Growing in Christ

[brinny]

To enjoy your life, start following the God-given desires of your heart instead of the desires of your flesh. You may need to mature in faith before you can tell the difference between your flesh and Spirit led-desires.
One way to tell if you are following a desire of your flesh is that when you step out to do it, you will lose your peace and face a sruggle. If it is not of God, you will feel like you are pushing a dead horse uphill. If it is a God-given desire of the Spirit, it will work like a well-oiled machine. It will flow, with a "Holy case." Start your day right, and follow your heart..

You're a balm for the soul. Amen dear heart (((hug)))))

 

[EarthMomma]

Peter tells us how to make our calling certain, and how to know our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 1:5-11 (KJV) 5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. 10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: 11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

If we don't live in faith, virtue, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, brotherly love, then you will be barren in the knowledge of our Lord. And if we "lack" these things, we have forgotten that we are purged from our old sins."

But if we make our calling and election sure, we shall never fall.

Thus saith the Word of the Lord! and it's is all good.

In peace and love,
EarthMomma

 

[Savedsis]

Regardless of whether we are introverts or extroverts by nature, we all need to spend time alone with God to grow and be renewed in our relationship with Him..Consider the closest relationships in your life, they are undoubtedly with peple with whom you are able to spend time alone, one -to- one, whether in person or via the phone or the mail, to really get to know each other..It's the same with God...If you know him only in the context of the church body or a bible study group or family prayers at home, then you are missing out on a precious and vital facet of your relationship with Him..You can't know him intimately or learn His will and plan for yur life unless you spend time with Him, just the two of you..
Jesus spent hours and hours alone with His Father, praying and being refreshed and encouraged. And, while He certainly didn't live a life of ease and leisure, He wasn't stressed out and overbooked and frazzled. Rather, He was able to accomplish all that the Father set before Him and then declare on the cross, "It is finished>"...Let us spend time alone with God....

 

[angelwind]

Regardless of whether we are introverts or extroverts by nature, we all need to spend time alone with God to grow and be renewed in our relationship with Him..Consider the closest relationships in your life, they are undoubtedly with peple with whom you are able to spend time alone, one -to- one, whether in person or via the phone or the mail, to really get to know each other..It's the same with God...If you know him only in the context of the church body or a bible study group or family prayers at home, then you are missing out on a precious and vital facet of your relationship with Him..You can't know him intimately or learn His will and plan for yur life unless you spend time with Him, just the two of you..
Jesus spent hours and hours alone with His Father, praying and being refreshed and encouraged. And, while He certainly didn't live a life of ease and leisure, He wasn't stressed out and overbooked and frazzled. Rather, He was able to accomplish all that the Father set before Him and then declare on the cross, "It is finished>"...Let us spend time alone with God....

I was thinking about this time ... the time Jesus spent with His Father alone today as I read in John's Gospel:

I have many things to say and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I heard from Him."

"When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself;
but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things.

John 8: 26; 28


This is where Jesus got the words...the words that are Spirit and Life to us...He got them as the Father "taught" Him...wow!!!!!

 

[EarthMomma]

Dear Angel,
Simply delightful observation and insight. Thanks for sharing.

I was thinking about this time ... the time Jesus spent with His Father alone today as I read in John's Gospel:

I have many things to say and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I heard from Him."

"When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself;
but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things.

John 8: 26; 28


This is where Jesus got the words...the words that are Spirit and Life to us...He got them as the Father "taught" Him...wow!!!!!

And He has sent the Holy Spirit to "teach" us, it really is a big wow! I'm amazed at His love and His presence!
And at His body! You all always give me such hope.

Love,
EarthMomma

 

[angelwind]

Dear Angel,
Simply delightful observation and insight. Thanks for sharing.

And He has sent the Holy Spirit to "teach" us, it really is a big wow! I'm amazed at His love and His presence!
And at His body! You all always give me such hope.

Love,
EarthMomma

Thanks EarthMomma... ...the Lord is moving in His church...

 

[EarthMomma]

Regardless of whether we are introverts or extroverts by nature, we all need to spend time alone with God to grow and be renewed in our relationship with Him..Consider the closest relationships in your life, they are undoubtedly with peple with whom you are able to spend time alone, one -to- one, whether in person or via the phone or the mail, to really get to know each other..It's the same with God...If you know him only in the context of the church body or a bible study group or family prayers at home, then you are missing out on a precious and vital facet of your relationship with Him..You can't know him intimately or learn His will and plan for yur life unless you spend time with Him, just the two of you..
Jesus spent hours and hours alone with His Father, praying and being refreshed and encouraged. And, while He certainly didn't live a life of ease and leisure, He wasn't stressed out and overbooked and frazzled. Rather, He was able to accomplish all that the Father set before Him and then declare on the cross, "It is finished>"...Let us spend time alone with God....

