Truth is hard to swallow

[alanraj]

Do it truthfully...The Lord has his eyes on you

[apothanein kerdos]

The last one I would just call the pastor that night, tell him what happened, and skip the study in the morning. God wants us to rest as much as He wants us to study. The Bible, whilst important, is not worth losing much needed sleep over. To me, it's the equivalent to asking, "Your child has a baseball game on Wednesday night and you have a Bible study...which one do you attend?" The church answer is the Bible study, the biblical answer is the game.

[Leonard]

Sorta' depends...... If the voice told me to 'go to Kenya' I'd "rebuke that lying devil." BUT.... if it said "Go be a missionary in Guadelajara," I'd praise the Lord and START PACKING!

Edited February 16, 2006 by Leonard

[kittylover0991]

For the first question, I wouldn't leave right away or start making arrangments. I answered that I would talk with my pastor so that he could pray with me about it. I don't want to move unless I were to know for sure it is the Lord. For me, I want to be a missionary and have actually convinced myself in the past that that is waht God wanted for the rest of my life. tehe...

One day on my school bus, I had opened up to Acts and while doing my devotion, the Lord used a verse to show me that I need to wait on Him to tell me and know for sure, and just to rest on Him. Therefore, I stick with that I would talk to my pastor so he could pray with me about it

As for a friend in need, I would first pray about it, and see if the Lord could use me to help that friend right away. The Lord might show me that I shoudl get some friends together and help that person out. It all depends on the situation and what God says.

Finally, as for the bible study, I said "Sleep and get a good breakfast...trust on God's Strength and proceed" because I know that the bible says to seek God early. "Oh God thou art my God, early will I see thee..." Psalm 63:1. I would say that you shouldnt' put it off because you are tired as God coudl really bless through that. The bible says that we are to meditate on his word day and night. That question is basically the same as "If I worked until 11pm saturday night, shoudl I go church?, blow it off?... etc". God's Word is important. The bible says we need to sleep and that we need rest, however, the bible also says we need to be studying His Word

By the way, thankyou for this awesome poll

With sisterly love in Christ Jesus,

Crystal

[Jadzia44]

As far as the missonary work is concerened. Even if I was absoultely postive God wanted me to go off somewhere I would always talk to my pastor first. God has appointed my pastor as the shephard of our flock and I would always ask his advise in any major decision I made. For example my husband has a Christian band and we had been asked to led worship at several churches outside our denomination. We prayed about it and then went to our pastor. We of course was given our pastor's blessings but I felt so much better knowing that we had discussed it with my pastor. If iwas called by God to a mission field (outside of the home mission field) I would talk it over with my pastor if for nothing else for him to pray for us, over advise. He may be even to help with the financing of such an undertaking or over ways to help raise the funds to go.

As far as helping someone in need. Yes, I would pray first but this needs action not just prayer unfortunately I am not in a postion to help someone financially. I am barely hanging on myself. Id o know that if I prayed about it that God could show me ways that I could help this person. I know that a friend of mine at church was looking around her house one day and noticed some common household products that she feltGod was telling her to bag up and bring to me. She did not hvae any money to help us but prayed and God showed her that in her house she had the very things we were needing and had been praying for but this started with prayer. So my answer would have to be pray although the wording on the poll is exact. I definatly could not do it on my own.

Lastly, if I was up till late and got up for Bible study it would do me no good. I would be tired and compacted by my ADD the lesson would not even make since to me. Last Sunday I did miss church. My husband was driving all night back home and I sat on the phone and talked to him all the way home because I was afraid he would fall asleep. He didnot get home till almost 6 am and there was no way I was going to be able to get up at 9. I hated to miss but I also know that if I had gone I woul dhave slept through the service and then I would be distracting someone else on top of not paying attention.

[Iryssa]

I agree with Jadzia on pretty much everything...also, I don't think God minds all that much if we miss church occasionally. I certainly don't agree with people who have a "Lone Ranger" philosophy about the Christian life, but I don't think going to church every Sunday or making it toevery morning Bible Study is what makes someone a "good Christian" anyway.

[shepherdsgrace]

I am one of those that so many look down upon because it sounds narrow and hard. But I would definitely get up and go to that Bible Study. And have done so many times down through the years. Why? Because so often the Lord meets me and reveals himself during a "Study" or "Prayer Meeting". And there is something to just being dependable and people being able to count on you. Means a great deal to a leader! True emergency is another story. But there are so many ways that we can show God that we love him and put him first. I think so long as we can do something as unto him then we probably are making right decisions.

[alanraj]

Wow,i loved all you replies to the poll.Thanks for taking part...and yess...sorry for the narrow answers.But for the bible study question.I would surely put God First Priority,Trust in Gods Strength,Get some enrgy Drinks,Freshen Myself and go for the the bible study.After coming back i would take a lil nap cause i deserve it!

Talking about really important events like for example your only son's baseball event happen on that same day.Indeed the Lord would want you to spend time with your family.Just make sure you spend more quiet time in the night!.Quality Time with family helps us bond!Or even ask a friend to go through the bible study with you some other day...its that simple!

Talking about missions,yes indeed.Some times dreams are just dreams...while others clearly are visions.I really suggest talking with a pastor or leader in the church about it.

For i know a funny situation that happened to a foreign pastor and one of his congregation.He had came to the pastor asking for blessings to go to a mission trip in brazil.The pastor was bilwildered and asked how did you get the idea that he was supposed to go to brazil?

He replied,on sunday after your sermon on missions my heart was really impacted.I went down to a departmental store to get some groceries.While waiting for my turn in the Queue to pay my stuff , i prayed for the Lord to show me a sign.When it was my turn after paying for my groceries the casheir passed me a brazil nuts bar.I still don know the reason maybe soem promotion or sumthin but i felt is was a SIGN!.The pastor exclaimed...then what if it was a mars bar promotion? ................

I also believe that working together as a team and helping out a person would impact him more thean me myself.For My church bases itself on the cell group system.The uniques and unity of the cell group is usually seen when one is in need!

This poll might be really narrow but do post your comments.Hope to hear more from everyone!

Edited February 17, 2006 by alanraj