notsolostsoul

I know it was frowned upon in the Bible, but is it okay now to sell items in church. To use the Lord's house to sell Shirts and Purses? I think I would feel a bit better if they sold Bibles or religious items. I don't know, am I the only one that feels this is wrong?

I think the ultimate sin is to have gotten to know Christ but then choose to not believe in him anymore and shut yourself from hearing, feeling or thinking of him anymore. Meaning you will never return, never repent and truly just remove him from your spirit. Meaning you know him, know his ways and purposely just refuse him. If you return, he will forgive. Of course knowing him and knowing to come back means to repent, see his ways and not try and work for your own. We all may have struggled with this time and time again. I still do. I will admit I have tried shutting him out, but he won't let me go. He has proven this over and over to me. As for unbelievers, many might just not know him and without knowing him you can not commit this sin against him. I even believe Atheist know him or have encountered him but somewhere got hurt, were incorrectly taught, or were disappointed from not truly having a strong bond or understanding of him. They still have not committed this sin because they do not know him. This may cause them to commit others sins, but we all commit sin. He will get to them when he needs to. Janyeseek2, if you still are seeking him, he communicates to you through the Holy Spirit. So accept that you have passed this lesson, you can improve your grade (we all can), but you have many more chapters, lessons and blessings awaiting you as you build your relationship with him. He is there, that's why you are here. Forgive yourself, he has already forgiven you. Let that fear go. Now he is just waiting on you to strengthen your relationship with him. Only ones he cannot forgive are those who choose to not be forgiven.

I would hope that our loving Father did not create us to just condemn us or place us in hellfire. (Catholic Flashback, wipes sweat off forehead) Then what is the point in giving lfe? Rethorial question. Maybe the Story of Job is just that, a STORY. One to teach us to trust in God, to not think we know God from what we are taught alone (error from both Job and his friends), but to stand by him and let him teach and show us his reasonings and purpose. Maybe it's not meant to get too deep. To overthink. Thank you Kwikphilly for the reminder and clarification. Thank you All for your incite and messages. I appreciate all of it. I appreciate you All. God Bless Us All!!!!

I totally understand that some of the most precious lessons are learned through pain. I have been fortunate enough to learn some tough ones. I also realize that my way of thinking or being may have hindered my growth and time to learn. However, in this story of Job, here was a man living rightly, not perfect but rightly, and because Satan wanted to test, boast, or attempt to prove God and man would fail he made a wager, and God accepted. Then poor Job had to endure, lost, confusion, doubt and we can only image what other afflictions, yes brought on by Satan, but ALLOWED by God. So I get that Parents at times use tough love or allow for kids to go scrape up a few knees, but in this particular story, Job was not being a purposely disobedient child. According to God he was doing pretty well. So why would this loving God inflict or unleash Satan upon him. Was it for God to prove himself right? Guess I just sympathize with Job!

Maybe Satan went to God with the wrong wager? Maybe he should of said if a man is giving everything will they then need to praise or pray to God? This is probably why God ALLOWS bad to happen to good people, not sinless, but good people. If they are not faced with anything it would be easier to forget him. Please remember I said these are things that don't sit well with me. I am not insisting any of it is right or wrong. I was in fact asking in hopes God would answer. He has through you all giving me different perspectives. I appreciate you all for your interpretations and explanations. I'm just trying to understand why would a loving God ALLOW torment of good or even innocent, in the case of Jesus, to prove to Satan or anyone else that he is Great and works for HIS greater good. This is why I say it seems rather selfish. Once again I'm not attacking God, just trying to understand him better. Can't get to know him if I ask him no questions. God ALLOW Satan to attack us, Why?

This is only in response to your question of how i came up with it being a bet. Kwikphilly Bet-An agreement usually between two parties that the one who has made an incorrect prediction about an uncertain outcome will forfeit something stipulated to the other. Satan brought God a bet: Job 2 4-6 Skin for skin!” Satan replied. “A man will give all he has for his own life. 5 But now stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse you to your face" 6 The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, he is in your hands;" but you must spare his life.” God agreed! The bet began.

How do I delete my account? Thank you MissMuffet and all of you. Worthy is a great site filled with wonderful and knowledgeable individuals. I appreciate your acceptance and kindness. I wish you all the best. May Christ continue to bless you. To newbies and visitors, you are in good company here at Worthy. Thanks again, Blessings

Why would God mess up the life of a good man he himself favored, all for a bet? Why does God believe that replacing in abundance what was lost fulfills the actual lost? In particular, how does he figure replacing the lost kids with new kids is better? Does God truly care so little for man that he allows him to be ruined and broken and then just be like oh well here, here are some new ones, all is well again. How is this loving, kind, just or righteous? It seems more selfish and cruel. It was all for a bet. Can anyone explain?