So true! And I love this season of my life where He's taught me the importance of spending time alone with Him. And I'm so thankful for how He was always there for me when I thought I didn't have time to spend with Him. Silly me. There are some benefits to getting old.

Thanks Sis!
EarthMomma

 

[Savedsis]

So true! And I love this season of my life where He's taught me the importance of spending time alone with Him. And I'm so thankful for how He was always there for me when I thought I didn't have time to spend with Him. Silly me. There are some benefits to getting old.

Thanks Sis!
EarthMomma

Oh yes, there are. . ..God bless you..

 

[EarthMomma]

On another forum, I've been participating in a Bible study about who I am in Christ. I thought I might share some of the scriptures here (I hope that's OK), and a personal observation or two.

To me, being born again in Christ means to be spiritually born. Not necessarily spiritually mature, but born of the spirit. It's the beginning. And it's the beginning of a life-giving hope that never, ever fades. After all, it's His plan, it can't be wrong.

The wonderful concept of being born again comes from Jesus' instructions to Nicodemus, who came under cover of darkness to learn about Jesus' plan.
Nicodemus believed that Jesus was who He said He was, but Nic just didn't understand the whole born again notion, so Jesus explained it. This born anew is from above, it is born of the Spirit. And it's particularly noteworthy that Nicodemus was a very learned and religious man, and he still had trouble getting it. It's interesting sometimes the answer you get if you ask people if they are born again, clearly many aren't sure, but if you are born of the spirit, believe me there is never any doubt. You might not be able to explain it, but you sure know it.

John 3:5-8 (KJV) 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

If we are in Christ, we become a new creature altogether with the old moral and spiritual condition passing away. The fresh and new has come! We are reconcilled to God as this new born again creature. And all things are of God in our spiritual born again state. We see the world through God's eyes, not eyes of humans, and we see God everywhere in this world. And we are driven by being spiritually born again into ministering reconcilliation to the world, not condemnation.

2 Corinthians 5:14-20 (KJV) 14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: 15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. 16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. 17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.

And the way to "be reconciled to God" is by spiritual rebirth!

Oh the saddness among us when fellow brothers and sisters don't see the glory and peace that comes from being born again of the spirit. There can be no ministry of reconciliation without the kind of new creature that is described in these passages. There can only be dispair without this rebirth.

The Amplified Bible, 1 Peter 1:3 describes this ever-living hope that is from being born again.

1 Pet 1:3 AMP Praised (honored, blessed) be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah)! By His boundless mercy we have been born again to an ever-living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

That ever living hope is so absent from so many who hate the world, even if like Nicodemus, they love God. By God's boundless mercy and Jesus' blood on the cross we are given a way to live in this world, with ever-living hope. God created the world. He put us in the world. And He's given us the way to overcome the world (not escape it) by being born of the spirit into a new creature.

Blessed be God who's given us this lively hope in Christ!! PRAISE HIM! PRAISE HIM! And notice His presence, for He is everywhere. And He keeps us by His power through the trying of our faith, refining us so we bring honor and glory to His name.

1 Peter 1:3-9 (KJV) 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

He commands his readers to set their hope on God's mercy through Christ's revelation, the manifestation of Christ was just for us! He's given us the ability to believe, so our faith and hope might be in Him alone. He's caused us to be born again in an incorruptible way, to live and abide forever in Christ. The Word of the Lord endureth forever, and that's the gospel! And this simply can't be comprehended in the natural world, unless we are born again because this is a spiritual truth, requiring spiritual rebirth! PRAISE HIM!

1 Peter 1:20-25 (KJV) 20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, 21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. 22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: 23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. 24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: 25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

I'd be very interested to hear what being born again means to others. May that ever-living hope be a witness throughout the world!

Acts 22:15 (KJV) For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard.

In love and in Christ,
EarthMomma

 

[angelwind]

Boy...some lights are going on in my spirit today...thanks earthMomma...

My first church...had us trying to go back and constantly "dig up" the old man...and "fix" him (her)...that kind of thinking made me very sick...I nearly had a nervous breakdown...

The Lord has been busy healing all of that, I've come a long way...now fresh and deeper understanding of what my "new creation" is like.

