaiah 58 ... and the point of fasting in general. A lot of Christians use Lent as a time to give up something during the Lenten season ... but fasting should be a year-round endevour. This is something I need to work on myself.