How Far Can We Love?

[skinnymike1]

Simply being quiet with God is good. Ones fear quiet; because as they become quiet, they get abused and violated by fears and worries and boredom and loneliness and depression and frustration and hurry and stress and memories of past hurts and unforgiveness and bitterness and lusts for pleasures and excitements . . . all Satan's design play to keep us from becoming quiet and sweetly sensitive in submission to God. So, we need God to fight the spiritual battle to bring us into quiet rest with Him, and so we are pleasing to Him >

"rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God." (1 Peter 3:4)

That is a point And you have given your word, but however you meant it, I consider. So, now . . . even if you realize you made a hasty promise and find you are, even so, obligated to keep it, you can still be prayerful to discover what God wants you to do with this, and make His good use of whatever is the case.

So, we need to not get into a way of looking down on her and despising her, but we get judged first >

"For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?" (1 Peter 4:17)

If you gave your word, this might "trump" a thing or two. How God understands is what matters, not how an ungodly person wants to counsel you. So, now we can do whatsoever God has us doing, how He blesses and deeply satisfies us in the guiding of His own peace > Colossians 3:15 > so, Mike , even if you did make a wrong and unwise and unprayed-out promise, now we can do whatever God pleases. There is plenty good we can do, with or without money!

By the way, there was that time when Jesus' mother and Jesus' brothers went to call for Jesus, right while Jesus was ministering, and she did not trump His attention, I think you can read for yourself, in Mark 3:31-35. He did not go right out to His mother, but at least He gave time and attention to saying what this scripture says He said.

So, how God guides our attention trumps however anyone and everything else would control our attention.

I would say that what you meant by your promise is what God could expect. And I consider that if a person makes a wrong promise, which it would be a sin to do, then God would not require us to do what Satan gets us to promise; I am not saying if this applies to you, though. In any case, you did not promise to give in to however she dictates, did you? So, do what God has you do.

And if you do not "know" how to submit to how God personally guides you, this is what you, most of all, need to deal with. This is so more valuable than money; and while we are in His personal guiding, we can simply flow with Him, whether He tells us what to do or not, I trust And enjoy the ride in how He does guide in His grace

Also, how well have you prayed about your career and how God wants you to invest money in education and/or whatever? Possibly, He is working in "mysterious ways" to slow you down from what He does not really want. Or > even if He intends to bring you into engineering, you need to grow and develop in the character you will need for being a Christian engineer, including learning how to deal and relate and negotiate with various people, like your mother and other people So, seek God's correction (Hebrews 12:4-11) of His love's perfection (1 John 4:17), so you are as mature as possible for study and a later career, with emphasis included on how to relate with different people, and how to make sure with God about making any commitments.

So, I do find it admirable and encouraging that you are willing to sacrifice your education money because you value keeping your word. This can be worth more than any amount of money. But you could have a "lesson", here, about how we need to make sure with God about what we do, what we promise . . . and how we vow or not.

I suppose you knew what you meant and intended, by whatever you promised. I would think that would "figure in" to this.

I appreciate the practical advice. Well, I have been having my periods of quiet time throughout the past week with no music playing and my phone put away and I just hear my own thoughts and desires, like you mentioned, or just floating thoughts that pass through my mind from time to time. It's very hard not to think of anything during these periods of meditation, or to filter out what you think is your voice and what you think is God's voice.
I agree this is foremost more precious than any money or anything, to work on myself and to hear His voice and submitting to Him so I can plainly hear what He says do which will make life less complicated and knowing how to move about any situation with His leading. Without that I can do what I think is right but it will only go so far.

Wow, I never knew it was a sin to make a wrong promise! But though, I felt I haven't broken my promise because I did promise I would help and I have, even if I was to stop at this point. That was how it was in my mind that I would help when I could but she took it another way and can't see the promise how I meant it in my own mind.

That's another way to think about it too. I have prayed over what career I am to be doing but it is possible God can be trying to divert me from this path or using this to help me in my relations with other people I come in contact with.

But I do find this a great lesson not to make unprayed promises (which I didn't pray over because I made the decision on the spot) and to make sure with God first with everything, which I did not do in this problem.

Dear Skinnymike. Love is all or nothing. In Matthew 22: 35-40: Jesus tells us: " The first and great Commandment is: Love God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. The second is like it: love your neighbour as yourself." In verse 40 we are told:"On these two Commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." God is Love, and God wants loving sons and daughters. We might stumble and forget at times, but then we ask God to forgive us, and carry on loving and caring, being kind and always friendly. God will see our loving efforts, and God will Bless us.
a Christian`s weapon is Love, with love we can overcome all enmity, and wrong behaviour. The Holy Spirit will help and guide us, and Jesus our Saviour will lead us all the way: JESUS IS THE WAY. We should not ask ourselves: How Far Can We Love, we should always love, and care. God wants loving men and women, love will change everything into Joy and Peace and Well-Being.
The Bible tells us: " Repent and be Born Again," give up all selfish wishes and wants, and start be loving and caring.
Love God with heart, soul and mind, and love our neighbour as we would love to be loved. Love is all-embracing, and always victorious. Let love change our lives, and change us into the sons and daughters which God wants.
Let us always remember: " God will not be mocked, Man will always reap what he sows, women too.
( Galatians 6: 7-8 I say this with love, Skinnymike. Greetings from Emmy, your sister in Christ.

