It's Been Awhile Since

[Chance]

I have opened the bible and read it. A few nights ago well I guess it was Wednesday night after I had a appointment with my counselor and I have found that God himself was missing the intimacy that we used to have. So on Wednesday night, I dusted off my bible, and opened it to read, to study, to try to be the Stewart that He would have me to be.

I am only hoping that the relationship that we have had will be better than it was. Praying for mercy and grace.

Love Vic

[toad]

The Word says that the closer you get to God, the closer God gets to you. I guess we get out of it what we put into it. Eight years ago I started reading every morning feeding my spirit of spiritual food. Promise after promise have come true in my life. God honors His covenant with me that He made with Abraham.......I am the seed of Abraham through Jesus Christ.....God is all about covenants..........I try and keep up my end of the agreement by spending time in the Word, prayer, and helping others.......God has truly done for me what I could not do for myself..........toad

[cmc]

Y'know Vic, I think we all experience those times when our fellowship with God is not what we think or know it should be. The good thing is that He is always there waiting for us to come back from whatever way we were distant from him
I like to think of it in comparison to a couple having a spat. Take me for an example.... if mr cmc and I have a disagreement and it goes on for some period of time ( not too long for us - we keep short accounts!) but anyway... after it is over and we look back at all the 'good' time we missed over things that usually aren't that important anyway. So we miss out on our time with Him- I have been there frequently! I struggle with things that happen in my life that are unfair and/or difficult.
Life will always be this way... on this side of heaven that is.
I am glad- you are getting back to where you want to be.
thanks for sharing your journey

[sugarssweetpea]

I can always tell when I am not spending time in His word. It seems like my whole world around me crumbles. I try not to miss a day. Happens though. I try to make spending time reading & praying one of the first things I do in the morning before anyone gets up, so I won't have any distractions. Good for you Vic for recognizing God calling you back to Him. That is hard to recognize sometimes. I find that the longer I spend away from God, the more negative I become. Then find myself feeling upset & depressed with myself & feeling that God would not want to talk with me. How wrong I am. I know that He is always there. He is not the one who leaves the relationship, I am. Much prayers to you.

[angelgirl]

I am only hoping that the relationship that we have had will be better than it was.

Oh, it will Vic,, I am certain of it.. It will..

I believe you are right where God wants you to be.. In his word..



Prayers and Love,
Becky

[999]

Thanks for the post Vic and the responses. I too have a dusty bible and the prayer connection needs some work. I am inspired.

[angelgirl]

Church also is a really big inspiration to me. I know alot of people feel they don't need to go, but for me, church is very needed. I need to be in fellowship with others while worshiping. It really makes me feel great!

Love to you all,
Becky

[Chance]

I have been allowing myself to read everyday since last Wednesday and I feel so much love. How I have been doing it is just opening the bible and just reading whatever it falls at. Today was on Jeremiah chapter 5 and it was totally awesome. I am falling in love again, over and over again.

Love Vic

[angelgirl]

Your spirit just seems so much lighter Vic,, I can just
feel a difference in you..

Prayers,
Becky

[angelgirl]

I also wanted to say that I LOVE your new avatar Vic!! It's really beautiful!!

Prayers friend,
Becky

[cmc]

Hi Vic!
I like the new avatar too.... those socks needed to be changed!! lol
I am so happy that you are experiencing such a personal spiritual revival.... what a wonderful time with God! I have been reading in Jeremiah too- it has been many years since I read that one. In ch 42:3, I liked this part especially:"...the Lord your God may tell us the way in which we should walk and the thing we should do."
blessings bro,
cmc

[Chance]

[sugarssweetpea]

I am so glad you are finding a renewed relationship with God. I am so happy for you. Reading your posts are bringing a smile to my face. Just to see God working in others lives is so awesome. Brings me such a sense of peace.

[Chance]

Originally Posted by sugarssweetpea

Just to see God working in others lives is so awesome. Brings me such a sense of peace.

Yes there is peace and plenty of it, life doesn't have to be all glume and doom I know I have lived it. Today is completely different, although I can see some change most of you can see it more. Very Grateful to be clean, more than ever and very grateful for God, Master, LORD!!!

[Chance]

I have been missing a few days here and there not reading the Bible and usually I try to do everything so right and try to be so prompt at doing things that when I missed a few days this week, a miracle happened that I didn't start to beat myself up! I started to just pick up the Bible again and open it. Last night I opened it up to Luke 6 and what hit me the hardest was "How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,'when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye?"

So many times we can see the flaws in everyone and we are too quick to pick them out. We need to really look for the good in everyone and everything. I try to do that and yet I know that I fail at times, that is when I take that inventory every night, how can I do better next time. Today I ask forgiveness for trying to take the speck out of peoples eyes and will concentrate on removing the plank that is in my eyes.

Love Vic

[cmc]

Today I ask forgiveness for trying to take the speck out of peoples eyes and will concentrate on removing the plank that is in my eyes.

Hey, Vic....
Sometimes it seems like I have a whole lumberyard in mine!!! And then I scratch it and that makes it even worse! It is a very sneaky thing- this finding fault in others- we must do it in some ways to survive and keep our boundaries clear. In my case- I am usually unaware (denial) until after I have crossed the line and am judging in an ungodly way.
I don't think I have to like everyone and certainly don't have to be their judge either- but I do have to make a decision about them and keep it within the boundary set in God's word- not to be prideful.

[Chance]

Originally Posted by cmc

I don't think I have to like everyone and certainly don't have to be their judge either- but I do have to make a decision about them and keep it within the boundary set in God's word- not to be prideful.

Thanks so much for that, I think that is what I am doing is setting boundaries but then I feel as if I am judging them but in reality I am just looking at the actions compared to there words that they speak. I am doing my best to love them! I even picked up the bible last night and I did it this morning also. Trying to get myself in a routine and man has it helped me a whole bunch with my outlook on life. Yep the Lord is so wonderful and He is PRICELESS>

Love Vic

[lovetoride00]

Wow, I have just been reading and reading and you guys are so encouraging for each other and it is such a blessing..........I struggle daily with the judging thing...........makes me so angry when I look back and see that ( I did it again).........it is very sneaky........
I love the Lord so much and he has been so good to me......I am so blessed........we all are so blessed........I need prayers.......I have been looking for a church for over 1 yr now.........SOMETHING IS UP WITH THIS...........lol.........I mean it should not take someone over a yr to find a church family.........however, I have moved twice in that time.........but close to the same area .........anyway.......my hearts desire is to have a transition house for women coming out of christian rehab and I just feel so unworthy to start that house...........(wow, that just came out of nowhere) I have been trying to figure out why it is taking so long for this house to be started........I work part time at a christian counseling ministry and it seems this would be the perfect time to get it going......I could get referrels from the ministry.........hmmm.........not sure what is up with all this......I am just mumbling but needed to get off my chest......thanks for listening!!
blessings
ltr

[Chance]

Thanks I am glad that you said what you did! You know just as much as any of us know, and one thing that I truly believe is that God is doing for us what we can not do for ourselves. However we have to take the action part of it, he isn't going to make us take the steps. Sometimes I feel like we just say "Why are you not answering my prayers?, and yet he is Probably saying, "What are you willing to do to make this work?"

Just like when I had not picked up my Bible. Well sure I knew that I needed to but He isn't going to make me pick it up daily and open it and read it. He isn't even going to make me apply it. That is all up to me! That is why He gave us all free will. We have the choice and it is our choice that either keeps us sitting, or moves us in a direction that will be filled with so much joy and hope to pass along. Glad that you are here.

Love Vic