LynD

Hi Seeker. I struggle myself with understanding the Word sometimes. But what happens is I will pray and ask Him to help me understand, and let it go. If He thinks its of vital importance for me at that time, He will usually find a way to speak to me and give me some answers. I've had Him speak to me through song, tv, church, other people etc. One thing I have noticed though, is often God will speak to me using my own thoughts. For instance, I'll be mulling over something, and in my own voice, He will interject a thought that is totally not my way of thinking. It actually makes me go "whoa, okay. I would never think like that, or choose that, etc. So it must be God."(As long as it lines up w/ the Word) Personally I think if God's voice voice boomed down from heaven it would freak most of us out. He uses our concious, too, but usually if we aren't raised as a christian, that gets muddied up to some degree. As someone posted earlier, when we become a christian, the devil isn't happy about it, and for some he will do everything to make you stop believing. It happened to me. Just like when I was delivered fom alcoholism, which happened before I got saved, I was all excited and thought my life would be so great now that I didn't drink anymore. Fell off that pink cloud, really hard too. I came to realize how messed up my life really was, and that I had alot to make up for. Don't be so hard on yourself, we can be our own worst enemies sometimes. I too take alot of comfort in King David. He messed up badly, but he still was a man after God's own heart. In the NT, Peter Denied Jesus three times, but became the rock the church was founded on. Keep seeking Him, and you will find Him. If yu miss Him, don't worry, He knows where you are, He'll find you. I'll keep you in my prayers. P.S. What translation do you use? If English is your second lang. (which I wouldn't have known, nice job.) a different translation may help, such as New Living Translation.

Thanks for all the replies, I appreciate it. I've done most of what's been posted here, and gotten some advice from my Pastor and his wife, which I disagreed with. I think part of the prolem is, I've always have the 'fixer' mentality since my childhood, so I don't know what I should do, and what I should leave up to God, if that makes sense. I have this voice in my head say "Maybe I could do this, or that, or I haven't done enough, I need to do do do do...." Its not that I don't have faith in God, but I also know we are supposed to cooperate with Him, and I'm not sue exactly how much I should be doing you know?

Hi everyone. After posting in some other threads I feel comfortable enough to do this. I am a married woman with a 16 yr old son. I came to Christ about 6 yrs ago. I have been attending church and doing my best to live for God, athough I still have some things I am dealing with. Right now we are on the verge of losing our home. I was out of work for a while due to an illness, and was recieveing ssi. Recently, hubby got a raise, and although I am grateful it is not enough to cover what we have lost. We lost insurance throught he state, fuel assitance and my ssi. I have been looking for work, but have not found a job, but I have been selling candles and babysitting to earn some cash. Hubby thinks because he works a 40 hour a week job, that is enough. Whenever we have a problem, it all comes down on me to fix it. I am the one aways calling to borrow money for groceries and whatnot when the checks don't last. When I have asked him about doing more, his response is "I have a job, I'm doing my part." He comes home from work and either plays on the computer all night, goes to visit our neighbors, or falls asleep on the couch for a few hours. He gets mad becasue I tell him all the money is going to bills. (Welcome to the land of grownups). He racked up four grand in credit cards without my knowledge, and now lawyers are calling. He was called for jury duty twice in the last few months and has not gone. Again last night he called me "no fun anymore" because I did not laugh at a commercial I thought was innapropriate. Thats not the first time either. The worst is I see my son turning into his dad, and I don't want that. My husband will not go to church with me. He went once, but now tells me "I'm not the church going type." Since he won't go, my son doesn't think he should have to go either. I am at my wits end here. Any help is appreciated. I'm sorry, I don't know how this got posted 3 times. Computer got stuck I think. Could someone remove the other 2?

I don't think CCM is evil. And just because a song doesn't have the word Jesus in it doesn't make it ungodly. There are quite a few songs that have ministered to me through musicians sharing things they have gone through. Particularly Jeremy Camp and some of his songs about losing his first wife to cancer. Helped me get through the death of my mom, as did Kathy Tricolli's Goodbye for Now. They weren't praise and worship, but they ministered hope through Christ. I like to look at it as "musical testimonies". I often use pronouns when I talk about God. Does that make my testimonies an less truthful or water it down? I don't think so.

