Hello William! Even though I, personally, have not experienced what you are going through, i have known and befriended many who do...I lived in Africa, so many were eager for "something more"! I found this thread yesterday, I have done some Biblical research that me be of service...if you don't mind.
Hosea 11:1-41 When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt. 2 As they called them, so they went from them: they sacrificed unto Baalim, and burned incense to graven images. 3 I taught Ephraim also to go, taking them by their arms;
but they knew not that I healed them. 4 I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love: and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, and I laid meat unto them.
Often times Jesus refers to His children as Isreal. That passage was intended to show you that God cares and is behind miraculous things, even though we may not know it.
Hosea 14:1-91 O Israel, return unto the LORD thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity. 2 Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips. 3
Asshur shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses: neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, Ye are our gods: for in thee the fatherless findeth mercy. 4 I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him. 5 I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon. 6 His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon. 7 They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon. 8 Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard him, and observed him: I am like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit found. 9
Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein.
I included that passage to explain that We should not partake in idol worship(your patron saint, for example) and that God is the only way.
Joel 2:27And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that
I am the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed.
This passage, also, states that God is the only true god. Also, Christians will not be ashamed because of our faith, persecuted:yes, ashamed:no.
1 Peter 2:8
A stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that causes them to fall. They stumble because they disobey the message-which is also what they were destined for.
God knows that there are really hard times, that comes with his gift of free will, but he prepares us, and we need him to keep from faltering.(yes, we will make mistakes and falter=human nature)
1 Peter 2:9-109 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. This passage says that we are God's children, his chosen ones. Those who accept him are chosen(this does not mean that only some ppl are chosen, everyone is, but not everyone accepts). It says that when we had not accepted Christ, we had chosen not to accept his mercy. But when we accept him, we choose his mercy. Yah, doesn't sound like such a hard choice, but think about this: all the things that you know and love that are sinful and wrong, everything that is unGodly, those are things that you cannot have in your life. Yes, you will sin, but the big difference between1: Christians and 2:nonbelievers is:1:forgiven,2:not forgiven.
This only pretains to the Christian, that means you don't have to give up your friends and family who are not believers.
In the US Declaration of Independence, there is a line that basically means that those who are able, are responsible.
I am a Christian, I know the truth. Therefore, I am responsible to spread the Word.
Please know this: Even though I cannot see you, and have not met you, I love you as a brother. I feel close to you because of your openness. Thank you sooo much for listening and considering. it means the world to me!
Always hear if you wanna PM me!!!
Love,
Emily
