Crossroads

[Diggin Deep]

I was born and raised Mennonite so my problem has never been knowing God but making Him personal. When you grow up in a faith based community it's so easy for one's personal faith to get lost in the whole. I'm still not sure if I've made mine entirely my own.

My prayers are with you. I know that finding an intimate personal relationship with God can be difficult.

When studying at college, I fell into something similar. It was a faith based community of people. Knowing of God was never a problem, but I often got lost in that and found myself feeling that the knowledge was enough. As I have found out over the years - knowledge is not enough. Knowing and accepting that God is real is only half of the battle. Getting to a point where we accept Him as an intimate part of our lives - surrendering ourselves, saying goodbye to self...is something that is a little more difficult. I have found that it isn't always because we don't want to, but more because we don't always know how to or how to stay focused on Him.

 

[Diggin Deep]

Let's just say...The Awesomeness of God is beyond our understanding. As it says in Psalms he knew me before I was born. He knew everything about me and knows me better than I know myself. And that is true of everyone regardless of who or what they profess as their God. He has a relationship with those who choose to follow him.

Well said :thumbup Never a more true statement..."The Awesomeness of God is beyond our understanding." Sometimes we get so wrapped up in trying to understand and comprehend everything about God and the Bible, that we lose sight of the most important thing about God. (points finger at myself)

Thank you for this

 

[Diggin Deep]

The lyrics that I posted yesterday: I Refuse, by Josh Wilson have been weighing heavily on my heart the past few days. I've heard the song a few times, but it wasn't until I posted the lyrics and read it a few times that I actually took it all in. As many of you have read, I once felt a call to ministry and after a few years, I turned my back on it. Since I've renewed my faith and relationship with God, I have had a lot of time to reflect and grow. But recently, I've really felt like I really missed out on something great in my life. I have been struggling with the fact that I turned my back on God, despite everything He had/has done for me. I know that I'm just beating myself up in a sense and that He has forgiven me, but it doesn't change the fact that I quit and didn't finish what He had started. It's so easy for God to forgive us, but the hardest part is forgiving ourselves sometimes.

Have any of you ever felt this way? Do you think that sometimes people refuse to turn back to God, because they can't forgive themselves for walking away from Him?

 

[pjbleek]

The lyrics that I posted yesterday: I Refuse, by Josh Wilson have been weighing heavily on my heart the past few days. I've heard the song a few times, but it wasn't until I posted the lyrics and read it a few times that I actually took it all in. As many of you have read, I once felt a call to ministry and after a few years, I turned my back on it. Since I've renewed my faith and relationship with God, I have had a lot of time to reflect and grow. But recently, I've really felt like I really missed out on something great in my life. I have been struggling with the fact that I turned my back on God, despite everything He had/has done for me. I know that I'm just beating myself up in a sense and that He has forgiven me, but it doesn't change the fact that I quit and didn't finish what He had started. It's so easy for God to forgive us, but the hardest part is forgiving ourselves sometimes.

Have any of you ever felt this way? Do you think that sometimes people refuse to turn back to God, because they can't forgive themselves for walking away from Him?

if you remember the story about the prodigal son, I think this rings true with God as well. We can always go back home. No need to kill ourselves in not thinking otherwise. Our parents and God have that tyoe of love that no matter how badly we sinned we will always be children to them and they saw us through our years of youth and will always remember that. and the sooner we find ourselves re-accepted we should cast away our doubt that the love was ever gone.

 

[Diggin Deep]

Thanks PJ...I'm glad that thought hit your head! I haven't read the story of the prodical son in a very long time...think I'll refresh my memory!

 

[purpledove]

t's not in trying but in trusting. It's not in running but in resting. It's not in wondering but in praying that we find strength in the Lord!