I pray for this love, and that is the love I hope will guide me in this situation. Thanks for sharing sister. Have you been able to keep this?

SM - I understand the constraints of Engineering school. My degree is in Engineering.

Does your mom now (or has she in the past) attended a local church? If so - I would contact the pastor/elders/deacons there and try to arrange something with them.

You need to be focused on your schoolwork right now.

Thanks for letting me know the road you walked is the one I am walking. She has attended a local church but she hasn't shared with me the names. She has had churches do things for her, even for them to raise money for her to return to her home country (she is not from America). When she did come home she caused some problems for her family and told them to pay for her ticket back to America.

So I don't know if that church would be all that welcoming to her again after basically misusing their money to return her home.

 

[com7fy8]

It's very hard not to think of anything during these periods of meditation, or to filter out what you think is your voice and what you think is God's voice.

I trust God about this, that He will make my mind more with Him.

I felt I haven't broken my promise because I did promise I would help and I have, even if I was to stop at this point.

There is all that God is committed to, in this and everything else in your life. So, keep being prayerful to discover all that is His will and purpose, with all His promises . . . the way He means them!

That was how it was in my mind that I would help when I could but she took it another way and can't see the promise how I meant it in my own mind.

I try not to make promises, but there are times when I try to do more than ones would want me to promise. But in this case, of your mother, I would say pray and God is able to make you clear. Like I say, you can learn most of all how to relate with her and trust her to God, so this is what you become mature in doing in all your relating, possibly in marriage and bringing up children and relating with people while engineering.

God's plan has not been thrown off track, at all

I made the decision on the spot

But, possibly, you have been trusting God to guide you and take care of you. So, it could be He wants this. And if your mother has some authority or right, in this, I would think your father might have some authority to say what is good, also. But most of all keep looking to God.

 

[skinnymike1]

I trust God about this, that He will make my mind more with Him.

There is all that God is committed to, in this and everything else in your life. So, keep being prayerful to discover all that is His will and purpose, with all His promises . . . the way He means them!

I try not to make promises, but there are times when I try to do more than ones would want me to promise. But in this case, of your mother, I would say pray and God is able to make you clear. Like I say, you can learn most of all how to relate with her and trust her to God, so this is what you become mature in doing in all your relating, possibly in marriage and bringing up children and relating with people while engineering.

God's plan has not been thrown off track, at all

But, possibly, you have been trusting God to guide you and take care of you. So, it could be He wants this. And if your mother has some authority or right, in this, I would think your father might have some authority to say what is good, also. But most of all keep looking to God.

Thank for you for this advice, forgive my late reply. I have been praying a lot more because of this and that in itself is a good thing for my spiritual life, and I am trusting God for His breakthrough in this situation. Now I also know the weight of making promises or agreements, and I will surely take that with me in the future.

 

[com7fy8]

@skinnymike1 God bless you, Mike; and consider that we are all with one another; you are not on your own. We are a body, in Jesus, with members helping one another, in prayer and example.

Also, we have the Holy Spirit making "intercession for us" (Romans 8:26) and Jesus also making "intercession for us" (Romans 8:34) . . . according to His faith!!!

So, don't be "surprised" if things work out better than you and even your prayer heroes might be praying and hoping for. Grow more, seek our Father for His correction > Hebrews 12:4-11 < because we will need His correction so we are prepared and ready to see and appreciate and handle how well He will do things with us

 

[TravelerFarAwayFromHome]

@skinnymike1 G We are a body, in Jesus, with members helping one another, in prayer and example.

it remind me of this song.

"*We are family I got all my sisters with me We are familyGet up, everybody, and sing...."

 

[CCHIPSS]

Have you consider going on vacation to where she lives? Just spent 2 weeks with her to find out more about her. Talk with her neighbors, friends, social workers, etc to find out the truth. etc.

It is really hard for you to make a decision without more evidence. Right now it is just she said she needs money and then she gets angry if anyone questions her. I am not saying she is lying. But you need to find more evidence first.

 

[skinnymike1]

@skinnymike1 God bless you, Mike; and consider that we are all with one another; you are not on your own. We are a body, in Jesus, with members helping one another, in prayer and example.

Also, we have the Holy Spirit making "intercession for us" (Romans 8:26) and Jesus also making "intercession for us" (Romans 8:34) . . . according to His faith!!!

So, don't be "surprised" if things work out better than you and even your prayer heroes might be praying and hoping for. Grow more, seek our Father for His correction > Hebrews 12:4-11 < because we will need His correction so we are prepared and ready to see and appreciate and handle how well He will do things with us

Amen, I will be expecting a great thing brother. May God Have is way!

Have you consider going on vacation to where she lives? Just spent 2 weeks with her to find out more about her. Talk with her neighbors, friends, social workers, etc to find out the truth. etc.

It is really hard for you to make a decision without more evidence. Right now it is just she said she needs money and then she gets angry if anyone questions her. I am not saying she is lying. But you need to find more evidence first.

That's a great idea, and I have been thinking about it whenever I have a chance on my summer break to try and go and visit. It is just that I fear if I can barely withstand her with this much distance between us, I scarce think how I it would be if I was around her.

Just recently, she told me she wasn't going to speak with me anymore and not to ever find her unless I come to my senses because she thinks I am doing homosexual things with my roommate in my apartment after I keep proving to her on the contrary. I just need God's intervention.