Descision?

[nebula]

Hey, Yomo!

It's funny . . . but those of us who "grew up Christian" have to go through a time of knowing what it is to be separate from God for a season in order for our relationship with God to truly be strengthened. I know this sounds weird, but I have found this to be true in my life and that of others.

I think your experience is just coming earlier than mine did!

I am thinking that if you feel relieved at the thought of living apart from God, that shows your struggle is over your relationship with God in the first place. It's not that it's better, really, you are just struggling with this.

When I went through my time, I kept thinking of Peter's words: "Lord, to whom shall we go?"

I thought of those times I really felt the Lord's presence strong in and around me, and I considered: could any other experience on the planet compare to this?

Look through the Psalms. Have you noticed that most of them are about crying out to God in pain? "How long, O Lord?" "Why ...?" "Help...!" "Have You forsaken me?"

You aren't alone, Yomo. We all go through these times of dryness of faith. Work thorugh it. I mean, if you can think of this is: OK, I'm going through a spiritual desert right now. God means to bring me through it, I just need to keep walking, seeking Him for water, trust that He's here even if I don't feel it. . . . - it will be less frightening.

There's a lot of beauty in the desert - you just need to learn to see it. I know it's tough . . . believe me! I've been there enough! But once you see it - AH!

God bless and keep you, Yomo!

[nebula]

ONe time when I was going to college and those wicked professors kept filling my head with evolution and the big band and such,

What's wrong with big bands?

I believe he clicked "d" when he meant "g" -

So that should be "big bang".

[Guest Zayit]

What's wrong with big bands?

I was wondering the same thing, personally I like Glenn Miller and Benny Goodman.

Just kidding WSB, thanks for the laugh, sometimes typos uplift!

Neb, I think Geri realized that.

[Gerioke]

What's wrong with big bands?

I was wondering the same thing, personally I like Glenn Miller and Benny Goodman.

Just kidding WSB, thanks for the laugh, sometimes typos uplift!

Neb, I think Geri realized that.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'm glad somebody finally understands my sense of humor. Don't always appreciate but at least you understand it.

[yomotalking]

When I get depressed ( which is quite frequently these days) I come onto worthy and test everybodys grace levels. It is quite encourageing to see that I'm not the only over-opinionated, selfish, screwed up wretch of a sinner in this world.

You are a positive influence on worthy. I don't think you have to worry about what God thinks about you. If I can read your posts and smile, I'm sure God's heart is melting.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks, Gerioke!

Yomo,

I always found it dangerous to rely on my feelings when it comes to my relationship with God. 

As God's word says, we are to live by faith, not by sight.

I love this verse:

Galatians 2:20

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

When we become christians, God works in us in order for us to grow in Him so that we get to know Him, not to know of Him, but to really know Him. That time of training requires us to put our trust in Him.

God knows exactly what we need to grow in Him. He will use all types of situations for us to learn to trust Him and not to trust in the world.

Whatever circumstances you find yourself in, be assured that God is in them with you and His plans for you are the best (Jeremiah 29:11 - For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.)

Now, it is up to us to believe in Him and let Him work in us to transform us, or not to believe in Him and turn away from Him. But then when we turn away from Him, we turn toward His enemy who will be glad to see you giving up on God.

If you feel like being a non-christian is better than being a christian, then you are being deceived because, as God says, all pleasures of this world will fade away.

God said He will never leave you, so if you feel He is not there, it is just a feeling but not the truth. Sometimes God allow you to feel like that to build up your faith, to build your perseverance, to strengthen you.

You need to stand on the Word of God and decide you are going to believe it.

Beside God there is nothing, all is vanity, all is futile, all is worthless.

Also, when we accept Jesus as our Savior and our Lord, then we renounce living for ourselves, we have now decided to live for Him and Him only.

Yomo, keep your eyes on Jesus, not on your feelings, not on how you would like things to turn out, your life to be, your friends to be, the size of your wallet, the amount of your possessions, .....

When Peter started to look around him, at the wind and the waves, instead of keeping his eyes on Jesus, then he sank!

You say:

My realtionship with God is not making me happy at the mo.

Who said following Christ was going to be easy?

But I know for sure, following Christ is the best thing you can do. There will be hardships and trials in the way, but in the end you will no longer be a slave to the desires of your flesh, but you will be free in the Spirit.

You said:

Shall I just enjoy life, and forget about all my troubles.....or struggle along as a Christian?

The joy you want to experience will only be temporary and shallow, but if you put your trust in Him and allow Him to work in you, your joy will be everlasting and deep.

Many people come to Christ only accepting Him as their Savior, but we also need to accept Him as our Lord, because we cannot grow in Him and know Him if we only accept Him as our Savior and continue to live our own self-gratifying life. This is impossible.

Lastly, you said:

If I do, reject all.....will I have lost my Salavation?

