Now I finally understand

[snickerdoodle]

Hello everyone! The last time you saw me was in a thread here about smoking marijuana. You know, I have to be honest...I didn't come back because I didn't like the answers I got. LOL Sometimes I'm such a silly human.

But some important things have happened since then. Now I finally understand, and I apologise to everyone here for my bull-headedness on the matter. No, I didn't get abrasive with anyone, but rather, I chose to ignore what people were telling me. More important, was my decision to ignore what God was telling me. Yikes!!!

That thread planted a seed in my mind though. I couldn't stop thinking about it. I prayed about it. I prayed about it again. I prayed and prayed and prayed some more.

It got to a point where every time I smoked, I just didn't enjoy it like I used to. In fact, I became ashamed. This was not the person God wanted me to be.

So...after 33 years of smoking pot, I gave it up. I'm done.

I'm feeling so much better now. God led me back to the church, and boy howdy, is it ever a wonderous place to be! Let me tell you, I am loving God's house!!

I make time to read God's Word every day. I have a Bible that I can understand, and wow!! It just blows me away! What an awesome God we have!!

And prayer. I talk to Jesus and our Heavenly Father every day, many many times a day. I can't even begin to express what a difference that has made in my life. Just by putting God first in my life has made significant changes for the better happen. He's the first person I talk to every single day.

So, before this post goes into "novel mode" (too late? LOL) I'll conclude by saying this...

Thank you all for planting that seed. Now, I finally understand.

Much love from your sister in Christ,
...Gayle

 

[AvgJoe]

God works in mysterious ways.

Congradulations! Praise God for showing you the truth, giving you the strength to walk away and bringing about so many wonderful changes in your life. Amen!!

I smoked cigarettes for 20 years and my wife for 10 and we have been smoke-free now for almost 10 months. It is wonderful to be set free from the bondage of sin.

 

[snickerdoodle]

Thank you, AvgJoe!

Yes, yes indeed, I give the glory to God. Without Him, I am nothing.

 

[Angeldove97]

God bless you Gayle!! Keep strong and keep your heart focused on God. Though I have never had a problem being addicted to any kind of substance, as I dedicate my life more and more to God I find it easier to turn away from sins.

I'm glad the advice you were given here has helped you and please keep your heart open to the Lord's will and keep praying.

 

[snickerdoodle]

Thank you, Angeldove97!

Thankfully, an addiction to pot is more of a mental thing, rather than a physical one. So, I'm not suffering from any kind of physical withdrawl or anything like that.

My biggest test is yet to come, though. I haven't told any of my old friends that I've made this decision, because I haven't seen them. In fact, I'm purposely avoiding them right now. I don't know how they're going to react to all of this. They knew that I was heading this way because I had told them that the day would come that I would quit. I don't think they believed me though. I smoked for a looooong time, you know?

I feel sad that I'm probably going to have to break off my associations with them, but that's the way it goes. Unfortunately, I don't have any other friends right now, so I'm very lonely. I'm praying for the strength to overcome any further temptations, and also for some new Christian friends.

 

[brokenbeliever]

HI,
i haven't been here long so i don't know anything about your other post. i just wanted to say, i'm rejoicing with you for the new life you've found in Christ!

 

[snoochface]

Inspiring story - thanks for sharing.

I gave it up myself a couple or three years ago, and I gave all my paraphernalia away to my still-using friends. It hurt, for about a minute. But it was really good to get it out of the house. No temptations from seeing it around. It makes a huge difference.

Congrats on making a really good decision.

 

[millerrod]

Praise the Lord!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[christianmomof3]

Congratulations! May the Lord be your strength and peace and may you find new Christian friends.

 

[snickerdoodle]

Thank you all for your kindness!

I sure hope I can find some new friends. I'm not very good at that, though.

So far, being good is lonely.

 

[bfly]

Your on Your way. What courage it takes for one to come back and admit their mistakes and for being humble enough to give them credit for planting the seed. It fell on good soil. amen

God bless you

 

[millerrod]

you have friends here, never feel you are alone, remember the Holy Spirit dwells within us at all times, it doesnt get much better than actually having Gods Spirit within us, from the time we turn to Christ we are NEVER alone any longer. When we lived in the world we were alone our friends were we unsure of and disapointment followed them, now as we are no longer of this world, as we pass through, our true friend is within us and our true brothers and sisters surround us. And in this truth are we confident in our lives we have found true friendship. May god bless you in all. your friend millerrod

 

[snickerdoodle]

Wow, all of you are so eloquent. What you're saying makes perfect sense. Thank you for caring!

I was reading my Bible today (NIV), and I found this passage in 2 John :

9 Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him. 11 Anyone who welcomes him shares in his wicked work.

I feel that this is very relevant to me right now. (Or am I misinterpreting this? Please advise!)

The time will come when my former friends will arrive at my door. How do I tell them that I've turned my life over to Jesus? I don't want to be mean and rude...that's not the way that Jesus was, and I want to strive to be more like Him in my remaining days on this earth. I mean, I can't hang out with them anymore, but I don't dislike them and I don't want to appear like I'm judging them.

If anyone has some experience in this, please help me. And please pray that I will have the strength to resist temptation.

