Just Trying To Find My Way.

[FordSimmons]

Alright, here it goes.Before I even begin to explain what I believe or struggle to believe, I think it is appropo to tell you about my background, my life.I was born to parents with money. They took a lot of trips, etc, went to horse races, the normal "Southern Folks With Money" crowd. And of course, we went to church. Not every week, but we went. I guess the best way to describe it was "passively" attending church. Sing hyms, listen to the preacher, and the rest of the week do your own thing.Well my parents divorced when I was 11, but that introduced me to a Baptist church my dad was attending. From the age of 14 till 18 I went to MissionFuge, a week long summer camp for middle and high schools to spread the word of Christ through working in a community in Philly, NY, or wherever else we went. I went, and it didnt really affect me.It wasnt until I was 18 that I started really thinking about the unsurety of the future, about my plans after college. I quickly got over that, however. Now that im in college, and about to graduate in May 2007, I am unsure of my future life and plans as well. I am struggling to find my place in life and struggling to find what I believe in. The other religions do not make sense to me. Whether it be elephants holding up the world, or just morals that do not make any sense to me, religions dont hold up.Except for Christianity. Christianity, to me, is noble. I just dont know why I cannot accept Christ and change my life. I am thinking its the whole "change of life and culture." I am afraid of leaving the "me" now and heading into a new "me." I dont know if anyone would accept that, and I doubt I should care who doesnt accept it because they probably arent Christians. My girlfriend, who is agnostic like me, wouldnt want me to really give my life in the direction of Christ because that would mean no more sex until marriage, and I really dont want to lose her. Shes so important to me. I love her deeply. I dont think she finds sex too important, but, she means a ton.I am struggling to find my place in life and I know finding that "place" is important. Im a good person, but I know being a good person isnt going to cut it in the eyes of God, according to Christianity. I try to be nice and pleasant with everyone and help others whenever possible. I guess I just need everyones prayers.Thank you guys. I hope I can find my way.

 

[AllTalkNoAction]

Hi Ford,You lack vision of what you can be like. It's not "I just dont know why I cannot accept Christ and change my life", it's receiving a New Life, not turning over a new leaf - the bible says the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, and we have the mind of Christ and "if any man be in christ he is a new creature, old things are passed away, behold, all things are become new".No doubt you have read & heard all these things before, but the people that originally wrote these things actually had them - *they* had all received the infilling of God's Spirit, as detailed in Acts 2v4, 33; 10v44-46. The new tongue (unlearned prayer language) signifies the new heart, this is the "born again" experience.Have you had the same ?www.revivalusa.org

 

[hungrytiger]

Alright, here it goes.Before I even begin to explain what I believe or struggle to believe, I think it is appropo to tell you about my background, my life.I was born to parents with money. They took a lot of trips, etc, went to horse races, the normal "Southern Folks With Money" crowd. And of course, we went to church. Not every week, but we went. I guess the best way to describe it was "passively" attending church. Sing hyms, listen to the preacher, and the rest of the week do your own thing.Well my parents divorced when I was 11, but that introduced me to a Baptist church my dad was attending. From the age of 14 till 18 I went to MissionFuge, a week long summer camp for middle and high schools to spread the word of Christ through working in a community in Philly, NY, or wherever else we went. I went, and it didnt really affect me.It wasnt until I was 18 that I started really thinking about the unsurety of the future, about my plans after college. I quickly got over that, however. Now that im in college, and about to graduate in May 2007, I am unsure of my future life and plans as well. I am struggling to find my place in life and struggling to find what I believe in. The other religions do not make sense to me. Whether it be elephants holding up the world, or just morals that do not make any sense to me, religions dont hold up.Except for Christianity. Christianity, to me, is noble. I just dont know why I cannot accept Christ and change my life. I am thinking its the whole "change of life and culture." I am afraid of leaving the "me" now and heading into a new "me."

