Why do I need your God?

[winsomebulldog]

I forgot to answer this:

The lady you spoke of who got mad at the questions you asked likely did so for a few reasons. One, she may not truly have a gift for teaching. It's not something everyone can do. Two, she may have found that she didn't have the answers to give you and so reacted badly. Pride often gets in our way. As my pastor often says, it's perfectly fine to tell someone you don't know the answer to their question. Many times we don't want to do that, though, because we think it will make us look bad. Three, while I'm sure the pastor you've come to trust had the best of intentions in sending you to her, I have to say that sometimes people agree to do things they aren't ready for or comfortable with just to make someone else happy. I'm absolutely not trying to excuse her behavior. For all I know, she's just rude and mean, but if the pastor you trust suggested her, then it seems unlikely. She was probably just not the right person for the job.

She wasn't the warmest person I ever met. I only met her in person once. I was sitting in the church lobby waiting to meet her and she walked up and the first words she said were "you smoke". After that it went to email. I understood she didn't want to smell my smokyness.

She is the wife of a retired pastor, which was why the pastor chose her, I assume. But she got mad really fast. I was asking these same questions, and suddenly she emailed me that our conversations were now ended, and then listed her seminary degrees. As I read it, I thought "what does that have to do with anything", then read on and she wrote "now I bet you think I am boasting", and I burst out laughing. She expected me to be impressed. I went to college too, and all the degrees on the planet do not impress me. But what she meant was "I have the man hours to prove I am right and you won't just shut up and take my word for it". I never heard from her again.

I later asked the pastor if he would ask her to email me again so I could apologize (even when I felt I had done nothing wrong) and she refused.

I just let it drop. She apparantly felt frustrated that I wasn't just accepting her word and asked for clarification.

But no, she wasn't exactly friendly, but I wasn't looking for a friend so much, but for a mentor to help me.

I think I said this earlier, but I'll repeat it just in case. It's a common saying in our church that the greatest obstacle to the spread of Christianity is Christians themselves. So many of them, often without meaning to, come across as arrogant and self-righteous. I've come to believe that pride is just about the biggest stumbling block in our Christian lives. I know I've tripped over my own pride more than once! LOL

This lady clearly had her priorities mixed up. It's a shame, as all those degrees probably mean she has the knowledge to be useful. Now if only she had the servant's heart to go along with it.

I'm glad you're here, and that at least some of your questions are being addressed.

[Guest SDGS]

I think I said this earlier, but I'll repeat it just in case. It's a common saying in our church that the greatest obstacle to the spread of Christianity is Christians themselves. So many of them, often without meaning to, come across as arrogant and self-righteous. I've come to believe that pride is just about the biggest stumbling block in our Christian lives. I know I've tripped over my own pride more than once! LOL

This lady clearly had her priorities mixed up. It's a shame, as all those degrees probably mean she has the knowledge to be useful. Now if only she had the servant's heart to go along with it.

I'm glad you're here, and that at least some of your questions are being addressed.

Thank you! I really do react to how they treat me more than I do to what they know.

What made me stop and think "maybe I should seek God" was because my car got towed. I was grocery shopping and when I came out, my car was gone.

I panicked, called 911 and reported it stolen. I am disabled and and couldn't walk far, and I had no cash for a cab. I stood there outside the store, frantic.

Two ladies came up and asked what was wrong, and they stayed with me the entire time. The police came, went inside the store to view the video tape, and those two ladies talked with me, helped me calm down, and were going to drive me home, a 20 mile round trip for them.

it turned out that the store manager had my car towed because he thought it belonged to somebody he had told never to come back. He didn't even bother to check my plate, plus it was in the handicapped space. They had my car towed back, and before I left, I asked the ladies "why did you do it? Why were you so kind to a complete stranger, offering to drive me home"?

She answered "because we try to do God's will". And invited me to their church. I never forgot that. Those two kind ladies didn't judge me, didn't tell me I am a dirty sinner going to hell, but showed me kindness. I saw God in them. That was what made me start this. And the pastor and his wife that are leaving is the pastor at their church.

We tried to find those two ladies too so I could meet them again, but I couldn't remember their names nor recognize them from pictures.