If you sincerely accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, then you will not lose your salvation. God has adopted you. He has made you His daughter and will always recognize you as such. He promised to never leave you nor forsake you.

This is like my children, they will always be my children even if they run away from home, from me.

Yomo, being in God's arms is the best place to be, but if you want to wonder away from Him, He will not stop you. He will be sad, but He loves you so much that He will let you go and will wait for you to come back to Him, with His arms wide open.

Keep your eyes on Jesus!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I will.

Someone asked me what scared me, and it was the thing that one of them saying that not all believers made it to heaven.

I also read a book about hell last year, or early this year, and in this book, the author is taken into hell, and Jesus takes her around it, and He shows her Christians, who once were really "going for God!!!!"

I think they turned away from God.....but what about me?

If they are really strong, then they fail, and I'm failing............

Will I make Heaven????

[Abigailwc]

I will.

Someone asked me what scared me, and it was the thing that one of them saying that not all believers made it to heaven.

I also read a book about hell last year, or early this year, and in this book, the author is taken into hell, and Jesus takes  her around it, and He shows her Christians, who once were really "going for God!!!!"

I think they turned away from God.....but what about me?

If they are really strong, then they fail, and I'm failing............

Will I make Heaven????

Yomo, stand on the promises of God. If He said He will never leave you nor forsake you, then you are His.

[Trust & Obey]

In my darkest hours this is what I fall back on:

Joh 6:66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

Joh 6:67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?

Joh 6:68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

[Micah68]

It's so easy to let your mind dwell on negative thoughts.Don't do it. When you find your mind wandering down that dark and dreary path to negativity, think of something else. There's a song like that. It's about being on the wrong train and when you find yourself in that position, just get a transfer. If you find some Scriptures that help you, think on those Scriptures. Personally, I like Hebrews 12:12 because I can see the picture in my head and it's kind of funny. It says, Wherefore life up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees. Doesn't that just look like a person who is depressed? So, get a transfer. Lift up those feeble knees. Don't let those hands hang down. Read an encouraging story. Find something uplifting. There are times to be serious and other times to try to encourage yourself. The Scripture says that David encouraged himself in the Lord. That means that he too felt discouraged because of life's circumstances and he had to force himself to be encouraged. Remember, If God be for us, who can be against us? God is bigger and stronger than all of those thoughts that want to drag you down. We have to be serious about God but satan would like nothing better than to constantly have us down in the dumps. Don't let that happen!

Another thing that I do sometimes with someone that I love who gets discouraged is remind that person about Eyeore (spelling?) Did you ever watch Winnie the Pooh? Eyeore was always sad. One time we even watched it again (we're in our 50's!) and just seeing how Eyeore was acting made this person break out into laughter.

Finally, remember James 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. We all go through trials. This is nothing new to anyone. But we have to learn how to come up out of them a better person having endured and become stronger. God's intent is always, always to help us to get closer to Him and come up higher.

[yomotalking]

...........not all believers will make it to Heaven...........

Is this true.......?

[keslc]

Hey, Yomo!

It's funny . . . but those of us who "grew up Christian" have to go through a time of knowing what it is to be separate from God for a season in order for our relationship with God to truly be strengthened.  I know this sounds weird, but I have found this to be true in my life and that of others.

I think your experience is just coming earlier than mine did!

I am thinking that if you feel relieved at the thought of living apart from God, that shows your struggle is over your relationship with God in the first place.  It's not that it's better, really,  you are just struggling with this.

When I went through my time, I kept thinking of Peter's words: "Lord, to whom shall we go?" 

I thought of those times I really felt the Lord's presence strong in and around me, and I considered: could any other experience on the planet compare to this?

Look through the Psalms.  Have you noticed that most of them are about crying out to God in pain? "How long, O Lord?"  "Why ...?"  "Help...!"  "Have You forsaken me?"

You aren't alone, Yomo.  We all go through these times of dryness of faith.  Work thorugh it.  I mean, if you can think of this is: OK, I'm going through a spiritual desert right now.  God means to bring me through it, I just need to keep walking, seeking Him for water, trust that He's here even if I don't feel it. . . . - it will be less frightening.

There's a lot of beauty in the desert - you just need to learn to see it.  I know it's tough . . . believe me!  I've been there enough!  But once you see it - AH!

God bless and keep you, Yomo!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Let me just second that! (I've been gone for quite a while and just came back to Worthy) Anyway, I was raised in a christian home (my parents are ministers) and I went through the "desert" when I was 13. I read Proverbs at that time and even though I didn't "feel God", eventually, my heart was softened enough for me to feel Him again. I had to force myself to say, "I believe".

God will not leave you, but sometimes you can walk away from Him and that is why He seems far away. Even if it seems pointless and stupid, you have to communicate with Him through reading His word (even if you don't get it right now) and by praying and listening.

He loves you, SO MUCH, He loves you!