Well, I haven't been a teen for a long time, however I do enjoy most contemporary christian music. IMO< if we are worshipping the Lord, and have a right heart, does it really matter what kind of music it is? He gave us music, and there are many examples of music worship in the Bible. We can change the method over time, as long as we don't change the message. I'd like to know why he thinks its "unchristian." I think anything that can get thousands of kids together to worship God is pleasing to Him, compared to what else they could be doing.

Somehow terter, I wouldn't depend on what current prophets are saying, because the canon of the bible, in my view at any rate, is locked and the enemy has no show of speeding up or slowing down God's plan for the future, and as Nebula said earlier, all we can do is pray that God will be merciful and just in His protection of His saints. The church leaders in the last decade have watered the gospel down so much, that even some christians, are afraid of hearing the truth and are trying to change the word of God so it will fit into their own ideological theories. They are afraid of sound doctrine as Paul mentioned in his letters to Timothy. Whether we are one, ten or a hundred years away from the last and terrible day of the Lord, the outcome will remain as God said it would be. have a blessed day in our Lord, eric. Amen brother You said it very well, we never rely on people what they say as long as its not in the Bible. How many so called prophets told us before what can happen in the future? Only God knows trhe future and as a born again Christian you are safe in His Hands and His time for whatever comes is perfect time. Its always time to BE ready to meet the Lord, nobody is garanteed for tomorow, but when we see Him nobody knows! God gave us signs to look for in Mathew 24, why not read that? You can never go wrong by reading the Bible I am very leary of 'prophets' and prophetic ministry. I do believe that God is speaking, however not everything that happens is a sign from God. We still live on the earth, and stuff happens. I have heard of those who say they know the day/year jesus is coming, and my question would be... What makes you more important than Jesus? The Bible clearly states that not even He knows when He will return. I also don't like tv prophets using disasters to get ratings, saying they prophesied this or that. Here's some definitions I've found from a bible dictionary- PROPH'ESY-1.To utter predictions. In Scripture, to preach; to instruct in religious doctrines; to interpret or explain Scripture or religious subjects; to exhort. 1 Cor 13. Ezek 37. Many have forgotten the second part of that definition. I do know there were many prophets in the Bible, and I believe there are genuine prophets today, however, preaching continual doom and gloom does nothing for the kingdom, except scare the wits out of people. Especially if prophecy is being preached to people who know nothing of God and His word. I also am leary about peopple who are fascinated by end times/tribulation stuff. It scares me they are so enamored by what the devil is going to do, when they could be focused on praying for revival and more souls to be saved. Many christians hear these prophecies and pray "Come Lord Jesus!!!" IMO, that's a bit selfish. I hope the Lord tarries. Why? Because there are still way too many people going to h*ll, including some of my loved ones who have not given thier life to Christ yet.

While I don't think Chrsitians are yet being marginalized, I do think we no longer have the same respect we once did. This is something I posted on another website I belong to. "In today's world, it's okay to be anything but a christian. In the world, there is a 'if it feels good do it' attitude. Morality is based on a person's individual views, not the basics of right and wrong. People don't like christianty because it is about morality, loving one another, giving, and selflessness, and worshipping God, not ourselves. Most people today want to get to the top and don't care who they step on on the way up. I have also found that many liberals, who say "Its okay to be whoever/whatever you want and we'll accept you" but when confronted by someone who's beliefs are different or when challenged they can become some of the most rude, hateful people around." At one time in the US christians were the dominant religion, and that fact is slowly changing.

Great topic! This is something I've been thinking about myself. Jesus did not come to set up an 'earthly' kingdom. But we do live in the the world, so I believe we do have a responsibility to pray for our leaders, situations, etc. I see many churches jumping on the political bandwagon just to increase thier church membership. The only thing I do disagree with somewhat is our rights as a christian. I believe we have to fight for them. We will never win anyone to Christ if we can't talk about Christ. I don't want this country to end up like those who have to have secret home churches and such. Someone else posted the say 'so heavenly minded, you are no earthly good'. That's where balance comes in, and we need to seek God to help us find our balance. I believe that is between an individual and God too. Just because one does or does not do this that and the other, doesn't mean it is the same for everyone else. Some are anointed to work on thier city council, some aren't, some are anointed to coach little league, some aren't. But we always need to seek God and His will first, before we do anything.