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andydp
Member
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Joined: 23 Sep 2003
Posts: 8122
Location: Upstate NY near Albany
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 Posted: 03/27/05 - 17:28 Post subject:
I've had my moments. At one point in my life I was un/under employed for about 5 years. I kept thinking of how unfair things are when the person that got me canned for no reason (I had to go to court to prove that) was still working and got promoted to boot.
I was at church when the priest said basically "we all have our own Getsemanne". It may sound trite but its true. We all have our trials and tribulations. Faith will help. Its helped so far and will continue to do so.
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DCRunningDiva
Look at me!!! ©
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Joined: 10 Oct 2003
Posts: 9344
Location: Washington DC Metro
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Posted: 03/27/05 - 19:04 Post subject:
Genie,
I was actually born and raised into a very Christian family. I have pastors, missionaries, etc. all along my mom's side of the family. I grew up in the "Bible Belt" in KY and, even though I became a Christian at the age of 9 I look back now and realize most of my younger years were spent going to church "because my mom made me." I made a very real decision, however, when I was in college. I came to the realization that even though I knew Jesus was Christ and he had saved me from my sins that I really didn't have a relationship with him. When I came to that realization it changed everything in my life. I realized that in order to have a relationship with someone you have to try to get to know them and the closest I came to trying to get to know God was listening to a pastor preach. It was at that time that I took some discipleship classes and started reading my Bible daily. I found that the more I read my Bible the more I got to know who God was. The more I got to know who God was the more of a relationship I had with him. You mentioned that you don't "breathe and devour" the Word. Well, I would highly suggest that you give it a try. At this point in my life I thirst for the Word of God. I desire it every day. It fills me up. I know this might sound kind of hokey to people who don't have a relationship with Christ but to those of us that do it makes perfect sense.
It doesn't matter what "denomination" we are (i.e. Catholic, Baptist, Pentecostal, Evangelic, etc) or what church we go to. Many times those "denominations" and "churches" cause us harm - mine sure did. But, all that really matters (IMHO) is that we have a relationship with Jesus Christ. Everything else falls in place after that!
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genie
Master of Prissface
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Joined: 14 May 2002
Posts: 16194
Location: Finding serenity one day at a time
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Posted: 03/27/05 - 19:12 Post subject:
Oh, don't get me wrong, I read.....and listen, I have the Bible on CD too. And part of our confirmation routine is the weekly classes, where we discuss different topics so I'm learning a lot, and a lot more day to day things make sense than they did a year ago. Especially lately. I'm just not sure I could say I "thirst" for it yet. I definitely get a lot out of it and I genuinely enjoy going to church now, but I'm still getting my feet wet, slowly but surely. I take new things very cautiously. That's all I was saying by quoting what Noley said.
Andy, I really like that. We DO all have our own Gethsemaine, I guess it is how we deal with it that demonstrates our faith. I'm very grateful for mine this week.
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gretriever
Hipster Doofus
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Joined: 16 Jul 2003
Posts: 19385
Location: A moving target in a firing range.
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Posted: 03/27/05 - 19:15 Post subject:
Much like Aire.
I've never had what's occasionally referred to as a "mountain top experience." And in the church we attend, there are some people who question the sincerity of my faith because of that. But God speaks to us in a way unique to each. In matters of faith, He speaks to me in a whisper, not with a 2 by 4 to the back of the head - though He will use that to get my attention.
Does it mean I've got it easy from the point of my acceptance on? Nope. Have I made mistakes since? Yup, and still do. But I strive to be the best I can, knowing that I cannot do it alone. That it must be through God's grace, God's gift of His Son, and the people He puts into my life. LC has often told me as reassurance "Nobody knows what's in your heart." No one on earth, anyway.
And for me, Hope and Defiance is my motto. Hope for the next chapter, and defiance of what's bad here and now. If at the end of my chapter on this planet, I mattered for good, and pointed people that way, then it was a pretty good run. All the more reason to celebrate in heaven. 
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