Single and Looking?

[Onwardclimb]

....If God surrounds you with people to choose for a mate then I say go for it. If there is no one around you that is even close to your age, or is a Christian , or whatever, then it's ok to wait and not settle. God works differently in each situation. The point is that you have to be listening to His voice in your situation.

I don't think one should have to be forced into waiting in order to wait. I also am totally and completely against the "many ones choose one" theory so prevalent in today's "christian" society...but I guess that's another thread for another time .

Just my stance & God bless ,
Onwardclimb

 

[charligirl]

I have NO problem with the above, however, I do believe that IF you ask God for something—direction included—that you should wait for and expect an answer. What good is asking if you don't wait for an answer.
Onwardclimb

I agree, all I am saying is that sometimes His answer is 'you choose, I'm ok with either of the options you have in front of you, I can and will work through both equally'

I can’t really remember the exact scripture, but didn’t Paul say that God GAVE him a “thorn in the flesh”. Onwardclimb

2 Cor 12

7 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.


This cannot be from God, God may have allowed it to happen and strengthened Paul through it but it came from Satan.

I’m not a boat person, but I will say that I do NOT believe in the above principle. I believe that the wisest thing one can do in life is to wait upon the Lord before moving in any direction. Just to clarify: currently I am moving as all God's vessels are in the ocean of life…only I’m moving in the life situation that HE’S placed me in, and by the grace of God I will stay put and NOT move elsewhere without HIS leading—whichever way He may choose to bring it.

Onwardclimb

I agree with you. I move in the life situation that He has placed me in and not elsewhere without His leading... we're the same in that. The difference is that I believe that sometimes He chooses to bring His leading by encouraging me to trust that I have His giftings and His wisdom and that in itself is God's leading, sometimes there are two options and God gives me a choice.

I am off for Christmas now, so will not be online... to hijack the thread further. Merry Christmas, back in the New Year!!

 

[mina]

I don't think one should have to be forced into waiting in order to wait. I also am totally and completely against the "many ones choose one" theory so prevalent in today's "christian" society...but I guess that's another thread for another time .

I think you are caught up in this and are trying to twist my words to mean something different and split hairs. I don't even understand what you are trying to say. All I'm saying is that God works differently in every person's life. Ther eis no set formula for getting a mate. If God brings that opportunity to you, then I'm trusting that God will speak to you and show y ou who you should be with. If God doesn't bring that opportunity to you (and yes that's possible- it's possible to be surrounded by people but not anyone that would be a good match for you , either they aren't single, arent a Christian, too old too young, whatever...) then I trust that God will speak to you about being patient and not forcing something that will only bring you heartache later down the line. I guess the right word here is being "patient" and not "waiting". Being patient for a time doesn't mean that you will never be married, nor does it mean that you shouldn't be friendly and open to those around you. The whole point is that everyone should be actively involved in the will of God for their life at that moment, be it singleness or a relationship. A Christian should be able to tell God's voice and leading so that if He does move you towards someone you will be able to tell it's from Him or not. And the divorce rate in the church would be much lower if more Christians were patient on hearing thier Father's voice concerning the human love of thier life.

 

[72_Chev_Truck]

lol, It doesnt bother me that you guys Hi-Jacked the thread, continue on with the convo!

 

[msjones21]

Hahahaha Hello Chevay!

 

[Onwardclimb]

I agree, all I am saying is that sometimes His answer is 'you choose, I'm ok with either of the options you have in front of you, I can and will work through both equally'

…and all I’m saying is that I do NOT believe that such an answer comes from HIM. I can NOT/will NOT believe that God would surrender HIS authority/HIS leadership over to HIS sheep.

2 Cor 12 7 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. This cannot be from God, God may have allowed it to happen and strengthened Paul through it but it came from Satan.

Would satan really send Paul a messenger to keep him humble etc…???? I believe that God is the one who would want to keep him humble, and God sent him “a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of satan…” to accomplish that task.

The difference is that I believe that sometimes He chooses to bring His leading by encouraging me to trust that I have His giftings and His wisdom and that in itself is God's leading,

I guess a major part of the problem that I have with your position is that I’ve NEVER seen a time whether in God’s word or in my walk with Him where He encourages us to trust in ourselves/our own wisdom. As I mentioned earlier, your position sounds to me like the story of Abraham/Sarah/Ishmael. I mean Sarah knew that her husband was to father many nations, but she had no clear directive from God as to how that was to occur and if his fathering would involve her at all, so she used her intellect and “resources available to her” aka. “her handmaiden” in order to “help” God make it happen. What she got was Ishmael the anti-thesis of the promised son, Isaac—which by the way she still had to wait for. In the same respect, MANY singles today believe that it’s within God’s plan for them to marry. Yet, they’ve been given no clear directive about how to go about it, and through what I believe is most UN-wise council, they are told and/or they themselves develop the mentality that God’s not going to do this--find them a spouse…--and/or that--arrange the circumstances for them to meet…--for them, and that THEY have to “help” God out by using their intellect and the “resources available to them”--…single’s bars/networks, going on their own search to find a spouse, “helping” God in the arrangement of the circumstances by ensuring that they are in places that have MANY singles etc…--by people--themselves included--who have absolutely NO way of knowing just how/when God’s chosen to bring the person’s spouse to them and what the consequences for them person will be IF they follow such advice/feelings of “I must “help” God make it happen if its ever going to” instead of waiting for/on HIM to make it happen. I must say though, I do believe its true that God can/will/does speak as you described, however, when I see such obvious parallels between guidance given and the impatience of Sarah in regards to getting a son, I look at the consequences of that scenario and gladly REJECT the council given/feelings that I believe will lead me into a similar/parallel situation to that of Abraham/Sarah/Ishmael.

