Confused on my faith

Its good that you are struggling with your beliefs, its the mark of a sincere mind. I'm wary of people who never struggle or doubt.

seaofdoubts said:

Anyway, growing up I was taught through the Word of Faith movement. Basically, I felt like i had to earn my way to heaven. I felt when bad things happened, it was because I lacked faith or I sinned or I didn't claim God's blessing of healing. It was always based on what I did as a person. When I got married, we attended a Lutheran church, then an Evangelical Free Church for the last several years. After so much frustration with what I saw at these churches (mostly people being very worldly with their money and then thinking works was going to get them to heaven), we switched to Baptist. I love the truth of being Baptist. I never feel like Piper is trying to pull a fast one on me with his sermons. His sermons speak to the heart.

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There are a couple of your problems right there. Word of Faith. in and of itself, it is not that bad a denomination. However, I really detest their stance of "faith healing."

I do not like Lutheran Churches and Evangelicals because in most respects, it is in my opinion, they are not far from Catholicism.

Secondly, it is not John Piper speaking to your heart, it is the Holy Spirit.

There are few truths I'm struggling with lately. Here they are: 1) We didn't choose salvation, God chose us or predestination. 2) God causes some to not believe.

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These topics even "mature" Christians struggle with, so don't feel alone. The doctrines of "predestination" and "reprobation" require lots and lots of study. These are not something you can sit down, read a few passages and think you know what it means. Far from it. While in seminary, I devoted a solid year to these areas.

3) It's only up to God if our heart is open to believing.

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Well, here again, this is not entirely correct either. Jeremiah said:

"To whom shall I speak, and give warning, that they may hear? behold, their ear is uncircumcised, and they cannot hearken: behold, the word of the LORD is unto them a reproach; they have no delight in it." -Jer. 6:10 (KJV)

This is again repeated in the book of Acts. How many times must a person go to church and listen to the word being preached before they actually hear what is being said?

The Holy Spirit has to open the ears for them to hear. Likewise, you don't go out and sow a garden by just throwing seeds on the ground. No. You have to prepare the ground. And here, the heart is the ground, and the Holy Spirit is preparing it to receive the Word.

Well those are all kind of the same thing...but I am struggling with it. I also read Piper's book "Finally Alive" where he talks about if our lives are not changed, we aren't really a Christian. We never were born again in the first place. So now I start doubting my salvation.

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First off, it is normal for us to doubt our salvation. And often, it is the devil trying to make you doubt your salvation. If he can get you to that, half his battle is already won. Doubt is good to a certain extent, it makes us examine ourselves to see if we are walking as we should walk, and talking the way we are to talk.

The second thing I'm struggling with (ok, I know this isn't a counselling session!) is I just don't feel like living out my faith lately. I feel like its so hard and I just feel complete guilt about everything. I have 3 children and I feel like my sins and the weight of them are so heavy that even when I ask God to forgive me, I still feel condemned. I also feel like I can't be a good mom to my kids because I can't even deal with my own sins. And I just feel lost. And so I sometimes think maybe its in God's cards for me that I shouldn't be a Christian then. Maybe I was never meant to be a Christian at all. After a while, I just start to feel like everything I know is a lie and how can I ever decipher the truth? I don't know if any of this makes sense. It seems that I am always the problem. In all honesty, being a Christian has depressed me. I feel overwhelmed because I don't feel like I can ever be good enough or ever change enough to be a reflection of Christ Jesus. And I'd rather not be called one His followers and have people hate God because of my sins that take away from the Gospel message. I feel like I just deserve hell and should go there because living here and trying to be "good" or trying to make the Christian life look attractive to others isn't going to work when I'm so messed up.

On a side note, I have a sister that hates me because she says I'm a hypocrite. She told me she wished I was dead. And the rest of my family thinks I'm a whack...so maybe they are right.

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Let me just say this, it is far far easier to walk away and go back into sin than it is to be a Christian. It is by far the hardest thing a person will ever have to do. It is not logical that we believe in a being we cannot see. Place our trust in a person who died in our stead. It is hard for us to believe that a person would leave the glories of heaven, leave His Father, take on the form of a man, only to have His life be made a mockery of, spit on, mocked, beaten, scourged, and ultimately crucified in the most brutal form a man has ever known, all for our sake. Yet this is exactly what He did. Why? Because He loves you, has loved you, will continue to love you, no matter what. In Christ, we have an everlasting love, a peace that "passeth all understanding."