That is hard. Change is almost always scary. But it can be good. You talk about struggling to find what you believe in. I think that's a wonderful thing, to look at what you believe and why. They're questions that need to be asked.

Even if you don't accept Christ, you'll still change. We are incapable of standing still. We're either changing one way or another. Why not make that change for the best?

I dont know if anyone would accept that, and I doubt I should care who doesnt accept it because they probably arent Christians. My girlfriend, who is agnostic like me, wouldnt want me to really give my life in the direction of Christ because that would mean no more sex until marriage, and I really dont want to lose her. Shes so important to me. I love her deeply. I dont think she finds sex too important, but, she means a ton.

In a way, you're absolutely right you shouldn't care what other people think. You just should do what is right to the best of your knowledge.

But then again, while we should always be doing what is right, that includes loving others. We were made to love God and other people. I see that your girlfriend is important to you. That's wonderful! If you love her, talk to her. Talk to her about this. Like I said before, you can't just stand still. She can't either nor your relationship. If you want to stay together, include her in your life where ever life leads you. Listen to her and give her the chance to listen to you. If she loves you, I think she'll want to hear, even if she doesn't like it.

I am struggling to find my place in life and I know finding that "place" is important. Im a good person, but I know being a good person isnt going to cut it in the eyes of God, according to Christianity. I try to be nice and pleasant with everyone and help others whenever possible. I guess I just need everyones prayers.Thank you guys. I hope I can find my way.

It is a tough struggle, but, I believe, a worthwhile one. I've tried to be helpful with what I've said, but I'm often wrong. So please forgive me if I've done that again. Anyway, you have my prayers. May God help you to find the way.

 

[Dr. Holly]

Hi FordSimmons,

First of all, I am certainly lifting you up in my prayers.

Yes, it is scary at first to imagine what it's going to be like (the changes that happen) once you accept Christ. Know that the enemy wants you to believe that your life will fall apart once you give your life over to Jesus. He wants you to think that you'll lose who you are and everything that you love. It's true that changes do take place in one's life once they accept Christ, but in the Bible it says:

[bible]Jeremiah 29:11[/bible]

This pull that you feel is likely the Lord speaking to you through His Holy Spirit. He wants you to be one of His chosen people, to fulfill the God given destiny that He placed on your life before you were born.

Just continue to pray that the Lord would reveal Himself to you strongly and that He would help you to find your way. Perhaps you can even be a living witness to your girlfriend and change her life and heart as well and bring her to Christ. God loves you so much and He only wants what is best for you! You are in my prayers! God bless you, brother!

 

[tapero]

Dear Lord, I pray for FordSimmons. It sounds like you are calling him and I pray he 'hear' you. There is nothing as wonderful as Christ in one's life and I pray he find that more important than anything. Please show yourself to him and help him. In Jesus name I pray. Amen

 

[TrollSA]

Hey... U r in my prayers too and I know God will show u the TRUTH! *smile*... Welcome to CF once again...

 

[TexasGirl06]

Hey FordSimmons....

I think .... ( I know)
that if you ask any Christian about their life before Christ...
and their life with Christ....
they will tell you that the two do not even compare ...
and that their life with Christ is way more of a life.

Because (and you probably know this)....
when we bring our sins to the foot of the cross...
and ask Jesus to forgive us,
The Holy Spirit comes to dwell in our body.

Wow. That's huge.

God (Holy Spirit) lives in my body !

Way too cool.
There is nothing better !

Perhaps God might be drawing you to Himself.
I pray that our Father in Heaven is doing just that.

There is something about "giving up control" that tends to scare people.
Well....you can give up control to God !
He's God!
Trust Him with your life.
He made you for His purposes.
It's really not about you.
It's about Him.
He loves you so much.

That was your sin on Jesus that day.
Do you know that?
He died for you.
He loves you that much.

But, what He did was a gift for you.
Will you accept the gift?
Will you accept the gift of life eternal with Him in Heaven when you leave this earth?