… sometimes there are two options and God gives me a choice.

I believe that the only choice involved in a walk with God is whether or not to follow Him. IF there are two options its obvious to me that one is better for me than the other, the two are NOT exactly the same—identical twins doN’T even have the same finger prints--nor will the results of choosing one thing/path as opposed to another be equal/exactly the same as if one had chosen the other. I believe that God can/will lead HIS children/sheep to what He’s foreseen as the better of the two choices. I don’t think He’s passively saying, “Whatever. They’re both the same, its up to you, I’ll be happy with whatever YOU choose, oh wise one”… that to me is COMPLETELY UNCHARACTERISTIC of the very nature of our Shepherd; God.

Merry Christmas, back in the New Year!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS to you too!!!! And my God bless you in the upcoming New Year!!!!!!!!! God bless,Onwardclimb

 

[mina]

ok, whatever you quoted from this last time wasn't from me, so I don't understand why you did quote me and sounded as thought you were disagreeing with me when basically it sounds like we kinda both believe the same thing. Are y ou confused yet? lol i am. Anyways whoever you quoted the last time was not me.

 

[Onwardclimb]

Mina,

I don’t believe I’ve ever received a nastier response to a post than that. Well, I guess there is a first time for everything--LOL!!! Anywho, NO, I’m NOT “all caught up in this”, NO, I am NOT trying to “twist your words” & distort your meanings. I am, however, voicing my opinion and that was my stance on what you wrote. Perhaps I misunderstood/misinterpreted your post, and if I did PLEASE feel free to correct me, but to say what you’ve said about me and my intent/motivation… I do believe is quite MEAN, UN-necessary, accusatory, and very much UN-appreciated.



I quoted what you wrote and from that quote I gathered that you were saying that one should only wait on God if forced to and/or the circumstances make it so you have to. IF I misinterpreted/misunderstood then PLEASE accept my apology. From my understanding of what you wrote, I gave my opinion. I also included my DISbelief in the “many ones choose one theory” that I believe you made reference to when you said something like (quoted by memory sorry for whatever’s lost) “if God places you with a whole lot of choices, then by all means choose one”



In hopes of clarification and PEACE!!!!!! God bless,

Onwardclimb

p.s. Post #46
was supposed to be direct to charligirl NOT you.

 

[mina]

hey now, I certainly did not mean to come across as "mean". But I only posted once and a short post at that before you quoted me. But when I read what you have said on here, it seems as though we are both believeing the same thing, so I don't know why you wanted to argue with me. Then below that post you quoted someone and it seemed to be a response to me, but those weren't even my words. So mainly I'm just confused to what you are trying to say to me. And one more time I did not intend to be mean, so please forgive me if I was coming across that way. By the way, it was sort of mean of you to assume that I was being nasty. It really does seem to me that you didn't read my words quite correctly, so I'm sorry if I was unclear.

 

[Onwardclimb]

hey now, I certainly did not mean to come across as "mean". But I only posted once and a short post at that before you quoted me. But when I read what you have said on here, it seems as though we are both believeing the same thing, so I don't know why you wanted to argue with me.

PLEASE understand that I doN'T and I didN'T. I just came across a post of yours that had some stuff that I disagreed with, posted my opinion, and the next thing I know I'm reading "...I think you are caught up in this and are trying to twist my words to mean something different and split hairs." as a response to the post I posted.

Then below that post you quoted someone and it seemed to be a response to me, but those weren't even my words.

I tend to read and post in the same order. I responded to a post prior to yours before I read yours and then I read yours that contained the "I think your caught up in this..." quote so I responded to that. SORRY for the confusion.

So mainly I'm just confused to what you are trying to say to me.

I'm SORRY!!! In the future I'll try to be more clear about who I'm addressing.

And one more time I did not intend to be mean, so please forgive me if I was coming across that way.

FORGIVEN!!!! **HUGZ**

By the way, it was sort of mean of you to assume that I was being nasty. It really does seem to me that you didn't read my words quite correctly, so I'm sorry if I was unclear.

I didN'T mean to be mean either, and I too am VERY SORRY if it seemed that way . Next time I'll seek clarification before I post... and maybe in doing so we can avoid such misunderstandings.

May God bless you Mina & have a MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR! !!!!!

YSIC,
Onwardclimb

 

[mina]

I'm sorry, I forgive you too. Have a wonderful wonderful and blessed holiday season!!!!!

 

[standard]

quote >>>>>>
plan for me. I guess I won't know that until the day I go Home to be with my Father, but I do know this...if I could go back I would have chosen singleness until God blessed me with the perfect mate in His perfect timing. It would have spared me alot of heartache, grief, turmoil, and so on. I know it gets lonely, but it's not all it's cracked up to be either when it's outside the will of God.
>>>>>>>


This does demonstrate that we lack the wisdom to make these choices. Mistakes are the norm for people. They are not acceptable but they are an every day reality -- for everyone, at all ages. And they do happen when one deviates from God's wisdom, we know from experience. I am learning similar lessons in different manifestation.