God has said:

"As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us." -Psa. 103:12 (KJV)

God has also said:

"...I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more." -Jer. 31:34 (KJV)

I may remember the things that I have done in the past, but I can rest assured that God will never throw them back up in my face ever again. Once I came under the blood, I was made a new creature. And that dear sister, is another one of the devils tricks. Remember what you did on such-and-such a day? Why would God want a person like you? It is up to you to let go of the past. The only reason why they keep popping up is because you have not let them go. Next time your at the church, go to the altar, pary a simple prayer and leave those things there at the altar. They are not yours to bear. You have already given them up to God. Our shoulders cannot bear the weight, but His can.

His shoulders are so strong they were able to bear the weight of the whole world's sin upon them. Past, present, and future.

Forget about others for the time being. Take your children, read the Bible with them, discuss it with them, pray with them, take them to church. Who cares what your sister says.

Always, always remember, what a freind we have in Jesus!

What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.

Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge, take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do your friends despise, forsake you? Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He’ll take and shield you; you will find a solace there.

Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised Thou wilt all our burdens bear
May we ever, Lord, be bringing all to Thee in earnest prayer.
Soon in glory bright unclouded there will be no need for prayer
Rapture, praise and endless worship will be our sweet portion there.

If you need someone who you can talk to, may I suggest you go to the "Ask a Chaplain" section. They are here just for that purpose.

If there is anything I can do, all you have to do is ask or just PM me.

God Bless

Till all are one.

Welcome to CF by the way!!!
I will respond to your post after work later tonight.
You are in good hands here just to let you know.

Sit down with Your bible and read Romans 10:09. Read it over and over.
Don't worry about John Piper or anybody else. Don't think about who's going to be saved or not going to be saved, just read that verse and pray.
If You confess with Your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in Your heart that God raised Him from the dead, You will be saved.
Trust in God to keep His word. He always has, and He always will.

God Bless!

Hey if u have msn and ever need someone to talk to add me (maryrichburg@live.com).

seaofdoubts said:

Bear with me as this might get a little long. I just found your website today. I don't feel I have anyone to really share my life with at this point so I needed some advice, but didn't know where to look. I found this place. I hope someone can help me.

In the past few months we started attending John Pipers church. I'm almost afraid to say that because I'm probably a really bad reflection of one of his church going people. Please don't judge the church based on what I say. I just am a struggling person and have lots of issues to deal with. I love John Piper and I love my church. We haven't connected there yet since we are new, but that is my fault for not jumping into a class or getting to know people there.

Anyway, growing up I was taught through the Word of Faith movement. Basically, I felt like i had to earn my way to heaven. I felt when bad things happened, it was because I lacked faith or I sinned or I didn't claim God's blessing of healing. It was always based on what I did as a person. When I got married, we attended a Lutheran church, then an Evangelical Free Church for the last several years. After so much frustration with what I saw at these churches (mostly people being very worldly with their money and then thinking works was going to get them to heaven), we switched to Baptist. I love the truth of being Baptist. I never feel like Piper is trying to pull a fast one on me with his sermons. His sermons speak to the heart.

There are few truths I'm struggling with lately. Here they are: 1) We didn't choose salvation, God chose us or predestination. 2) God causes some to not believe. 3) It's only up to God if our heart is open to believing. Well those are all kind of the same thing...but I am struggling with it. I also read Piper's book "Finally Alive" where he talks about if our lives are not changed, we aren't really a Christian. We never were born again in the first place. So now I start doubting my salvation.