[~candice~]

"People will forget what you say, but they will never forget how you made them feel"

[mizzdy]

I think I said this earlier, but I'll repeat it just in case. It's a common saying in our church that the greatest obstacle to the spread of Christianity is Christians themselves. So many of them, often without meaning to, come across as arrogant and self-righteous. I've come to believe that pride is just about the biggest stumbling block in our Christian lives. I know I've tripped over my own pride more than once! LOL

This lady clearly had her priorities mixed up. It's a shame, as all those degrees probably mean she has the knowledge to be useful. Now if only she had the servant's heart to go along with it.

I'm glad you're here, and that at least some of your questions are being addressed.

Thank you! I really do react to how they treat me more than I do to what they know.

What made me stop and think "maybe I should seek God" was because my car got towed. I was grocery shopping and when I came out, my car was gone.

I panicked, called 911 and reported it stolen. I am disabled and and couldn't walk far, and I had no cash for a cab. I stood there outside the store, frantic.

Two ladies came up and asked what was wrong, and they stayed with me the entire time. The police came, went inside the store to view the video tape, and those two ladies talked with me, helped me calm down, and were going to drive me home, a 20 mile round trip for them.

it turned out that the store manager had my car towed because he thought it belonged to somebody he had told never to come back. He didn't even bother to check my plate, plus it was in the handicapped space. They had my car towed back, and before I left, I asked the ladies "why did you do it? Why were you so kind to a complete stranger, offering to drive me home"?

She answered "because we try to do God's will". And invited me to their church. I never forgot that. Those two kind ladies didn't judge me, didn't tell me I am a dirty sinner going to hell, but showed me kindness. I saw God in them. That was what made me start this. And the pastor and his wife that are leaving is the pastor at their church.

We tried to find those two ladies too so I could meet them again, but I couldn't remember their names nor recognize them from pictures.

This was God's light shining through, they represented the fruit of the Spirit. Things happen for reasons sometime we just have no idea what for, I like to see what happen there was God calling out to you through these woman. Theres a verse somewhere that talks of God wooing His bride, if you in a way see it as the first attractions, then you start to get to know the person. God is like that when He calls us never putting too much on us at once knowing our weaknesses and strengths. Sometimes 'strengths' may be imposed upon us by others with well meaning intentions, seems to me this lady didn't have what it would take to help you, the pastor may not have known she didn't.

shalom,

Mizz

[mizzdy]

"People will forget what you say, but they will never forget how you made them feel"

Ain't that the truth!

[Guest SDGS]

This was God's light shining through, they represented the fruit of the Spirit. Things happen for reasons sometime we just have no idea what for, I like to see what happen there was God calling out to you through these woman. Theres a verse somewhere that talks of God wooing His bride, if you in a way see it as the first attractions, then you start to get to know the person. God is like that when He calls us never putting too much on us at once knowing our weaknesses and strengths. Sometimes 'strengths' may be imposed upon us by others with well meaning intentions, seems to me this lady didn't have what it would take to help you, the pastor may not have known she didn't.

shalom,

Mizz

Yes, I believe that. I sometimes told the pastor that if I ever find my way, can believe, and go forward, that I will take the mic from him and say "if you kind ladies who stayed with me when my car was towed are here, this is all your fault"

eta - I forgot, that lady the pastor set me up with, I got the impression that she plain just didn't like me. She is the leader there of the women's ministry. She didn't like that I smoke, and I sensed that she felt she was much too above wasting her time on some dumb woman who asks too many questions. She prefers to work with those saved good ones who stay quiet and do what she says. That was my impression. My asking to be able to apologize and her refusal cemented it in stone. But I let that go and went on with the pastor and his wife. But they are leaving. I keep wondering, does God want me to talk to somebody else, or just stop asking and do the deed, when I am not at the point of full belief, yet, or maybe He finally just dropped me?

One thing I do know is that I still cannot just let it go and walk away. And I have tried. I still feel I am being pulled, but I am lost in trying to figure all this out.

When those Jehovah Witness ladies came to my door I got excited because I thought God sent them to my door,,, but when I looked up Jehovah Witness, I don't mean to offend anyone, but I think those folks are,,,odd.

