Seek, get nothing, seek, get nothing, seeking some more, I still get nothing

[gracealone]

HI All worth thunder,

WANTING PROOF OF GOD.

I think you are looking for that something that will leave you without a shadow of a doubt concerning the reality of God.
I've thought long and hard about that. I've wondered why God hasn't just made Himself completely prove able and irrefutable to everyone. What you are wanting is absolute certainty. What God has offered to you is enough information and evidence to persuade you toward choosing to believe in and trust in Him. By doing this the relationship is based on trust. It is not just a compelled belief or assertion but rather one where God has reached out in the person of His Son Christ and said to you and me... "Here I AM, this is what I choose to reveal to you about myself." (There is far, far more of Him than our finite minds can contain, I'm sure you'll agree.)
"Now the ball is in your court. You can accept by faith what you have seen and heard about me or you can choose to reject the evidence. "
As I weigh the evidence concerning the life of Christ, the eyewitness testimonies of His historic life and more so the flawless nature of His character and perfect love, I cannot accept any other explanation for His life except that He is exactly who He claimed to be. Therefore, I choose, to place my trust in Him for salvation.
This allows for a chosen relationship whereby I see Him to be worthy of my trust, actually worthy of complete trust because He has never shown Himself not to be wholly trust worthy.
God wrapped Himself up into human form, (the incarnation), so that we could have that choice. If He chose to just step into history in an unveiled way, in a way that caused everyone to fall at His feet totally overwhelmed by the glory, awe and over power of His presence, ("Woe is me I am undone!!"), who in their right mind would choose to disbelieve that He is God.
A good analogy of what I'm trying to say, although not very well, is this.
My husband says he loves me. A long time ago he told me that he loved me so much that he wanted me to share my life with him. He promised to be faithful to me, He promised me that I could trust him to love me all the days of my life. When he told me all these things I had a choice before me. I could trust that he was telling me the truth and that I could have faith in him to keep all his promises to me, or I could say to him... prove it to me then I'll marry you. How, could he prove such a thing to me without a shadow of doubt. There were lots and lots of things that he did which were good indications or evidences to me that he was trustworthy but nothing that I could scientfically prove on the matter. So I made the leap and chose to trust him and enter into the bond of marraige with him. Thankfully I made the right decision. He has been a faithful husband to me for 31 years. What we have is a chosen relationship based on trust.
This is what God is asking of you. He is asking you to weigh the evidence, look at the indications which point to the things that make Him worthy of your trust and then choose.
I'm glad God has approached us in this manner. It leaves our free will in tact and allows Him to demonstrate His love for us through His Son Christ. How better to have a chosen love relationship with Him based on these things rather then just a provable assertion that He is God.
Sorry for the wordiness of this reply. I hope it helps you as you make your choice.
Warmly,
Mitzi

 

[gracealone]

Hope you folks don't mind me sharing this poem which was the end result of my mulling over this idea of a proveable God. Thanks for indulging me.

THE CHOOSING
BY:mvc. 6/02
*
How can I choose belief in Him, whom my eyes cannot see?
Or worship such a one who would hide Himself from me?
Should I trust in things I cannot fully understand?
Or give love to a God, I've not touched with my own hand?
*
Yet, what if God Almighty chose before me to appear,
Set His feet on eartly soil, spoke so fleshly ears could hear,
Allowed my eyes to see His radiance, His awe inspiring might,
Would I stand or fall prostrate to ground compelled by inward fright?
*
Then where would be the choosing of Him to be my King?
I'd no choice left but to declare Him Lord of everything.
His glory worship would demand, His piercing truth reveal,
That He alone is God and thus His presence choosing steals.
*

He'd rather show Himself to me wrapped up in flesh as man.
In the person of His Son, He's revealed all that He can,
In order that by faith alone, I'll serve Him with free will.
Thus not by force, but selfless Love He calls to all men still.