 

[purpledove]

The lyrics that I posted yesterday: I Refuse, by Josh Wilson have been weighing heavily on my heart the past few days. I've heard the song a few times, but it wasn't until I posted the lyrics and read it a few times that I actually took it all in. As many of you have read, I once felt a call to ministry and after a few years, I turned my back on it. Since I've renewed my faith and relationship with God, I have had a lot of time to reflect and grow. But recently, I've really felt like I really missed out on something great in my life. I have been struggling with the fact that I turned my back on God, despite everything He had/has done for me. I know that I'm just beating myself up in a sense and that He has forgiven me, but it doesn't change the fact that I quit and didn't finish what He had started. It's so easy for God to forgive us, but the hardest part is forgiving ourselves sometimes.

Have any of you ever felt this way? Do you think that sometimes people refuse to turn back to God, because they can't forgive themselves for walking away from Him?

I agree with PJ in re: Prodigal son story. It truly is a good reminder that we can always return back to God anytime, no matter how much we have sinned against him, He always welcomes us back with open arms. And that's what good and loving about our God.

I think this is a misconception of others hence they wanna clean up after their mess before coming to the altar in a sense. Hence I like what I saw at a church b4 invting people to come to church. "Everyone has messed up hence we need a Messiah" ( As i posted on my testimony). When we humbly come to him, He'll make us white as snow- free of our sins.

Your post makes me teary eyed as I remember the time last year when I rebelled against Him and I refused to go to church. I didn't attend services for about 4 months which I have never done b4. Till one day i went back and just at the Intro song, I realized what i have missed! I felt His presence once again. My guilt just overwhelmed me then feeling unworthy for the all the good things he has done for me and I had the nerve to repay him with my rebelling spirit! I felt so bad it made me cry so much! But being with fellow believers it felt good as I am welcomed be it I was clean or not!

Have you read the book : Battlefield of the Mind by Joyce Meyer? It states that we always have an ongoing battle in our minds and it's the weapon the Evil one uses against us. Hence this book is good at giving us Bible verses and ways to help us combat such attacks. Satan uses our guilt against us to make us not wanna go back to God! He makes us think we are unworthy which is not the case as we know God otherwise from what Satan dictates in our minds

:smiley31: :smiley31: :smiley31:

 

[Diggin Deep]

t's not in trying but in trusting. It's not in running but in resting. It's not in wondering but in praying that we find strength in the Lord!

:thumbup Thanks PD...I think you hit the nail on the head. Over the course of the past few months when I really gave everything back to God, I've tried so hard to get back to where I was before I turned away. Obviously where I was, was not a good place. I've wondered so much and prayed so hard about what God has in store for me - all the while...all I really do is rest. He will answer my prayers, but in His time, not mine (it's possible He already has...). He will use me, but in His way, not mine. He's already sent some amazing people to help stengthen my foundation... And it is very possible that He has already opened the window and I'm already staring throught it

Thanks again!

 

[purpledove]

:thumbup Thanks PD...I think you hit the nail on the head. Over the course of the past few months when I really gave everything back to God, I've tried so hard to get back to where I was before I turned away. Obviously where I was, was not a good place. I've wondered so much and prayed so hard about what God has in store for me - all the while...all I really do is rest. He will answer my prayers, but in His time, not mine (it's possible He already has...). He will use me, but in His way, not mine. He's already sent some amazing people to help stengthen my foundation... And it is very possible that He has already opened the window and I'm already staring throught it

Thanks again!

It's my pleasure! That's what we're all here for. I've been through such b4 hence I understand where you're coming from. I still have those moments till this day, of course! You're gifted and am sure, such phases in your life is not useless at all ! He allows such to happen as He knows whenever that time comes for you to come back just like the Prodigal son did- you're stronger in your faith and become more sincere in loving Him. As you can see He brought you here! Kudos to you and what you have started here at Otz :clap

 

[Diggin Deep]

I agree with PJ in re: Prodigal son story. It truly is a good reminder that we can always return back to God anytime, no matter how much we have sinned against him, He always welcomes us back with open arms. And that's what good and loving about our God.

I think this is a misconception of others hence they wanna clean up after their mess before coming to the altar in a sense. Hence I like what I saw at a church b4 invting people to come to church. "Everyone has messed up hence we need a Messiah" ( As i posted on my testimony). When we humbly come to him, He'll make us white as snow- free of our sins.