The second thing I'm struggling with (ok, I know this isn't a counseling session!) is I just don't feel like living out my faith lately. I feel like its so hard and I just feel complete guilt about everything. I have 3 children and I feel like my sins and the weight of them are so heavy that even when I ask God to forgive me, I still feel condemned. I also feel like I can't be a good mom to my kids because I can't even deal with my own sins. And I just feel lost. And so I sometimes think maybe its in God's cards for me that I shouldn't be a Christian then. Maybe I was never meant to be a Christian at all. After a while, I just start to feel like everything I know is a lie and how can I ever decipher the truth? I don't know if any of this makes sense. It seems that I am always the problem. In all honesty, being a Christian has depressed me. I feel overwhelmed because I don't feel like I can ever be good enough or ever change enough to be a reflection of Christ Jesus. And I'd rather not be called one His followers and have people hate God because of my sins that take away from the Gospel message. I feel like I just deserve hell and should go there because living here and trying to be "good" or trying to make the Christian life look attractive to others isn't going to work when I'm so messed up.

On a side note, I have a sister that hates me because she says I'm a hypocrite. She told me she wished I was dead. And the rest of my family thinks I'm a whack...so maybe they are right.

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Hi!

I read your post, and I feel like I am dealing with about the same thing you are. I have been dealing with running in circles with myself and battling questions about my church, about my faith, about everything you pretty much talked about. I am still finding my way out, I wanted to read(type) something out for you I had just read a few days ago. I have the NIV Woman of Faith Study Bible. I want to read(type) you a side note that has really inspired me. =) God Bless you and your walk with God.

"Friend, when we become disappointed, angry, frustrated and desperate, Satan can have a filed day in our minds with so much junk that we can't hear God or wont pay attention the Holy Spirit when he's trying to talk to us. It doesn't' mater how much we study the Bible, how long we pray, how constantly we praise God, Satan and his demons are waiting for one tiny port of entry into our minds to deceive us. Satan's job is to confuse and frustrate us to the point of retaliation, rebellion, disobedience and distrust in God. he is always out to disturb our peace of mind while we're waiting for the manifestation of God's promises to us. "Thelma Wells"

seaofdoubts said:

Bear with me as this might get a little long. I just found your website today. I don't feel I have anyone to really share my life with at this point so I needed some advice, but didn't know where to look. I found this place. I hope someone can help me.

In the past few months we started attending John Pipers church. I'm almost afraid to say that because I'm probably a really bad reflection of one of his church going people. Please don't judge the church based on what I say. I just am a struggling person and have lots of issues to deal with. I love John Piper and I love my church. We haven't connected there yet since we are new, but that is my fault for not jumping into a class or getting to know people there.

Anyway, growing up I was taught through the Word of Faith movement. Basically, I felt like i had to earn my way to heaven. I felt when bad things happened, it was because I lacked faith or I sinned or I didn't claim God's blessing of healing. It was always based on what I did as a person. When I got married, we attended a Lutheran church, then an Evangelical Free Church for the last several years. After so much frustration with what I saw at these churches (mostly people being very worldly with their money and then thinking works was going to get them to heaven), we switched to Baptist. I love the truth of being Baptist. I never feel like Piper is trying to pull a fast one on me with his sermons. His sermons speak to the heart.

There are few truths I'm struggling with lately. Here they are: 1) We didn't choose salvation, God chose us or predestination. 2) God causes some to not believe. 3) It's only up to God if our heart is open to believing. Well those are all kind of the same thing...but I am struggling with it. I also read Piper's book "Finally Alive" where he talks about if our lives are not changed, we aren't really a Christian. We never were born again in the first place. So now I start doubting my salvation.

The second thing I'm struggling with (ok, I know this isn't a counselling session!) is I just don't feel like living out my faith lately. I feel like its so hard and I just feel complete guilt about everything. I have 3 children and I feel like my sins and the weight of them are so heavy that even when I ask God to forgive me, I still feel condemned. I also feel like I can't be a good mom to my kids because I can't even deal with my own sins. And I just feel lost. And so I sometimes think maybe its in God's cards for me that I shouldn't be a Christian then. Maybe I was never meant to be a Christian at all. After a while, I just start to feel like everything I know is a lie and how can I ever decipher the truth? I don't know if any of this makes sense. It seems that I am always the problem. In all honesty, being a Christian has depressed me. I feel overwhelmed because I don't feel like I can ever be good enough or ever change enough to be a reflection of Christ Jesus. And I'd rather not be called one His followers and have people hate God because of my sins that take away from the Gospel message. I feel like I just deserve hell and should go there because living here and trying to be "good" or trying to make the Christian life look attractive to others isn't going to work when I'm so messed up.