*
Malachi 3:2 "But who can endure the day when He comes? Who can stand when He appears?"
Romans 14:11b "As I live", says the Lord, every knee will bend before me, and every tounge will publicly acknowledge God."​

 

[aiki]

"Now the just (or righteous) shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them who believe to the saving of the soul." - Hebrews 10:38, 39

"Hear you therefore the parable of the sower.
When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and understands it not, then comes the wicked one, and catches away that which was sown in his heart...
But he who received the seed into stony places, the same is he who hears the word, and anon (immediately) with joy receives it;
Yet has he not root in himself, but endures for a while: for when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word by and by he is offended (tripped up).
He also who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.
But he who received seed into the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it..." - Matthew 13:18-23

"As (in the same manner) you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord so walk you in him; rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, as you have been taught abounding therein with thanksgiving. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ." - Colossians 2:6-8

Peace to you.

 

[AllworthThunder]

Why does it seem ironic that me, a songwriter, is given different song lyrics and poems for me to read?

 

[Buttermilk]

For what it's worth, I started making the steps towards accepting Jesus Christ into my life. Ok, I got that off my chest.

I feel that I regret ever doing this, because I am now associating myself with a group of people that treats people as 2nd class citizens (Homosexuals), and opinions I don't agree with (abortion).

There are many different groups (or denominations) of Christians and they hold diverse views on these and other such topics - I'm sure you could find one that agrees with your stance

I read the Bible daily and I try my best to seek God

but I just don't see or feel anything. I had FAITH that something, someone, would throw me a sign that this God is REAL, but I just don't see or feel anything. I just want to take three steps back to where I was before one month ago, but at the same time I don't want to give up on Christianity.

I urge you to keep searching.

You may like to check out WWMC, you can participate in any thread which has an open thread, or you can ask a mod to create an open thread for you.

Good luck with your continued searching.

Feel free to PM me or post in this thread if you have any questions.

 

[heron]

Why does it seem ironic that me, a songwriter, is given different song lyrics and poems for me to read?

Oh, are you serious? That's funny. What types of songs do .you like to write?

This is an example of the tiny ways that God works in our lives. Some people say it's coincidence, but suggestions will pop into our heads , often ones that we would normally resist.

Something I struggle with sometimes -- I make a plan, and want God to sanction it, rather than asking Him what's the best route to take, or what He has on the agenda. I know that would sound odd if you're at this point of frustration about sensing His reality.

But when I get blocked communications, sometimes it's because I don't trust that He actually has a workable idea or plan in mind that I can follow... that will turn out well in the end. I race ahead in frenzied activity, then wonder why nothing is working.

 

[Criada]

Why does it seem ironic that me, a songwriter, is given different song lyrics and poems for me to read?

Well, you did ask for a sign...

 

[AllworthThunder]

Oh, are you serious? That's funny. What types of songs do .you like to write?

This is an example of the tiny ways that God works in our lives. Some people say it's coincidence, but suggestions will pop into our heads , often ones that we would normally resist.

Something I struggle with sometimes -- I make a plan, and want God to sanction it, rather than asking Him what's the best route to take, or what He has on the agenda. I know that would sound odd if you're at this point of frustration about sensing His reality.

But when I get blocked communications, sometimes it's because I don't trust that He actually has a workable idea or plan in mind that I can follow... that will turn out well in the end. I race ahead in frenzied activity, then wonder why nothing is working.

My interests per-se involves alternative rock, but I narrow it down to Grunge music. Herei's a bit that I wrote some time. It was a few days after a good friend from high school was shot to death, and I couldn't think of anything else to write about other than that...

"I Guess"
He just wanted to live in his world
Because he didn't know his fate
He only gets up in the morning
And he hops the next train to life
I know he didn't mean to lie
to the ones who didn't hate him
If only I knew he would be here
He would know I wrote this for him

I guess it's the way you are
I guess it's the way I was
I guess it's the friend inside me
I guess it's the love I had for you
I can only write this for you
And I wish you were here
But you won't be around to hear this
And I cry and wonder why

I can only guess
I guess

He never wanted to be Jesus
And he never wanted to be God
He wanted to take his own path
And never follow someone elses' footsteps
And it didn't matter how perfect he was
He only lived in questions he didn't know
Even though the answers were all around
But now he won't know this song is for you.

