My life is a cruel joke.

W2L

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As for reading the bible I use to ignore Romans because as the name applied I though it was only for what the Roman Empire did in the day "this is when I was a teenager" but finding a lot of useful things that bother me in the Romans letter.
After reading this thread i would say you take criticism well.
 
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Calvin_1985

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"Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." seems like a cruel joke God keeps playing with my life.

I use to believe this but after losing the only friends I had about 15 years ago I stopped believing this. I have not been to church in 13 years matter of fact I have no church to even go though. I suffer major social issues "Aspergers" and even talking to strangers is very difficult. I use to be saved but now my heart is so bitter. I get upset over everything which rubs off with my family who hold grudges and don't believe in "forgive and forget" so no friends means I have the bitterness of my family to talk too who many times seem not to care or change the subject.

So it seems that I was "born again" 17 years ago but I am now "lost again".
If I may, it seems like you have drawn your joy and peace and love from those around you and being part of a group. Eat of the Flesh of Jesus and drink of His blood. You must be Born of water and of Spirit my friend.
 
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Calvin_1985

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Not to butt in, but Yahweh may very well have moved these people out of your life. Father does strip his people of things. This is part of chastisement of the sheep that has gone astray and is seeking rest, peace, and Love from the wrong source that cannot ever supply the needs. Stop being angry with Father and seek him. Seek Jesus.
 
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ARHCC

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Feeling the same way as I type this, although I have social anxiety and I do pray and pray I still feel lonely and cannot connect with no one the way I would like it seems. I have a couple of friends which are not christians. I go to church on Sunday and have just started attending again after not attending for years, people are nice there, but no real connection with anyone. I'm growing distant from my other non-christian friends because we don't have the same interests at all.
People will tell you to focus on others, but sometimes do not realize how hard that is when you can't even get up the nerve to make conservation or you do not know how. I watch other people communicate with others and see how easy it is for them and then I will come home and cry wondering why I can't be different.
I have prayed and try to focus on God, and it has helped me tremendously it is not as bad as it was, but I still have really bad days and actually today has been one of them. God is all I have right now. I know I cant give up on him regardless. I often wonder what I can offer God when I do not know how to reach out to others or communicate. I feel like he wants me to offer my worship to him and my time. I sometimes I wonder if my loneliness is because he wants me to get closer to him.
I'm sorry you're feeling this way and pray you feel better
 
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Danielwright2311

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Enduring faith in God is the key, sometimes faith is just not going to cut it, we must remain faithfull till the end and this is what God seeks after.

Its like what would you do for your son? anything?

But what if your son keep his faith in you all the time, all his life?

One day, in his life, you would reward him with love and anything else he wanted.

God does the same, do not give up, ever.
 
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Tony Ramirez

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As for churches there are none walking distance from where I am that are not Catholic or Lutheran. My zip-code is 11217 actually I live right on the southern border of 11217 one block down and it is 11215 and west one block is 11231.
 
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lismore

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I suffer major social issues "Aspergers" and even talking to strangers is very difficult.

Hello Tony!

Hey, you're talking to me and others here! You're making conversation with us, very effectively. You could do it face to face too. Just to encourage you, go for it! It will be hard at first but well worth the effort when you do. Pray before you do. God Bless You :)
 
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So, on the issue of Church attendance brought up in this thread, I thought the following to be a reasoned balanced response:

Can I be a good Christian and not go to church?
by Matt Slick

Can you be a good Christian and not go to church? The answer is both yes and no. Let me explain. Whether or not someone is a Christian is not determined by his or her church attendance. It is dependent upon his faith in Christ, who is God in flesh (John 1:1, 14), who died on the cross, and bore our sins in his body (1 Peter 2:24). If a person has received Christ by faith (John 1:12), then he is justified by faith (Romans 3:28; 5:1), and he (or she) is a Christian. Church attendance is not what makes us a Christian. But, Christians should seek the fellowship of other Christians (Heb. 10:25).