I'm going to read your post several times...it is very good.

The Lord has used these verses many times to help me see I am His child...by His will...I am His...that is the centerpiece for me being a new creation; being born again.

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,
who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
John 1:12-13

 

[Savedsis]

On another forum, I've been participating in a Bible study about who I am in Christ. I thought I might share some of the scriptures here (I hope that's OK), and a personal observation or two.

To me, being born again in Christ means to be spiritually born. Not necessarily spiritually mature, but born of the spirit. It's the beginning. And it's the beginning of a life-giving hope that never, ever fades. After all, it's His plan, it can't be wrong.

The wonderful concept of being born again comes from Jesus' instructions to Nicodemus, who came under cover of darkness to learn about Jesus' plan.
Nicodemus believed that Jesus was who He said He was, but Nic just didn't understand the whole born again notion, so Jesus explained it. This born anew is from above, it is born of the Spirit. And it's particularly noteworthy that Nicodemus was a very learned and religious man, and he still had trouble getting it. It's interesting sometimes the answer you get if you ask people if they are born again, clearly many aren't sure, but if you are born of the spirit, believe me there is never any doubt. You might not be able to explain it, but you sure know it.




If we are in Christ, we become a new creature altogether with the old moral and spiritual condition passing away. The fresh and new has come! We are reconcilled to God as this new born again creature. And all things are of God in our spiritual born again state. We see the world through God's eyes, not eyes of humans, and we see God everywhere in this world. And we are driven by being spiritually born again into ministering reconcilliation to the world, not condemnation.




And the way to "be reconciled to God" is by spiritual rebirth!

Oh the saddness among us when fellow brothers and sisters don't see the glory and peace that comes from being born again of the spirit. There can be no ministry of reconciliation without the kind of new creature that is described in these passages. There can only be dispair without this rebirth.

The Amplified Bible, 1 Peter 1:3 describes this ever-living hope that is from being born again.


That ever living hope is so absent from so many who hate the world, even if like Nicodemus, they love God. By God's boundless mercy and Jesus' blood on the cross we are given a way to live in this world, with ever-living hope. God created the world. He put us in the world. And He's given us the way to overcome the world (not escape it) by being born of the spirit into a new creature.

Blessed be God who's given us this lively hope in Christ!! PRAISE HIM! PRAISE HIM! And notice His presence, for He is everywhere. And He keeps us by His power through the trying of our faith, refining us so we bring honor and glory to His name.





He commands his readers to set their hope on God's mercy through Christ's revelation, the manifestation of Christ was just for us! He's given us the ability to believe, so our faith and hope might be in Him alone. He's caused us to be born again in an incorruptible way, to live and abide forever in Christ. The Word of the Lord endureth forever, and that's the gospel! And this simply can't be comprehended in the natural world, unless we are born again because this is a spiritual truth, requiring spiritual rebirth! PRAISE HIM!





I'd be very interested to hear what being born again means to others. May that ever-living hope be a witness throughout the world!

In love and in Christ,
EarthMomma

 

[Count]

The Lord has just opened my eyes to see the danger I've been through.
During the time when I just wanted to give up and I've been very discouraged, the Devil, which is a Big Liar, whispered very softly in my mind that God has something against me and He left me.

Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. 1 Cor. 10:9

How did they tempt Christ?

And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the LORD, saying, Is the LORD among us, or not? (Exodus 17:7)

Likewise, I was tempted to believe the Liar's lies: Is God still with me when all these things happen to me?
What a stupid question and dangerous situation!

I praise God because He opened my eyes and had mercy on me.

Amen Brother! Let me share with you a message a brother wrote which is relevant to this. Enjoy it!

Hi Don & all,


....I think that's very true. I think our emotions and the feeling of our
faithlessness is very discouraging to us. Our lack of the constant
feeling of faith really gets us down. And because we feel that way,
we assume *God* must feel that way, too. But God does not change!
One of the things that has helped me is to realize that He died for me
already, even though He knew what I was going to do, even though He
knew the doubts I would have, the bad feelings I would feel. He saw
it all ahead of time, but He died for me. He saw all of that and He
loved me! So He still loves me!

Now, let me also say this: God created our emotions.

God is in the business of redeeming that which the enemy has
corrupted. Our emotions are a gift from God and we needn't hate them,
but neither should we be ruled by them. In Christ we are to live by
the *Spirit*. So the Spirit is to have the final say in our lives,
not our emotions---nor our intellect. Many of us in Christianity live
by our intellect, by doctrine. Others of us live by emotions. But
God is calling us to live by the Spirit. Often our intellect and
emotions will indeed bear witness to the Spirit. And as our intellect
and emotions are in submission to the Spirit, the intellect and
emotions become truly wonderful! God redeems them and they become
witnesses to Him, to His wonderful grace living inside of us and to
what He has done for us on the Cross.