Edited July 7, 2011 by SDGS

[esyflw]

Why do I need your God to live a healthy, happy, meaningful life?

Jesus said that He could fulfill desires in us that nothing else can fulfill (John 4:13-14; 6:35). That's because we're not just physical beings, we're spiritual beings also. Only God can fulfill our spiritual hunger and thirst completely. And while we may be happy without God, it is only by knowing God that we can have true joy, fulfillment and peace.

Oh and He is your God too

[Guest SDGS]

Why do I need your God to live a healthy, happy, meaningful life?

Jesus said that He could fulfill desires in us that nothing else can fulfill (John 4:13-14; 6:35). That's because we're not just physical beings, we're spiritual beings also. Only God can fulfill our spiritual hunger and thirst completely. And while we may be happy without God, it is only by knowing God that we can have true joy, fulfillment and peace.

Oh and He is your God too

I kind of hijacked this thread since it sort of applies to my situation The person who started this thread, and made the statement quoted, hasn't come back to this thread since 2007. So I hijacked it, but I didn't make the statement "why do I need your God to live a healthy happy life".

The kind folks here have been responding to my questions.

[mizzdy]

This was God's light shining through, they represented the fruit of the Spirit. Things happen for reasons sometime we just have no idea what for, I like to see what happen there was God calling out to you through these woman. Theres a verse somewhere that talks of God wooing His bride, if you in a way see it as the first attractions, then you start to get to know the person. God is like that when He calls us never putting too much on us at once knowing our weaknesses and strengths. Sometimes 'strengths' may be imposed upon us by others with well meaning intentions, seems to me this lady didn't have what it would take to help you, the pastor may not have known she didn't.

shalom,

Mizz

Yes, I believe that. I sometimes told the pastor that if I ever find my way, can believe, and go forward, that I will take the mic from him and say "if you kind ladies who stayed with me when my car was towed are here, this is all your fault"

eta - I forgot, that lady the pastor set me up with, I got the impression that she plain just didn't like me. She is the leader there of the women's ministry. She didn't like that I smoke, and I sensed that she felt she was much too above wasting her time on some dumb woman who asks too many questions. She prefers to work with those saved good ones who stay quiet and do what she says. That was my impression. My asking to be able to apologize and her refusal cemented it in stone. But I let that go and went on with the pastor and his wife. But they are leaving. I keep wondering, does God want me to talk to somebody else, or just stop asking and do the deed, when I am not at the point of full belief, yet, or maybe He finally just dropped me?

One thing I do know is that I still cannot just let it go and walk away. And I have tried. I still feel I am being pulled, but I am lost in trying to figure all this out.

When those Jehovah Witness ladies came to my door I got excited because I thought God sent them to my door,,, but when I looked up Jehovah Witness, I don't mean to offend anyone, but I think those folks are,,,odd.

I believe we have all at many points in our lives felt exactly like you are feeling, lost, tired and not knowing where or who to turn to yet through it all theres that something tugging, thats the Spirit calling you home to Him, calling you back to the fold of His assembly of peoples. I wish I could find you someone that would be there physically to help you in all ways!!! Good thing we have the internet!!! Continue to ask anything you need to it will help you grow as well as give you a solid foundation on which to walk on.

shalom,

Mizz

[methinkshe]

Why do I need your God?

Because He is your Creator and He designed you to have a relationship with Him, without which you can never be the person your Creator intended you to be. You will always have a great big hole in your soul which you will seek to fill with momentary pleasures which will never bring lasting satisfaction because that hole in your soul is the place where your Creator iis designed to be.

Moreover, because He has Creatorship rights over you He can legitimately make demands of you which, if you fail to meet, can be penalised as He chooses.

And God, your Creator, has said that the wages of sin is death. Eternal dying, actually.

But His free gift to those who accept that Jesus has paid the penalty for sin is eternal living - starting from today!

That's why you need my God, my Saviour, my Jesus.

And isn't it wonderful that our Creator is righteous, just, holy, merciful, truth, love, joy, peace and all that is GOOD!

Who could resist such a Creator?