On a side note, I have a sister that hates me because she says I'm a hypocrite. She told me she wished I was dead. And the rest of my family thinks I'm a whack...so maybe they are right.

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Hello,
First you are blessed! As well as highly favored
God chose us is correct and he also gave us free will. So when we chose to love him it was real and when chose to follow him it was because we really wanted to. Everything goes back to whats in our heart that is also true and the heart is what - is being tried by tribulations. What you believe in your mind and heart is two different things but, never worry about that because God helps you through ever trial because it's not to break you but, to make you stronger. God doesn't tear you down but, builds you up. That's the God I serve! An Awesome God
When you chose Jesus and God thats when God begins to work on you taking you to higher level. Sometimes when we feel and change we think its a bad thing but, in reality it's normally just another level. God teaches us how to go to our next level and there are many levels. Just push forward and study the word. Study the word so you can speak the word when the enemy speaks about something you can not do. Love yourself and give yourself a break. You ask for forgiveness then forgiveness you shall have says our God. That's final - so you have to work on how you think- work on your mindset. Don't allow the enemy to speak negative things to you because that's not of God. Look at your circle and connect with people who lift you up and give you a caring word and those are the ones you keep in your circle. Know they are of flesh so keep your faith in God because he is the only one who will never disappoint you. Glory To God!

Finally, I found ones who are strong spiritually always felt at one time or another that they were crazy - that's the enemy. Because theres something deeper in you and the enemy knows if you share your God experience or feelings that you will connect with what you need. Don't believe the lie the enemy tells. Trust God! Look at your circle of friends! And live the best life everyday you can because that's what God wants from you.

All The Glory Belongs To God and Will Forever Be Given To Him!

seaofdoubts said:

In the past few months we started attending John Pipers church. I'm almost afraid to say that because I'm probably a really bad reflection of one of his church going people. Please don't judge the church based on what I say. I just am a struggling person and have lots of issues to deal with. I love John Piper and I love my church. We haven't connected there yet since we are new, but that is my fault for not jumping into a class or getting to know people there.

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Ah, so you attend Bethlehem Baptist? I was part of Bethlehem back when I was in college (I went to the U of M, just across the street from the downtown campus). Bethlehem was actually the first church I ever attended in my entire life, and all of the people there, including John Piper, gave me a very firm grounding in the faith. I try to come back and visit as often as I can.

You've found your way into an excellent church, and I'm not just talking about John Piper. The people there are genuine, and the elders guard the church's doctrine very carefully. The pastors preach sermons that appeal to both the mind and heart. This is one of the few places I've seen where the Gospel is truly lived out. You should make an effort to get into a small group there and get connected, because God is definitely doing something with that church, and this is one of the best places you can be, spiritually speaking.

TimRout said:

A few brief thoughts:

Firstly, I am glad to hear that you're attending John Piper's church. He's one of my favorite preachers/theologians. Stick with it. You can learn much there.

Secondly, I understand your confusion over the whole predestination thing. It took me many years to develop a workable understanding of God's sovereign grace. One bit of teaching that really helped me came from another Baptist Minister named James White. He was speaking on the life of Joseph --- you remember, Jacob's favorite son, with the coat of many colors. What Dr. White taught me, I now teach my congregation.

Not long ago I was preaching through Genesis and I asked the audience, "Who decided that Joseph would be sold into Egyptian slavery?" The obvious answer was "the brothers decided", and that's what everybody said. Then I asked them to read Genesis 45:5-8 for a minute, and I asked the question again. Now they said, "God decided." So which is it? Did the wicked brothers sinfully decide to sell Joseph to the Midianite traders, or was it God who righteously engineered the thing? The biblical answer is found just a few chapters later in Genesis 50:20. The answer is...both.

Yes, the brothers decided to do something wrong -- sell their brother into slavery and then lie to their father about it, even faking Joseph's death. Were they wrong to do this? Certainly. Did God hold them accountable for their sins? Absolutely. But was God secretly working in the background so as to cause the very events that sent Joseph to Egypt? You bet. James White taught me that this doctrine is called compatiblism. We choose, but God chooses too. Human choices are always tainted with sin, because we are by nature sinners. God's choices are always pure and holy, even though they often involve the wicked actions of fallen humans.