So we needn't hate emotions or be afraid of them. I think this is
another trap that the enemy sets for us. We come to Christ and we
eventually lament our ability to remain constant. We naturally begin
to hate our feelings because they take us up and down. But God does
not despise us! He loves us, and has shown His unchanging love for us
by dying for us. He saw everything we were going to think, feel, and
do, but He died for us. He "predestined", "pre-ordained" our
salvation in His love. And I think that's where we need to keep our
focus. That's the ONLY way I can keep my focus, actually.

So many times I've felt bad about myself, and assumed He must feel
that way. But when I check with Him, He says, "No" and holds His arms
out to me. I discover each time (Hallelu Yah!) that He is accepting.
And I begin to understand how King David had so many ups and downs,
yet God called him "a man after My own heart". We tend to have our
own idea of what we think God wants, what we think He approves, but
His idea is much, much better, and surprising, too. So I'm praying
that I'll realize He does not look down on me when I doubt or feel
down, but that He's still there, and that I can rise above feelings by
turning to Him, the Spirit. And I praise Him for the beautiful gift
of the emotions He's given me, us.

In Him,
Ramone

 

[brinny]

Wow, as I was reading, I was thinking about King David and how he was the 'apple of God's eye', then DAvid is mentioned. Weee Haaaaaaaaa! He had his ups n' downs and was chock full of emotion...but that's precisely why I can relate to him.....He fell big time, but then, a 'pivotal' piece here to why he was so dear to God's heart, is that he went back to his Father, actually I picture him either running back to Him or crumpling to his knees in a heap in brokenness.

I'm sooooo thankful God is Who He is, and that He knows me, and that He has a plan and all I need do is to continually come to Him. In the twinkling of an eye, all is wiped away and we are in His arms and we can rejoice.

I was listening to a song earlier about 'when I see His face' ....I imagine Him smiling, rejoicing, and celebrating the likes I have not seen.....can you imagine His joy just exploding...with all of heaven in unison? Doesn't that boggle yer mind?

 

[EarthMomma]

Dear Count,
Thank you so much for sharing this message of great worth.

Amen Brother! Let me share with you a message a brother wrote which is relevant to this. Enjoy it!

Hi Don & all,


....I think that's very true. I think our emotions and the feeling of our
faithlessness is very discouraging to us. Our lack of the constant
feeling of faith really gets us down. And because we feel that way,
we assume *God* must feel that way, too. But God does not change!
One of the things that has helped me is to realize that He died for me
already, even though He knew what I was going to do, even though He
knew the doubts I would have, the bad feelings I would feel. He saw
it all ahead of time, but He died for me. He saw all of that and He
loved me! So He still loves me!

Now, let me also say this: God created our emotions.

God is in the business of redeeming that which the enemy has
corrupted. Our emotions are a gift from God and we needn't hate them,
but neither should we be ruled by them. In Christ we are to live by
the *Spirit*. So the Spirit is to have the final say in our lives,
not our emotions---nor our intellect. Many of us in Christianity live
by our intellect, by doctrine. Others of us live by emotions. But
God is calling us to live by the Spirit. Often our intellect and
emotions will indeed bear witness to the Spirit. And as our intellect
and emotions are in submission to the Spirit, the intellect and
emotions become truly wonderful! God redeems them and they become
witnesses to Him, to His wonderful grace living inside of us and to
what He has done for us on the Cross.

So we needn't hate emotions or be afraid of them. I think this is
another trap that the enemy sets for us. We come to Christ and we
eventually lament our ability to remain constant. We naturally begin
to hate our feelings because they take us up and down. But God does
not despise us! He loves us, and has shown His unchanging love for us
by dying for us. He saw everything we were going to think, feel, and
do, but He died for us. He "predestined", "pre-ordained" our
salvation in His love. And I think that's where we need to keep our
focus. That's the ONLY way I can keep my focus, actually.

So many times I've felt bad about myself, and assumed He must feel
that way. But when I check with Him, He says, "No" and holds His arms
out to me. I discover each time (Hallelu Yah!) that He is accepting.
And I begin to understand how King David had so many ups and downs,
yet God called him "a man after My own heart". We tend to have our
own idea of what we think God wants, what we think He approves, but
His idea is much, much better, and surprising, too. So I'm praying
that I'll realize He does not look down on me when I doubt or feel
down, but that He's still there, and that I can rise above feelings by
turning to Him, the Spirit. And I praise Him for the beautiful gift
of the emotions He's given me, us.