 

[millerrod]

Jesus said to Love our neighbors, thats everyone new and old friends, enemys, everybody. 1Cor13:4-7 lists 12 manners-characteristics--fruits of Love, treat all without steping on these manners of Love and you will have treated them as Jesus would have you to do.

 

[snoochface]

I would just tell your friends that you are trying to turn your life around so you can live with Jesus as your priority, so you have to be very careful for now about temptations. Let them know that being around pot is a temptation for you that you want to avoid, but that you love your friends and don't want to lose them as friends.

Maybe they would be willing to hang out with you doing something different. Maybe some of them are even looking to change their lives, but not knowing how to make the first move. Approach everything with love, and you won't come across as judgemental. This is a great opportunity to be an example to them.

 

[christianmomof3]

Wow, all of you are so eloquent. What you're saying makes perfect sense. Thank you for caring!

I was reading my Bible today (NIV), and I found this passage in 2 John :

9 Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him. 11 Anyone who welcomes him shares in his wicked work.

I feel that this is very relevant to me right now. (Or am I misinterpreting this? Please advise!)

The time will come when my former friends will arrive at my door. How do I tell them that I've turned my life over to Jesus? I don't want to be mean and rude...that's not the way that Jesus was, and I want to strive to be more like Him in my remaining days on this earth. I mean, I can't hang out with them anymore, but I don't dislike them and I don't want to appear like I'm judging them.

If anyone has some experience in this, please help me. And please pray that I will have the strength to resist temptation.

The verses in 2 John that you quoted are actually about false prophets. But, you are correct that you can and should preach the gospel to your old friends. I don't have that experience personally, but I have a friend, who is now a dear Christian, who used to be a drug dealer. She has told me that after she was saved, she shared Christ and the gospel with all of her old friends and customers and some of them were saved! Others, thought she was nuts and had flipped out. That may be how things go for you. I suggest you pray for your friends - each by name. Pray for them often. The Lord may lead you to pray more for some than for others. Follow His leading. Pray to be able to speak Christ to them when you do see them. And then, when you do see them in person, pray silently as you speak to them.
I pray that your friends will see Christ in you and that they will turn their hearts to the Lord also and be saved.

 

[snickerdoodle]

Oh dear. How embarrasing. :o Sometimes I think I'm too stupid to understand anything. But I'm sure glad you folks are here to help!

Well, I don't think my friends are going to think I'm nuts or anything, but they'll definitely stop coming around when they hear the news.

One friend in particular...when I started going to church again, he seemed to be happy for me. But then when I would see him again, and started to share, his response was, "You'll stop right there, if you want to keep me as a friend". I've tried talking to him about our Savior, but he becomes argumentative. I don't have enough knowledge to enlighten him, so I just stop trying...I can only speak from my heart, and he's a facts and stats kind of guy. *sigh*

Thanks again for your help. I hope I'm not asking too many stupid questions. I apologise if I'm getting on anyone's nerves. :o

 

[christianmomof3]

Oh dear. How embarrasing. :o Sometimes I think I'm too stupid to understand anything. But I'm sure glad you folks are here to help!


Thanks again for your help. I hope I'm not asking too many stupid questions. I apologise if I'm getting on anyone's nerves. :o

Never feel stupid or embarrassed for asking questions. The stupid people are those who don't ask.
I was a teacher for 13 years and my smartest students were the ones who asked the most questions. That is how we learn!
Enjoy Christ and grow in Him!

 

[snickerdoodle]

Inspiring story - thanks for sharing.

I gave it up myself a couple or three years ago, and I gave all my paraphernalia away to my still-using friends. It hurt, for about a minute. But it was really good to get it out of the house. No temptations from seeing it around. It makes a huge difference.

Congrats on making a really good decision.

Something told me to come back to this thread today. And I'm glad I did! I had forgotten all about getting all of that junk out of my house. Could it have been satan blocking this thought process? Man, that's scary.

I just threw away everything except for my old pipe tools and my new pipe screens. The tools can be sold on Ebay to people who actually smoke tobacco pipes, and the screens will come in handy for putting in the bottom of flower pots to keep the soil from draining out. I think it's ok to keep those things for that purpose, isn't it?

Wow, I feel like such a baby. I feel like satan is trying hard to get me back, and I'm scared. Why else would I have forgotten about this?

Everyone here so far has been so helpful and supportive. God bless you all for being here!

 

[snoochface]

Something told me to come back to this thread today. And I'm glad I did! I had forgotten all about getting all of that junk out of my house. Could it have been satan blocking this thought process? Man, that's scary.

I just threw away everything except for my old pipe tools and my new pipe screens. The tools can be sold on Ebay to people who actually smoke tobacco pipes, and the screens will come in handy for putting in the bottom of flower pots to keep the soil from draining out. I think it's ok to keep those things for that purpose, isn't it?

Wow, I feel like such a baby. I feel like satan is trying hard to get me back, and I'm scared. Why else would I have forgotten about this?

Everyone here so far has been so helpful and supportive. God bless you all for being here!

Nah, don't be so hard on yourself. Even if it was Satan blocking you... what is that passage? I never get it right... something along the lines of, "What is inside of me [Jesus] is stronger than what is outside [Satan]".

The screens are also good for putting inside aerators on bathroom and kitchen faucets. But I don't think there's anything wrong with keeping them for the flower pots, too. Maybe consider giving the ebay money to your local church?