Understanding compatiblism helped me to understand the gospel too. You see, man is totally depraved and utterly incapable of hating his own sin, repenting, and believing on the Lord Jesus Christ. The unsaved man is a slave to sin [Ro. 6:5-7] and an enemy of God, incapable of pleasing Him [Ro. 8:6-8]. The natural man thinks the message of the cross is foolishness [1 Cor. 1:18] and he cannot understand spiritual things because he is not indwelt by the Holy Spirit [1 Cor. 2:14]. Every unsaved person is dead in his trespasses and sins, even as believers once were [Eph. 2:1-2].

So if the natural man is dead in his trespasses and enslaved to his sins, completely unable to hate his own wickedness and love the Lord, how can anyone possibly be saved? Futhermore, since God's holiness demands that He punish every sinner in hell --- anything less would be unfair --- then what hope is there for any of us?

The Bible has only one solution to this dilema. The answer is, GRACE. And this grace is received through faith [Eph. 2:8-9].

Though everyone deserves hell, and justice demands that God send everyone into eternal damnation, He has chosen to extend mercy to some by grace. Grace is not fair. It is a great deal more than fair. God's grace satisfies justice in that every sin is punished by laying the chosen person's guilt upon the Righteous Lamb of God. Speaking of Christians, the Bible says, "God made Him (Jesus) who knew no sin, to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God." [2 Cor. 5:21]

So then, did I choose God, or did He choose me? Answer.........YES!

From all eternity past, God has chosen whom He will save [Ro. 8:29-30; Eph. 1:3-11]. There has never been any doubt in His mind about who He will create or who He will save, and all whom He calls to faith will come in due time [Jn. 6:37-44]. That's why we call it irresistible grace...and it's WONDERFUL.

Compatiblism is a bit difficult to understand because it's kind of paradoxical. But if you can get your brain around the odd shaped corners and just take God at His Word, then it's not so difficult to swallow. The Bible teaches that people have a will --- a real will that makes real choices for which we are really responsible. By the same token, the Bible also teaches that God is sovereign over all things and nothing happens without His say so.

Right about now, someone usually asks: Hold on! Are you saying that God is in control of the evil things that happen? Doesn't that make Him the author of evil?

The answer is: Yes, God is in control of evil, but NO He is not the author of evil. God is holy. He never sins. But He does permit sinful things to happen, through the use of secondary means like wicked people, in order to cause a righteous outcome to result. R.C. Sproul puts it something like this. Evil is evil, and it's wrong to call evil good, or good evil. But because God does all things well, then it is ultimately good that evil happens. This truth is reflected in Scriptures like Romans 8:28.

So getting back to your initial question, how does this whole predestination thing work and how can you be sure that you're one of God's chosen people? The biblical answer is: Repent and believe the good news! Don't try to decipher who is and who is not elected. That's not for us to know. We preach the gospel to everyone; the elect respond in faith and are transformed. The reprobate responds in rejection and is not transformed. If you are concerned that your lifestyle is surrounded with sin and your heart just doesn't seem "converted" enough, welcome to the club. Even the Apostle Paul was disgusted with his own sinfulness [Ro. 7:14-25]. The question is, when you discover sin in your life, what do you do?

Remember, we are called to test ourselves to see whether we are in the faith [2 Cor. 13:5], and all mature believers do this regularly. Is my life characterized by repentance and reliance on Christ? If yes, then I'm in the faith and should continue repenting and believing. If no, then I need to start repenting and believing. Obedience doesn't earn us eternal life, but it is evidence that we possess eternal life. What characterizes your lifestyle? Do you love your sins, or do you experience godly sorrow when you disobey [2 Cor. 7:10]? Does your heart mock God and dismiss the reality of divine wrath, or do you fear the Lord and treasure Him [Ps. 73:25-26; Pro. 1:7]?

Hope this helps.

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Awesome!!!!
I'm going to get my wife to read this here....she's confused about the predestination thing too and she says I talk above her head sometimes.

thanks brother!!!

DeaconDean said:

There are a couple of your problems right there. Word of Faith. in and of itself, it is not that bad a denomination. However, I really detest their stance of "faith healing."