I guess it's the way you are
I guess it's the way I was
I guess it's the friend inside me
I guess it's the love I had for you
I can only write this for you
And I wish you were here
But you won't be around to hear this
And I cry and wonder why

I can only guess
I guess

I feel like I'm wasting my time
Because you're only gone
And so I wonder loud and ponder
This song if you were around.

If you were around
I guess

I guess it's the way you are
I guess it's the way I was
I guess it's the friend inside me
I guess it's the love I had for you
I can only write this for you
And I wish you were here
But you won't be around to hear this
And I cry and wonder why

I can only guess
I guess

 

[AllworthThunder]

Well, you did ask for a sign...

In all fairness, It IS in my member profile.

 

[AllworthThunder]

There are many different groups (or denominations) of Christians and they hold diverse views on these and other such topics - I'm sure you could find one that agrees with your stance

I don't want to find a denomination that "agrees with my stance" as I am aware go against the teachings of The Bible and in some way may detract from going to Heaven (IMO). I'm very happy at the church I'm at right now. All I'm looking for, is something that will prove to me that God is real, either spiritual, physical or, well, just something! Will I change my political views? I don't know, depends on what I find.

 

[Criada]

In all fairness, It IS in my member profile.

Ah - I hadn't read that!

I don't want to find a denomination that "agrees with my stance" as I am aware go against the teachings of The Bible and in some way may detract from going to Heaven (IMO). I'm very happy at the church I'm at right now. All I'm looking for, is something that will prove to me that God is real, either spiritual, physical or, well, just something! Will I change my political views? I don't know, depends on what I find.

If you believe and confess that Jesus is Lord, you will go to heaven!
Your political beliefs are irrelevant to that!

What sort of proof are you looking for, though? And if you don't yet believe He is real, how can you say that you have made him your Lord?

I pray that you will find the answers you seek - but do you know what you are looking for?

God bless you.

 

[swill8295]

For what it's worth, I started making the steps towards accepting Jesus Christ into my life. Ok, I got that off my chest.

I feel that I regret ever doing this, because I am now associating myself with a group of people that treats people as 2nd class citizens (Homosexuals), and opinions I don't agree with (abortion). I read the Bible daily and I try my best to seek God but I just don't see or feel anything. I had FAITH that something, someone, would throw me a sign that this God is REAL, but I just don't see or feel anything. I just want to take three steps back to where I was before one month ago, but at the same time I don't want to give up on Christianity.

Don't focus on Christians, put your focus on Christ. He is the light that came into the world to light the lamps of his children.

Luke 11:34
Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are good, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are bad, your body also is full of darkness.

 

[AllworthThunder]

Ah - I hadn't read that!



If you believe and confess that Jesus is Lord, you will go to heaven!
Your political beliefs are irrelevant to that!

What sort of proof are you looking for, though? And if you don't yet believe He is real, how can you say that you have made him your Lord?

I pray that you will find the answers you seek - but do you know what you are looking for?

God bless you.

Correct me if I'm wrong, As a Christian (not me, but generic) I am told to...
a) Thank God evryday and to pray to him.
2) Read the Bible everyday without fail
2a) Obey what The Bible says
Bible says:
Homosexuality is wrong
Ending life is bad (i.e. Abortion, murder)

If I don't obey those specifics, am I really obeying The Bible's word, since if there is a God, all sins are equally as bad?

 

[Criada]

Correct me if I'm wrong, As a Christian (not me, but generic) I am told to...
a) Thank God evryday and to pray to him.
2) Read the Bible everyday without fail
2a) Obey what The Bible says
Bible says:
Homosexuality is wrong
Ending life is bad (i.e. Abortion, murder)

If I don't obey those specifics, am I really obeying The Bible's word, since if there is a God, all sins are equally as bad?
This is true - though why pick those two sins, if all are equally as bad?
But - the thing is, none of us can keep the law as the bible presents it.
We are basically commanded to be pefect - and that is something I certainly can't do!

But - Jesus died so that we could be made perfect - not by what we do or don't do, but by what He has done!

When God looks at a Christian, He doen't see sin, He sees the righteousness of Christ!

That doesn't mean we should just go ahead and do what we like - but we serve God out of love, not fear!
I am 100% confident that He loves and forgives me; I want to pleases Him because I love Him.
And I know that if I do mess up, He will always forgive me!