
Is anyone else having a challenge of doing things scriptural, verses what the secular world says. As in scripture says to put others before me whereas the secular world says put me first. I know what is right, just wondering if others may struggle with this. And how do we mourn the loss of ourselves without sinking into depression? How do we have joy in the midst of our trials and tribulations? It seems that as time passes my patience doesn't hurt as much, (must be experience), but still everyday I start wearing down where my patience begins to hurt a little and I am struggling not to let it be seen. I spend a lot of time in prayer and in the word, that is the only way I have the strength to do this, putting myself aside. But as a faulty human being, I am still in a struggle and seek like minded individuals who understand. May God bless all those who are loving their loved ones to the best of their ability.
God initiates our love relationship: We love because he first loved us (1 John 4:19).
God's love is limitless: Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies (Psalm 36:5).
Fear hinders us from feeling God's love: There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love (1 John 4:18).
When we move toward God, he moves toward us: Come near to God and he will come near to you (James 4:8).
God is love: Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love (1 John 4:8)
I always say God's love is a love that is there when you get to where it's needed. I don't know if that makes sense, I cannot always express in words what my heart is saying.
But, I loved your words.
Psalms 73:28
If you stand upright, even if beaten down, you shall show HIM your strength and in doing so, you will be greatly rewarded as a steward of GOD.
Even in the midst of caregiving hardships and struggles, amidst the hatefulness of the world, amidst all things good and bad, we must continue to shine so that others may see HIS glory. Don't let the temporal things of this world overshadow our true purpose. There are always going to be struggles, HE said so. There are always going to be mean people who do not care if they are hurtful to us. There is always going to be evil. Until HE comes.
Stay strong in truth and light. HE is the only way to get through all of our troubles and dark despair, HE is the only answer, our only help, our only hope. HE is Jesus the Christ, our Saviour and Lord.
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
Matthew 5:16
Absolutely Mary, Absolutely!
It is all a matter of perspective and expectations.
When we look at the big picture, it all looks different.
I love the word too and it is amazingly powerful. Glad you are smiling, you deserve to smile, and that makes me smile.
Love when you check in. Love seeing you grow. :) A Beautiful flower in a world of weeds.
So here I am just checking in and smiling and shaking my head again and again. I love the Word, and I love to learn. This is a great and well needed forum. Thank you for sharing your wisdom. It does sink in.
“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
Hebrews 4:16
"Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear."
Psalms 147:11
2 Peter 1:4
"And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires."
Jeremiah 29:11
"For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. "
Matthew 10:29-31 – "Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows."
Should we be concerned because they are not as religious as they were before, or that now it is the “the real” them who is acting? Well, I think it matters just because we wish they at least had God when they need Him more, which is a lot to have and really all we need. And about the “real them”, it is for sure not what we see at their weakest point as humans.
From a “salvation” standpoint, maybe we in our human capacity are not able to understand a lot about life and less about death, but God knows everyone of us, even before this world became our home, He knows every inch of our strength and our weaknesses, He knows our suffering and how that suffering has affected us, our lives and minds, He knows how much we believe in Him and how we have lived our lives trying to follow His footsteps...in our right mind, when we were in control.
I actually believe that people that are not Christians but live a righteous life are more than welcome into the Lord’s arms when their time comes! Because what really counts is what we do, not what we say.
The Lord is wiser than what we may conceive Him to be, we are limited when He is perfect! So, for all out there concerned about the elders with a weak mind not seeming to be as much as a believer as they were before and even changing behavior for worse, remember it is not what we do when we are not really conscious and alert what matters, it is what we have done when we knew, how we lived and how we believed! He loves us, understands us and forgives us, specially for what we do when we are not the ones we once were.
"11 About this[a] we have much to say that is hard to explain, since you have become dull in understanding. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic elements of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food; 13 for everyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is unskilled in the word of righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature, for those whose faculties have been trained by practice to distinguish good from evil." Hebrews 5:11-14.
And that not always their fault either.
There are people who have much wealth, yet are scripturally poverty stricken.
Our pastor spotlighted certain people whom he thought had served the church for MANY DECADES. IMHO, he shouldn't have done that because although he offered up apologies for not including some (myself included for I sent out 1,000 care pkgs to ministries the church has), but he spotlighted one woman who seemed to have "come out of the woodwork." I do not want to be put on a high platform, but for a pastor to put people on that was an error in judgement. But he, himself, is not God. Others may say to us "come this way for I offer you better doctrine." We must be cautious to guard our hearts. No every one person will agree with the Pastor of a church 100% of the time.
Two of my favorite scripture verses are those!
6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 8:12
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.
But, If they only knew the amount of love it took for Jesus to leave his perfect home, to walk this earth like you and I , to be spat upon, mocked, denied, betrayed, and then to have nails driven through your hands and feet and to hang there to die, for us a bunch of ungrateful humans. If only they could know that love, then maybe they would love HIM back.
I never want people to come to love Jesus out of fear of hell or punishment, I only wish they would love him because he loves them and no one will ever love us as much as he does.
It is sad that people are searching for this "happiness" and will never find it, because HE offers and is the happiness and love that we so desperately seek in one another or in this world.
If only they knew. We try and tell others as often as the courage and boldness is in us to do so. We often fail, because our humans get in the way. It is tragic how bible believing congregations are getting smaller and smaller. Getting left for huge "churches" that offer entertainment as opposed to doctrine. The bible says they will have itching ears. Wanting to hear what pleases them. We always want to be around someone who will just support us in whatever we do in life, we never want to hear that maybe what we are doing is not good for us. It is so very sad to watch the decline in true believers. And it is such a blessing when you come across one. But, The church will never fail. Because the True body of Christ will always exist until He returns.
I am going to a funeral tomorrow. This was a lady who was a devout Christian, and ended up with Alzheimers after being in a bad car wreck. This woman was never the same, but she knew she wanted to go to church, and she would recall at random times things about Jesus Christ. But, her mind being as it was she also suffered severely from sundowners and her personality would change for the negative. Not her fault one bit. And God knows that, and I do not believe she will be punished for the things she did being out of her right mind. God knows the thoughts and intent of the heart, I have no doubt this woman will be in Heaven. And her DH although grief stricken, is comforted by his faith and knows the same, that her suffering is over.
God does not expect more than we are able.
I do agree as it says in Romans 10:9-11, John 3:15-17, and so on, that Faith in Christ is how we obtain salvation. It is not of works lest any man should boast.
However, faith is an action word and as we read in the book of James, we must put our faith into action. Because an inactive faith is a dead faith.
Wally,
If your Mom was a believer, she is still a believer. God knows and I believe she will be judged on her life pre-illness, not after. She cannot help what it is now. I still want to encourage you to try and take her to church and read scripture to her, or whatever you can just to keep her spirit fed even if her mind is not receiving it, her heart is.
May God bless you all!! Always seek the truth.
As LL said, Jesus is the way the truth and the Light.
And No man cometh to the Father but through Jesus.