Your post makes me teary eyed as I remember the time last year when I rebelled against Him and I refused to go to church. I didn't attend services for about 4 months which I have never done b4. Till one day i went back and just at the Intro song, I realized what i have missed! I felt His presence once again. My guilt just overwhelmed me then feeling unworthy for the all the good things he has done for me and I had the nerve to repay him with my rebelling spirit! I felt so bad it made me cry so much! But being with fellow believers it felt good as I am welcomed be it I was clean or not!

Have you read the book : Battlefield of the Mind by Joyce Meyer? It states that we always have an ongoing battle in our minds and it's the weapon the Evil one uses against us. Hence this book is good at giving us Bible verses and ways to help us combat such attacks. Satan uses our guilt against us to make us not wanna go back to God! He makes us think we are unworthy which is not the case as we know God otherwise from what Satan dictates in our minds

:smiley31: :smiley31: :smiley31:

All I can say again is Thank You!!! I do know of Joyce Meyer, but I have not read that book. I will check it out I am my own worst critic and there probably isn't much that people could say about me that isn't true. Like your past...when I walked into church this past weekend,for the first time in a couple of years...I realized I had missed so much and felt His presence consume me - similar to how the prodical son must have felt. I could honestly go on for hours... I wish everyone knew what that meant and had a chance to experience it.

"Everyone has messed up hence we need a Messiah" (I like this...a lot)

 

[purpledove]

Not sure if any of you have heard of him...Ray Boltz, kind of an older Christian music artist. After watching some of those movies, I was left with a sense of anger - How could anyone do that to someone who only brought healing? My pastor at the time gave me a cd by Ray Boltz and one of the songs on it was "The Hammer".

Some other good songs of his that were on that cd are: The Anchor Holds, Thank You, Feel The Nails, The Altar - the only ones that come to mind. It has been forever and a day since I've heard any of them. The song lyrics for all of his songs are pretty deep.

I've never heard of Ray Boltz. What happened to him that brought you anger? :unsure:

 

[Diggin Deep]

I've never heard of Ray Boltz. What happened to him that brought you anger? :unsure:

I think you misunderstood Nothing happened to Ray Boltz. After watching The Messiah and movies that showed the crucifixion of Christ, I was angered. How could anyone do that to someone who only brought love and healing? My pastor let me borrow a cd that was by Ray Boltz. The Hammer is a song that is about a roman soldier who was also angered when Christ was hung on the cross and stood up to yell at the crowd in defense of Jesus, but then looked down to find The Hammer in his hands.

 

[purpledove]

I think you misunderstood Nothing happened to Ray Boltz. After watching The Messiah and movies that showed the crucifixion of Christ, I was angered. How could anyone do that to someone who only brought love and healing? My pastor let me borrow a cd that was by Ray Boltz. The Hammer is a song that is about a roman soldier who was also angered when Christ was hung on the cross and stood up to yell at the crowd in defense of Jesus, but then looked down to find The Hammer in his hands.

Yeah I misunderstood your post That's what I get for multi-tasking and speed reading :24:

Thanks! Gotcha now

 

[Diggin Deep]

While at church this past weekend, the pastor was talking about the new heaven and earth. What he had to say about it was completely different than my own presumtion of what it was - a place in the clouds so to speak. Maybe I just never put much thought into it...I don't know why. Either way, what he had to say kind of rocked me a bit, but makes good biblical sense. I've put all the notes I took together...

Many people have a misconception of what heaven is truly like. Revelation chapters 21-22 gives us a detailed picture of the new heavens and the new earth. After the events of the end times, the current heavens and earth will be done away with and replaced by the new heavens and new earth. The eternal dwelling place of believers will be the new earth. The new earth is the “heaven” on which we will spend eternity. It is the new earth where the New Jerusalem, the heavenly city, will be located. It is on the new earth that the pearly gates and streets of gold will be.

