And life is a lot less stressful because of it too. And yet, I always have everything I need. I never am in want.
The Lord is our friend and our shepherd. We shall never be in want.
God bless you all.
Hi ho, hi ho, it's off to work I go...
Taking a more serious side (Rhys being serious in off topics, how is that even possible?)
Actually that is something I deal with more and more now. I seem to get less friends all the time. I might actually soon be the first person ever to have a negative number of friends - if that was possible.
It does seem to help me look more to the Lord and rely on Him and not so much the help of others, even though that has it's place.
Psa 55:12 For it is not an enemy who taunts me— then I could bear it; it is not an adversary who deals insolently with me— then I could hide from him.
Psa 55:13 But it is you, a man, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend.
Psa 55:14 We used to take sweet counsel together; within God's house we walked in the throng. Seems quite scary to think that someone so close to you would be the one to put the knife in. I guess I find myself being cautious with people close to me. On one hand you really appreciate them and are thankful for them but then I'm mindful that they could turn. I think of a few people in the past that I thought Wow! I can't believe you of all people did that to me. It's like it came out of left field and I never saw it coming and the hurt at that time was too much.
Psa 41:9 Even the man bidding me peace, in whom I trusted, Who was eating my bread, has magnified his heel against me."I find myself looking to be friends with the Lord more. Getting closer to Him like He is the shepherd not other people and more faithful than anyone. It's a struggle in being more obedient but then so worth it for the peace it brings. What fellowship is there between darkness and light anyway. I like what Ray says here:
Hi, Ray.
I wrote you an e-mail a while back about how confused I was. After reading extensively the things on your site and getting my bible out and reading Scripture for myself, I realize that in my heart all my life I already knew what was right in concept. Not to say that I knew scripture backwards and forwards, but l remember being little and hearing about hell and thinking, God can't be like my Dad that loves me and send his kids to suffer forever.
I am more free spiritually than ever. I appreciate what you have done. I believe my prior confusion was not really confusion at all, it was a realization that I can no longer just go with the flow of my Christian friends and aquaintences anymore.
It will be this disagreement that will be a struggle and probably worse than sharing the "real" good news to an athiest. The issue is if I stay in my circle of church friends and voice my concern over whether what they think is scriptural, or do I stay away.
I would like a bit of advise on this if you wouldn't mind.
Dear Paul:
Your "circle of friends" will not remain your circle of friends if you start obeying God. "What communion has light with darkness?" There is a balance between trying to prove everyone wrong with one's new found truth, and just answering those who have questions for you. I try to follow Titus 1:9 on my site and in my life. I both teach sound doctrine, and expose those who contradict sound doctrine.
I do not do this among people who do not want to hear it. Who does or doesn't come to our site, I have no control over. But who I approach in my life with these truths, I do have control over (or rather God controls by circumstances), and try to act according to the situation. Don't be afraid to share God's Truths, but know that most will not be interested, and some will even turn hostile.
God be with you,
RayI feel as I move on in the Lord I become more isolated in a way and feelings of loneliness come upon me more but then those things drive me into the arms of the Lord and I realise my place in Him and what I am becoming in Him. For me it's the letting go of the reliance I put on others and learn to put it on the Lord. It's that discovering there is a better place. Like Jesus says:
Mat 11:28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Mat 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Mat 11:30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."How can you fail with the rest God gives you?
Yet I know I fail when I have looked to others when I needed to look to Him
So I think yes have friends but know where your friendship with the Lord is at and who is first. I find great strength now in if people hurt me I know God doesn't and even if I know I am weak He is strong and will stick by me through it all and will be that friend I need whatever situation I find myself in and that brings great comfort to me.
A friend that is more faithful than a brother............Indeed!
Rhys