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Preordained

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Deborah-Leigh:
Josh

You are an inspiration!

YellowStone:
Josh Wrote:

There are moments (even though they are few) when this life feels so sweet that I don’t want to let it go… when I can’t imagine anything being better then what I have or what I desire to have… but more often, this life is a constant reminder of how “unfinished” I really am… maybe “different” won’t be so bad Sorin… I can’t imagine it either and most of the time it’s scary and uncomfortable to imagine what comes after this life… but I am every day attempting to open up my heart to believe that the Father truly does love of and has our best interest in mind… but trust is hard to learn.

I know what you mean about not being able to imagine what it is going to be like. However, just think how it must be like for someone who never experienced one or more of their senses.

How could one explain an inspirational sunset, the view from the edge of the Grand Canyon, a star filled night sky, a rainbow, a prairie filled with wild flowers to someone who knows not sight. How also could one explain the laughter of child, sound of wind through the trees, of birds in the springtime, of the monumental clashes of thunder or a coyote howling in the night to someone who is deaf. Likewise how can one explain taste, or smell to someone who has not experienced them first hand.

Yet, we treat these as givens, most likely no one gives them a second thought, yet all that I mentioned and many more that I did not gives us life as we know it here on this Earth. Our Father has given this to us today, knowing that our world will be soiled by sin, yet with these wonderful gifts, we can still find an innumerable ways in which to marvel at his wisdom, forethought and unwavering love for us.

Yet I do not think that man in all his wisdom could comprehend what God has planned for us, even if we knew. :)

One last thing; I feel that trust has less to do with learning that it has about letting go. :)  It was a big step understanding that I was not the center of my universe, that it was NOT only I who knew me, that it was NOT only I who could know the pain of my past. God was there with me all along.

Psa 23:1 [[A Psalm of David.]] The LORD [is] my shepherd; I shall not want.

Psa 23:2  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

Psa 23:3  He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Psa 23:4  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou [art] with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Psa 23:5  Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Psa 23:6  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

If this is not sound instruction regarding trust towards our God in this life, then someone please tell me. :)

Thanks Josh, your post is/was wonderful. It is heartfelt and meaningful, and I too took much from it.

Your brother in Christ,
Darren

Jennie:
Hello to you all, I have read this thread and re-read this thread in trying to understand. I hit the stumbling block with the idea that child abusers, rapists of children are made that way. As one who has been there( victim of), statistically I should be more likely to be an alcoholic, drug user , etc., because of my background. I made a concious choice many years ago that I would not be a statistic and act out in the ways that people often do when this has happened to them. Am I changed because of the event? Yes I am. I will always have the physical problems that I deal with daily because the damage was so great. I am my own worst critic. Somedays I think I 'm responsible for the war in Iraq!!! That is another side effect of what happened . Instead of being a statistic I try to take the experience , although it was not right that it happen to a child, to help others who have lived through this and maybe give them some hope and support. I still don't understand all this thread contains and probably never will but I guess that's okay. Jennie

gmik:
Josh, that was pretty insightful.

Dang, I still get convoluted about it, tho.

God made vessels for honor & dishonor.  Jacob have I loved, Esau have I "less loved".  God created evil.  Alll is by plan & design.  I believed that when I scratch my nose God had me do it from the foundation of the world.  All my stupid and not so stupid mistakes thru out my life were for me to bring me to where I am and still going :-\

So the rapist, or hitler, or the cheater on taxes were all made to be that way.  Our sins reveal the idols of our hearts.  So are we now saying that God just KNEW what we were gonna do and doesn't stop it?  Is there any room at all for some small "free will" things going on??

I just got (another)e mail from this close to me person (I mentioned on another thread a minite ago about tithing) saying "you can't get mad at me cuz you don't believe in free will and so I just HAD to tell you this!"  I had tried talking to this person before but couldn't do it very well (this was about a year ago when I was much greener at this), and they bring it up just now.."you couldn't explain it to me then and you can't now becz it doesn't make any sense!"  I sent them to BT to let them read it for themselves.  They are madder than a skunk about BT and they don't even want to associate w/ me anymore if I keep following "this false prophet".

I am a little bummed right now. :'(

hillsbororiver:
Dear Sister Gena,

I'd say you are in some really good company!  ;)

Joh 15:18  If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
 
Joh 15:19  If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
 
Joh 15:20  Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kep my saying, they will keep yours also.

His Peace to you,

Joe

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