Heaven—the new earth—is a physical place where we will dwell with glorified physical bodies (1 Corinthians 15:35-58). The concept that heaven is “in the clouds” is unbiblical. The concept that we will be “spirits floating around in heaven” is also unbiblical. The heaven that believers will experience will be a new and perfect planet on which we will dwell. The new earth will be free from sin, evil, sickness, suffering, and death. It will likely be similar to our current earth, or perhaps even a re-creation of our current earth, but without the curse of sin.

What about the new heavens? It is important to remember that in the ancient mind, “heavens” referred to the skies and outer space, as well as the realm in which God dwells. So, when Revelation 21:1 refers to the new heavens, it is likely indicating that the entire universe will be created—a new earth, new skies, a new outer space. It seems as if God's heaven will be recreated as well, to give everything in the universe a “fresh start,” whether physical or spiritual.

So will we have access to the new heavens in eternity? Possibly?!?...I guess we will have to wait to find out. What is your perception of heaven?

 

[Diggin Deep]

Recalibrate

God, help me to trust that your best for me actually is what’s best for me.

READ
Isaiah 30:15

REFLECT
“Repent” might sound like one of those religious buzzwords that reminds some people of all the hoops they thought they had to jump through to get to God. Truth be told, there aren’t hoops. Not even tiny ones. And repenting isn’t scary and isn’t meant to riddle us with guilt. It simply means changing your beliefs and choosing to align yourself with God.

Here’s what someone recently said about repentance:

“In the Old Testament, the word ‘repent’ was a military term meaning stop, turn about-face and march. In the New Testament, it’s described as changing what you believe--a willful decision. So when I think of repentance, I see it as a recalibration of my heart to God’s. It’s like finding true north again. Or tuning my guitar. The closer I get to God, the better everything else sounds.”

RESPOND
Ask God if there’s anything in your life that needs changing. Then, just listen.

 

[purpledove]

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is
honorable, whatever, is right, whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute,
if there is any excellence and if anything worthy
of praise, let your mind dwell on these things.

~Philippians 4:8

 

[Diggin Deep]

Here is a book that I just finished. The friend that invited me to church a couple of weeks let me borrow it. I definitely recommend it.

Heaven is for Real: A Little Boy's Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back

The book, telling of a boy's experiences as a 3-year-old boy who was taken to heaven during surgery for a ruptured appendix, hit #1 on Amazon.com, after already enjoying 103 days in the top 100 books on their best-seller list. Over 1.5 million copies have been sold - as of March 24, 2011. Colton and his family have also appeared on The Today Show to talk about the book and their story.

 

[purpledove]

Here is a book that I just finished. The friend that invited me to church a couple of weeks let me borrow it. I definitely recommend it.

Heaven is for Real: A Little Boy's Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back

The book, telling of a boy's experiences as a 3-year-old boy who was taken to heaven during surgery for a ruptured appendix, hit #1 on Amazon.com, after already enjoying 103 days in the top 100 books on their best-seller list. Over 1.5 million copies have been sold - as of March 24, 2011. Colton and his family have also appeared on The Today Show to talk about the book and their story.

W0W interesting book to read. Am gonna check this at the bookstore soon. Maybe given it's a new book- maybe it's not at the library yet eh? I hope it is ! *crosses fingers*

 

[Diggin Deep]

It is quite an amazing testimony. It definitely takes a bit of faith to comprehend all of it. It's a quick read too...so

 

[Diggin Deep]

Remind

God, remind me of the places you’ve showed up before and what that felt like.

READ
Acts 3:19

REFLECT
Repentance results in times of refreshing. Many stories we can read about God’s people conclude with the building of monuments or celebrating festivals, all designed to remind them of something significant God had done in their midst. And many of these significant things happened after a conscious choice to align themselves with God and his plan for them. (Check out Joshua 4:21-24 and Genesis 28:10-22.)

So even though repentance isn’t supposed to be scary, maybe it still conjures up queasy feelings. Instead of indulging those feelings, now might be a good time to take a look back at some of your monuments: those times in your life when turning toward God led to a time of refreshing.

RESPOND
Spend some time thinking about “that one time” when you were refreshed. Write down what you’re thinking about in as much detail or vaguery as you want, as long as you write something down that you can go back to.