In Him,
Ramone

I love the insight about accepting the emotions that God has given us. Accepting who we are through Christ is an important step to growth, for then we can look to Him as to what we learn from and how we grow in our emotions. After all, God is love and that is the greatest emotion when we see it as Godly love, and as attainable for us, because He says it is.

Thanks again,
Your sister in Christ,
EarthMomma

 

[vasile]

Amen Brother! Let me share with you a message a brother wrote which is relevant to this. Enjoy it!

Hi Don & all,


....I think that's very true. I think our emotions and the feeling of our
faithlessness is very discouraging to us. Our lack of the constant
feeling of faith really gets us down. And because we feel that way,
we assume *God* must feel that way, too. But God does not change!
One of the things that has helped me is to realize that He died for me
already, even though He knew what I was going to do, even though He
knew the doubts I would have, the bad feelings I would feel. He saw
it all ahead of time, but He died for me. He saw all of that and He
loved me! So He still loves me!

Now, let me also say this: God created our emotions.

God is in the business of redeeming that which the enemy has
corrupted. Our emotions are a gift from God and we needn't hate them,
but neither should we be ruled by them. In Christ we are to live by
the *Spirit*. So the Spirit is to have the final say in our lives,
not our emotions---nor our intellect. Many of us in Christianity live
by our intellect, by doctrine. Others of us live by emotions. But
God is calling us to live by the Spirit. Often our intellect and
emotions will indeed bear witness to the Spirit. And as our intellect
and emotions are in submission to the Spirit, the intellect and
emotions become truly wonderful! God redeems them and they become
witnesses to Him, to His wonderful grace living inside of us and to
what He has done for us on the Cross.

So we needn't hate emotions or be afraid of them. I think this is
another trap that the enemy sets for us. We come to Christ and we
eventually lament our ability to remain constant. We naturally begin
to hate our feelings because they take us up and down. But God does
not despise us! He loves us, and has shown His unchanging love for us
by dying for us. He saw everything we were going to think, feel, and
do, but He died for us. He "predestined", "pre-ordained" our
salvation in His love. And I think that's where we need to keep our
focus. That's the ONLY way I can keep my focus, actually.

So many times I've felt bad about myself, and assumed He must feel
that way. But when I check with Him, He says, "No" and holds His arms
out to me. I discover each time (Hallelu Yah!) that He is accepting.
And I begin to understand how King David had so many ups and downs,
yet God called him "a man after My own heart". We tend to have our
own idea of what we think God wants, what we think He approves, but
His idea is much, much better, and surprising, too. So I'm praying
that I'll realize He does not look down on me when I doubt or feel
down, but that He's still there, and that I can rise above feelings by
turning to Him, the Spirit. And I praise Him for the beautiful gift
of the emotions He's given me, us.

In Him,
Ramone

The brother who wrote you the letter is wise and quite true!
The difficulty which I see in many Christians is: to turn our eyes, our thoughts from ourselves to Christ.
Many times we assume that our emotions represent us when in fact many times they are Satan's lies.

How much we all need to keep growing in Christ!!!
How much we all need to live by the Spirit!!!

I'm just reading concomitantly the Kings and Chronicles from the Bible. I noticed that all Judas' Kings are compared to King David, who had a full heart for the Lord. But even some of them did not fully follow the Lord, they found mercy when they humbled before the Lord, acknowledged Him and turned their ways from idols to God. They prevailed their enemies.
Yes, David made mistakes but he humbled before the Lord all his life. Whenever God reproved him, he didn't harden his heart but weeped before the Lord.
He had a heart dear to God's heart.
-------------------------------------
Count, while reading the first time this thread, 3-4 months ago, I noticed one of your posts. Reading your recent post I remembered about it.

They are just brothers learning to love each other under the headship of only a Man, who is Jesus Christ. Unfortunately that church is in a neighbor country of Greece and there are such churches all over the US so I have not had the chance of being part of that church, and pursuing Christ together.

Does the neighbor country of Greece, which you mentioned above, happen to be Cyprus? I know some brothers there.

 

[Count]

The brother who wrote you the letter is wise and quite true!
The difficulty which I see in many Christians is: to turn our eyes, our thoughts from ourselves to Christ.
Many times we assume that our emotions represent us when in fact many times they are Satan's lies.