Being able to go to church can be affected by your circumstances. What if you are in jail due to persecution for your faith? You would not be going to church, but you would be a good Christian. Then again, what if you wanted to go to church, but you're unable to because of a physical limitation where your mobility is restricted? Maybe you were injured and had to stay at home for months. Or, what about the possibility of there not being a good church where you are? I've had many people tell me that they want to go to church because decent churches are just too far away. Also, there are people who have a work schedule that doesn't allow them to go to church, even though they want to go. In each of these circumstances, good Christians are not able to attend. So, because of situations like these, we cannot automatically say that in all circumstances, that you have to go to church to be a good Christian.

On the other hand, if you don't have a good reason to not attend a church and you just don't go because you're lazy, you think churches are full of hypocrites, or someone wronged you at church once, then that is not good enough. The Bible tells us in Hebrews 10:25, "not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more, as you see the day drawing near." So, we are told to go to church so that we can encourage one another, hear the preaching of the word, and worship God in a corporate setting. These are all good things that Christians should participate in. We are not created to be alone. We were created to have fellowship with one another (1 John 1:7) and with God (1 Corinthians 1:9).

Finally, if you are a Christian, then you already are a member of "the church" because the church is the body of Christ (Ephesians 5:23; Colossians 1:18, 24). However, if you are not attending a local body (Acts 8:1; 13:1;18:22; 1 Corinthians 11:18) then there needs to be a good reason. But, if you are able to attend a church, then you need to go. You need to attend the body of Christ so that they can minister to you so that you can minister to them, so that you can develop your spiritual gifts in the service of the body of Christ, so that you do not develop an attitude of independence. We need the body of Christ to grow and to be instructed in God's word.

So, if you can go to church, then go." SOURCE

As a side note, people experiencing severe loneliness can feel just as lonely in a crowd of people, if not more so, than when all alone, strange but true. Translation, attending a Church is not the be all end all solution to loneliness. In theory it should/could be helpful to the problem provided communion with God is the prime motive.

One last thought, looking unto Christ who is the head of the Church, the walking temple of God, and how people responded to him, how few recognized him, how He would come to be among the people, and then retreat to isolation. Isn't it interesting how his disciples did not initially call out and choose him, how he first chose them? Causes me to wonder how many are on the road to Jericho, who will try to help them?
 
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Tony Ramirez

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Hello Tony!

Hey, you're talking to me and others here! You're making conversation with us, very effectively. You could do it face to face too. Just to encourage you, go for it! It will be hard at first but well worth the effort when you do. Pray before you do. God Bless You :)
On a forum or chat room is not a problem. It is easy to me. It is face to face that is terrifying.
 
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Maria Billingsley

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"Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." seems like a cruel joke God keeps playing with my life.

I use to believe this but after losing the only friends I had about 15 years ago I stopped believing this. I have not been to church in 13 years matter of fact I have no church to even go though. I suffer major social issues "Aspergers" and even talking to strangers is very difficult. I use to be saved but now my heart is so bitter. I get upset over everything which rubs off with my family who hold grudges and don't believe in "forgive and forget" so no friends means I have the bitterness of my family to talk too who many times seem not to care or change the subject.

So it seems that I was "born again" 17 years ago but I am now "lost again".
We all have a road to travel, sounds like you want to be on the narrow road that leads to the narrow gate. Find your first love.

" the love you had at first"
Jesus Christ of Nazareth
 
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lismore

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On a forum or chat room is not a problem. It is easy to me. It is face to face that is terrifying.

Hi Tony. Yes, face to face will be hard, but once you've done it you'll be blessed and it may get slightly easier the more you do it. You mentioned a Lutheran Church nearby, why not drop quietly in there, to one of their services or meetings, see what's going on? Gently, no pressure, just for a looksee. God Bless :)
 
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Blade

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The one you should be asking is Christ.. see its called FAITH..which is.. no matter what you did do will do..He will NEVER leave you. Nor forsake you. He does not judge you.. does not condemn you. You keep seeing faults that the enemy makes sure he reminds you this every time you goof up and fall.

What you dont see cant feel is Christ.. is right there EVERYTIME! Reaching out to help you up. But SOME of us believe we are so worthless...yet Christ with arms open wide.. smiling at you..saying.. you are why I came.. why I died for you!