Be Blessed....

 

[Johnnz]

Can you identify why you find belief hard. Soemtimes church culture can kind of innoculate us from belief by giving us christian concepts without establishing valid grounds for bekief in the first place.

Sex or God is a hard call for many. God only wants your best, and if youcan relate to Him in some way he is able to work with you through that issue.

John
NZ

 

[rusmeister]

Hello, FS!

You have to decide what's more important to you, whatever you do. We all want to have it both ways - the way we want it (sin), and the way we know it should be (God's plan for our lives, which beats the heck out of our own muddled plans) - it's also called serving God or serving mammon. It will always be a struggle, so the question is, which side of the struggle do you want to be on? Against God's demands or against sin?
I hope you find your way to the Orthodox Church, but it's important to make that other decision first.

Lord, have mercy on Your servant!

God bless!

 

[YourChild]

Alright, here it goes.Before I even begin to explain what I believe or struggle to believe, I think it is appropo to tell you about my background, my life.I was born to parents with money. They took a lot of trips, etc, went to horse races, the normal "Southern Folks With Money" crowd. And of course, we went to church. Not every week, but we went. I guess the best way to describe it was "passively" attending church. Sing hyms, listen to the preacher, and the rest of the week do your own thing.Well my parents divorced when I was 11, but that introduced me to a Baptist church my dad was attending. From the age of 14 till 18 I went to MissionFuge, a week long summer camp for middle and high schools to spread the word of Christ through working in a community in Philly, NY, or wherever else we went. I went, and it didnt really affect me.It wasnt until I was 18 that I started really thinking about the unsurety of the future, about my plans after college. I quickly got over that, however. Now that im in college, and about to graduate in May 2007, I am unsure of my future life and plans as well. I am struggling to find my place in life and struggling to find what I believe in. The other religions do not make sense to me. Whether it be elephants holding up the world, or just morals that do not make any sense to me, religions dont hold up.Except for Christianity. Christianity, to me, is noble. I just dont know why I cannot accept Christ and change my life. I am thinking its the whole "change of life and culture." I am afraid of leaving the "me" now and heading into a new "me." I dont know if anyone would accept that, and I doubt I should care who doesnt accept it because they probably arent Christians. My girlfriend, who is agnostic like me, wouldnt want me to really give my life in the direction of Christ because that would mean no more sex until marriage, and I really dont want to lose her. Shes so important to me. I love her deeply. I dont think she finds sex too important, but, she means a ton.I am struggling to find my place in life and I know finding that "place" is important. Im a good person, but I know being a good person isnt going to cut it in the eyes of God, according to Christianity. I try to be nice and pleasant with everyone and help others whenever possible. I guess I just need everyones prayers.Thank you guys. I hope I can find my way.

A nonChristian thinks that being a Christian means you lose a big part of your life and theres nothing to enjoy in the new life. Thats all completely backwards, like totally. You have way more to gain, more than you could ever imagine, once you rest your life in God's Hands. When I first started discovering Christ I came across a reading that said to "surrender your life to Him" and I thought to myself..."but but its my whole life..to give up my whole life to Him?....what will I have left? what am I going to do after I have given up my life?"
Man was I ever so wrong to think that way. the thought was initially there but it didnt stop me from letting the ball continue rolling.. He was already starting to change me so I told myself I'm just gonna go all the way with this. I'm going to be as holy as I can be...And bamb! struck in love with Him like I never imagined...I was a gambler for more than 7 years, smoked about 10 years..did drugs for about 9 years...drank couple years...and OTHER stuff....bamb! all of it stopped over night. Just like that..nothing but love pouring inside me..I felt filthy..felt like a loser ...but today I feel valuable...I feel greaaatt!

 

[Shubunkin]

I know you are really struggling right now. We are all sinners and need to repent. It is sometimes very hard, and sometimes it lasts a long time. We need to encourage you through prayer.

I will be praying for you.