I do not like Lutheran Churches and Evangelicals because in most respects, it is in my opinion, they are not far from Catholicism.

Secondly, it is not John Piper speaking to your heart, it is the Holy Spirit.



These topics even "mature" Christians struggle with, so don't feel alone. The doctrines of "predestination" and "reprobation" require lots and lots of study. These are not something you can sit down, read a few passages and think you know what it means. Far from it. While in seminary, I devoted a solid year to these areas.



Well, here again, this is not entirely correct either. Jeremiah said:

"To whom shall I speak, and give warning, that they may hear? behold, their ear is uncircumcised, and they cannot hearken: behold, the word of the LORD is unto them a reproach; they have no delight in it." -Jer. 6:10 (KJV)

This is again repeated in the book of Acts. How many times must a person go to church and listen to the word being preached before they actually hear what is being said?

The Holy Spirit has to open the ears for them to hear. Likewise, you don't go out and sow a garden by just throwing seeds on the ground. No. You have to prepare the ground. And here, the heart is the ground, and the Holy Spirit is preparing it to receive the Word.



First off, it is normal for us to doubt our salvation. And often, it is the devil trying to make you doubt your salvation. If he can get you to that, half his battle is already won. Doubt is good to a certain extent, it makes us examine ourselves to see if we are walking as we should walk, and talking the way we are to talk.



Let me just say this, it is far far easier to walk away and go back into sin than it is to be a Christian. It is by far the hardest thing a person will ever have to do. It is not logical that we believe in a being we cannot see. Place our trust in a person who died in our stead. It is hard for us to believe that a person would leave the glories of heaven, leave His Father, take on the form of a man, only to have His life be made a mockery of, spit on, mocked, beaten, scourged, and ultimately crucified in the most brutal form a man has ever known, all for our sake. Yet this is exactly what He did. Why? Because He loves you, has loved you, will continue to love you, no matter what. In Christ, we have an everlasting love, a peace that "passeth all understanding."

God has said:

"As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us." -Psa. 103:12 (KJV)

God has also said:

"...I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more." -Jer. 31:34 (KJV)

I may remember the things that I have done in the past, but I can rest assured that God will never throw them back up in my face ever again. Once I came under the blood, I was made a new creature. And that dear sister, is another one of the devils tricks. Remember what you did on such-and-such a day? Why would God want a person like you? It is up to you to let go of the past. The only reason why they keep popping up is because you have not let them go. Next time your at the church, go to the altar, pary a simple prayer and leave those things there at the altar. They are not yours to bear. You have already given them up to God. Our shoulders cannot bear the weight, but His can.

His shoulders are so strong they were able to bear the weight of the whole world's sin upon them. Past, present, and future.

Forget about others for the time being. Take your children, read the Bible with them, discuss it with them, pray with them, take them to church. Who cares what your sister says.

Always, always remember, what a freind we have in Jesus!

What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.

Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge, take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do your friends despise, forsake you? Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He’ll take and shield you; you will find a solace there.

Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised Thou wilt all our burdens bear
May we ever, Lord, be bringing all to Thee in earnest prayer.
Soon in glory bright unclouded there will be no need for prayer
Rapture, praise and endless worship will be our sweet portion there.

If you need someone who you can talk to, may I suggest you go to the "Ask a Chaplain" section. They are here just for that purpose.

If there is anything I can do, all you have to do is ask or just PM me.

God Bless

Till all are one.

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I really hope seaofdoubts reads this again! This post is very clear, and straight foreword. This post truly warmed my heart and I know this is God's warmth, His love. There is also some very good advice here. I would like to encourage seaofdoubts to print this out so she can re-read this and pray.

May God Bless you

The only thing I disagree with is that Word of Faith in and of itself is not a bad denom....!
I disagree and from people whom I have known it is harmful to say the least.
I know people say it's the church not the denom, but I've NEVER met anyone not disillusioned after coming out of that denom period. I don't see it's point of existence to begin with here....it offers nothing that other denoms don't in the Truth of the Word of God.
The only thing it offers is the stuff that people I've met ultimately think is harmful in every sort of way.
IMHO.

Thanks for listening.