I heard a man say.. its not how I would say it but it might help you. He said.. God expects us to goof up to miss it. To fall. But with Christ we stand tall..we can do everything THROUGH Him. See when you believed in Jesus.. all heaven rejoiced.. God knows you now. And you are in right standing with God.. because you believe in Jesus.. aka RIGHTEOUSNESS!

God is EVERYTHING you need..everything you are. His joy is your strength. You are (be) strong in the lord in the power of HIS might. God has not given you the spirit of fear but of power and love and a sound mind. The peace of God... Christ.. gave you His peace not as the world gives...Put on the whole armor of GOD...do you see a pattern here :) He KNOWS you cant do it..but you can do EVERYTHING with Him.. let HIM lead.. acknowledge the lord in all your ways and He will direct your path.

When I was in collage.. not INTERNET then and I had no tv just radio. And the preacher came on said "I dont think anyone has sinned as much as me. So.. get up dust your self off and keep going (repent). See its like we SLAP Christ in the face.. we put Him to open shame. How you ask? Well is it not written that if you confess your sins..He is faithful and just to forgive you your sins and cleans you from ALL unrighteousness? So do that.. then KNOW no matter what you feel no matter what you see no matter what you hear or your mind tries to tell you.. you KNOW you take Christ at His word. He forgives you..

Loves you so much.. you only see a moment in time.. relax.. Your in His hands.. and His hands are in the Fathers.. and He is SO IN LOVE WITH YOU! Bless you my brother..

I dont speak of what I HOPE is true.. only what I KNOW is true
 
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aiki

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"Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." seems like a cruel joke God keeps playing with my life.

The promises of God are never made in jest.

I use to believe this but after losing the only friends I had about 15 years ago I stopped believing this.

Why? Is God obliged to keep your life perfectly pleasant all the time? His own Son got a very rough ride when he was living among us some 2000 years ago. If life was so harsh for the Son of God, why do you object when it is difficult for you, too? Should God treat you better than He did His own Son?

God doesn't promise to be with us only when life is good but remains with us even when life gets bitter and painful. But when life gets tough - as it always eventually does - some people react by "cutting off their nose to spite their face." They conclude that if God won't keep things easy for them, that He is cruel or, maybe, doesn't even exist. But this sort of thinking doesn't make the difficulties of life dissolve. No, it only, in the end, makes facing life's hardships even more difficult. When we resent God and turn away from Him, the problems don't cease, they still confront us, but we must face them on our own, separated from His comfort and love by our turning from Him. I don't see, then, how resenting God and forsaking Him ever improves things.

I suffer major social issues "Aspergers" and even talking to strangers is very difficult.

God can help you to overcome these issues. Of course, you have to stop rejecting Him first.

I use to be saved but now my heart is so bitter. I get upset over everything

Someone has said that being bitter is like taking poison and expecting your enemy to die. In the end, bitterness only really damages you. Certainly, God isn't in heaven wringing His hands, stressing over the fact that you've grown bitter toward Him. No, you're the only one who suffers when you're bitter. Maybe it's time to tell God you've been wrong, and repent of your bitter heart toward Him, and take up walking with Him again. Your Aspergers is no big deal for Him.

So it seems that I was "born again" 17 years ago but I am now "lost again".

No one who has been truly born-again can reverse their second birth. No man has the power to undo what God has done in saving a person.
 
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aiki

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Yes I understand Christ but during his blessing journey he had friends his apostles okay Judas betrayed him but imagine his journey spreading the Gospel all alone.

Your Heavenly Father wants you to find your best, your most faithful, your most dear friend in Jesus. He won't ever leave you; he won't betray you; he isn't put off by your Aspergers; he will remain by you when all others have departed. Jesus is the very best friend you could ever have. Until you believe it, not just in your head but in your heart, you will never experience how great a friend he can be to you. Stop looking at the friends you've lost and start looking at Jesus, the friend who loved you so much he was willing to die for you. With a friend like him, you don't need any others.
 
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Tony Ramirez

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Just said a prayer to God and and Jesus I did not lift my hands or anything but laid in bed and whisperer all my pains and sorrows that I mentioned here. It's a start as I have not prayed in over 10 years.
 
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