How much we all need to keep growing in Christ!!!
How much we all need to live by the Spirit!!!

I'm just reading concomitantly the Kings and Chronicles from the Bible. I noticed that all Judas' Kings are compared to King David, who had a full heart for the Lord. But even some of them did not fully follow the Lord, they found mercy when they humbled before the Lord, acknowledged Him and turned their ways from idols to God. They prevailed their enemies.
Yes, David made mistakes but he humbled before the Lord all his life. Whenever God reproved him, he didn't harden his heart but weeped before the Lord.
He had a heart dear to God's heart.
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Count, while reading the first time this thread, 3-4 months ago, I noticed one of your posts. Reading your recent post I remembered about it.




Does the neighbor country of Greece, which you mentioned above, happen to be Cyprus? I know some brothers there.

No brother, it is not Cyprus. It is Albania. But praise the Lord there are people who pursue Him in a simple way everywhere in the world. I even know there are Christians who gather in simplicity in Timishoara, Romania.

 

[EarthMomma]

How do we continue to grow inspite of the firey trials we encounter personally and observe throughout the world? How do we avoid the adversary's seduction to use our natural emotions in an ungodly way? How do we overcome the tendency to worry?

In my humble opinion, we commit it ALL to God, constantly, never ceasing to praise Him.

Philippians 4:4-7 (KJV) 4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. 5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Don't worry, pray: the peace of God will keep your heart.

And when you do worry or are overcome with Godly sorrow, don't look around and point fingers at the world, pray. And rejoice. We all struggle with worrying, but the Bible so clearly tells us not to worry about anything, but to pray about everything. Not only is worrying useless, it dishonors God. Worry is the opposite of faith.

May we commit ourselves to pray for increased faith, for that will help us to walk in righteousness and deepen our commitment to turn it all over to Him.

Hebrews 11:6 (KJV) But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

This truly is cause to rejoice!

Your sister in Christ,
EarthMomma

 

[Savedsis]

How do we continue to grow inspite of the firey trials we encounter personally and observe throughout the world? How do we avoid the adversary's seduction to use our natural emotions in an ungodly way? How do we overcome the tendency to worry?

In my humble opinion, we commit it ALL to God, constantly, never ceasing to praise Him.

Don't worry, pray: the peace of God will keep your heart.

And when you do worry or are overcome with Godly sorrow, don't look around and point fingers at the world, pray. And rejoice. We all struggle with worrying, but the Bible so clearly tells us not to worry about anything, but to pray about everything. Not only is worrying useless, it dishonors God. Worry is the opposite of faith.

May we commit ourselves to pray for increased faith, for that will help us to walk in righteousness and deepen our commitment to turn it all over to Him.
This truly is cause to rejoice!

Your sister in Christ,
EarthMomma

Amen....When you feel confused, fearful, depressed, or anxious, take the Bible in hand and say, "This book is on my side. My soul is starving, and this is food for my spirit. I want to do the right thing and reading the Bible is always the right thing to do..Lord, I thank You for Your Word. Reveal Yourself to me as I read it and le *** come alive in my heart and mind. Show me what I need to know for my life today. Let Your Word penetrate through anything that would block me from receiving it." Then begin to read until you sense peace coming into your heart.
While the Bible was written to give you knowledge of the Lord, it takes the Holy Spirit to bring a particular Scripture alive to your heart. When that happens, take it as God speaking words of comfort, hope, and guidance directly to you..The Bible says, "For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope". (Rom. 15:4)

 

[EarthMomma]

And amen to you saved sis. I love the verse you quote.

Amen....When you feel confused, fearful, depressed, or anxious, take the Bible in hand and say, "This book is on my side. My soul is starving, and this is food for my spirit. I want to do the right thing and reading the Bible is always the right thing to do..Lord, I thank You for Your Word. Reveal Yourself to me as I read it and le *** come alive in my heart and mind. Show me what I need to know for my life today. Let Your Word penetrate through anything that would block me from receiving it." Then begin to read until you sense peace coming into your heart.
While the Bible was written to give you knowledge of the Lord, it takes the Holy Spirit to bring a particular Scripture alive to your heart. When that happens, take it as God speaking words of comfort, hope, and guidance directly to you..The Bible says, "For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope". (Rom. 15:4)

What was written for our learning, as well as the experiences we encounter, are all so that we have patience and comfort and build that hopeful expectation in Christ. Thanks.

 

[bfly]

Great lessons here. Thank you