To put it simple, SEEK HIM, SPEAK TO HIM, BE OPEN WITH HIM AND TO HIM. He is like the best friend you could ever imagine. First you must introduce yourself to him, build YOUR relationship with him and he will be just as open with you as you are with him. Good thing is he has been waiting for you to approach him, to let him know you want a relationship with him. He don't care what you may have done in the past, he don't care if you call yourself Christian or non believer. He just wants you to Seek Him. With this post you have already started, so at this point just keep on and like with any other relationship that you build, communication will become easier as long as your open to hearing him. He uses all of us and everything to deliver messages or answers, but to surely know it's from him is when he speaks to your spirit.

Thank you OneLight. You have just giving me confirmation, and a bit more strength. ?

Thank you Omegaman 3.0

I want to also. I believe he wants me to. However experience so many troubles and then it makes me wonder. I have faith, I enjoy doing works, but why am I hit with so much turmoil and where is God when I need him? Sometimes I just get so tired, I wonder if the works are worth it? Sorry for venting. I just wish I had a clear answer sometimes.

Thank you OneLight I guess what I'm trying to understand is, if we through faith can get Grace, why should we do works besides just being good people? Works would not benefit nor tarnish our Grace, so why should we do Works?

If Grace has no basis in works, then why is Faith without Works dead? Then what is the point of doing work?

Have you ever gotten to a point where you question: "Am I believing in God too much? As if I know it all and can predict his workings. Should anyone become this cocky in God?

So God has made promises to me after a bad situation. At first I doubted it was him but he gave persistent confirmation through countless messages, people and situations. So once I confirmed it with his word I believed wholeheartedly that he would remain true to his word. However for years now he has done nothing. Well actually he has allowed for the things he told me wouldn't prosper to prosper. So what do you do when God blatantly lies to you? First I would like to thank everyone for their replies and information. I really do appreciate it. Miss muffet and Churchmouse to answer your questions of how do I know it was God and if he was precise with his promises? They are yes he was very detailed in his promises and the final confirmation was received through his words, in Scripture. Some of it was through people that I know, through others I don't know. Some came from church services and some even came through as God was using me to deliver messages to others all the while he also verified for me. So I know they are his promises. Crazy thing is I didn't necessarily ask him for these promises. I was actually seeking him to verify that I had done things in accordance with his word. He confirmed yes and then he made stated his promises to me. Telling me don't worry it is already done. Be still and all you are asking for shall be taking care of. Now I may be having issues with timing, but then again me seeking advice here might be included in his timing. He does work it all out for his glory and may be I'm here to receive messages (which i have) as well as deliver some. Kwikphilly, I also want to thank you because you have also helped to confirm somethings for me. Even though your delivery was a bit harsh and accussatory. Please let me explain. I am not trying to be difficult. Just somethings in your reply could have been left out. Like when said "You speak as though you once believed the word of God" that was fine but you could leave out "this doesn't mean that you ever had wisdom or understanding though" I believe everyone's relationship with God is their own personal relationship. God may reveal some Wisdom to you and reveal different Wisdom to me. We should never assume we have more wisdom than anyone else. Also my belief, no MAN has the Wisdom of God or the Understanding of God. Only God has that and only he can deliver it to individuals as he sees fit and in accordance with his plan in his timing. Granted you do say there are many variables. This is why you should not assume nor question someone's wisdom of God. Or mention anything of them having a carnal mind. If you do not know these variables you should not assume you do. Then you go further on to ask and say, "Have you ever had a relationship with God..... I wouldn't think you may have because you could never make such a statement." Well it's a good thing that I do have a relationship with God and you have actually prove it to be much stronger than I thought (So I thank you). However if I was someone seeking to develop a relationship or question a very weakened relationship you with your harsh accusatory words might have deterred me from every seeking him again. We must be careful in how we introduce people seeking God to God. We just give referrals and testimonials. We should not try and dictate how their relationship is. It's Jesus' job to Sheppard them to God. We just introduce them to Jesus. Don't be like Job's friends and in the process of trying to help actually cause more damage. I am not trying to tell you what to do. Just trying to get you to see it in a different way. Me must remain humble, or we may become the false prophets that we are warned against. As for me questioning God. Even Jesus questioned him. "Father why have you forsaken me?" We are MAN and fall short all the time and we will have times where we question what we do not understand. As mentioned before I am thankful for all the replies. Even where some may see this as a negative experience, I don't and actually have received a lot of beneficial conformation from God. Thank you all.