Christian Chat

@Appleblossom I love how you write that you don't believe that good times means good person and bad times means bad person. I agree with you.

Growing up with the religious trauma it sounds like you've had to endure, it's no wonder you're guarded.

For me it was the opposite, I grew up in a Protestant household. My dad and his family were Catholic and I believe he had some issues with the nuns when he went to school. He was left handed and that was the sign of the devil so the nuns tried to make him write with his right hand. He rebelled and until he died he remained left handed. I think he told me they'd rap him over his knuckles.

I think only his mum - Nana - and one of his sisters were faithful church goers, I remember Nana telling me she enjoyed walking to her local church because it gave her a break from the family!

If it were true that good things only happen to good people, my father certainly wouldn't have had the comfortable life he did!

I'd love to have the strong faith that @DownMoreThanUp does!

@ENKELI

"I'd love to have the strong faith that @DownMoreThanUp does!"

i'll be honest, dear sister — the faith you see in me wasn't something i built. it was given, given because i needed it so desperately. so please hear this: what was given to me in my need is there for you too.

when Jesus first broke into my life, i had almost no faith at all. seconds' worth, honestly. what grew it wasn't me trying harder to believe. it was learning to hold onto Jesus' righteousness instead of my own. that's how God works — not by me mustering faith, but by me humbly receiving His, for i was in poverty of all His good life.

this is what i had to unlearn: the more i told myself "i don't have enough faith," the less i had. wishing for what others had, comparing myself, feeling i fell short — those feelings never grew my faith. they robbed it. for they pointed me at myself instead of at Jesus. every time i looked at how far i was falling short, i fell shorter.

the turning point was realising i don't have to manufacture faith, or grow my own faith, or try to have faith at all. i just have to ask for it when i run short.

for Jesus said ask, and it will be given. and i found the asking itself is the receiving! God answers the moment we turn to Him. the wait is always only as long as it takes me to see Him again — and when i remember Him, faith is there too.

so even now, all these years later, when those old feelings come — my depressive state telling me i'm not good enough, i'm falling short, i'm missing out — i've learned to understand they're not my true self talking. that is the voice of the one i fight. my job isn't to argue my shortcomings, or my lack of faith, or my standing before God. it's to give myself to Jesus when i'm not good enough and let Him answer with His truth — not the voice that keeps hurting me to no good.

so here's what i cling to: my own faith will never be enough. but His is. and He shares His with anyone who asks — always, every single time. so when mine fails, His won't. that's why i get through. not because i'm strong, or my faith is good or strong, but because He is good and strong — and i have learned to trust Him during my hard times. and honestly, that IS hard. trusting Jesus will do it when all seems lost. yet so worth it. keeping my eyes on Him is how He does it. i ask myself: do my thoughts and feelings line up with His loving truth? or am i being hunted within myself by the voice that says i'm not good enough?

so when you feel short on faith, my dear sister, please know: that's not the signal to feel bad about yourself, or to think you are missing out. it's the call of the Spirit for you to ask. He isn't waiting for you to have enough yourself before He helps. He's waiting for you to ask — for Jesus knows we can do nothing without Him. so the moment you trust that Jesus is true for you too, He will be — for He already IS. you may not have seen Him there yet, in your life short of faith in the truth. but the truth is, He is there.

so please be of good courage. for faith, hope and love — they remain, and they're His stamp on us. 1 Corinthians 13 says it, and i've found it true.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKVJQkrQ35I&list=RD4Fhv4arL3yk&index=4

@Appleblossom

-"Hugs @ENKELI

I feel similarly, but for a very long time. My approach is to pray, as if he or she exists, as a loving parent or father or being. It may all be wishful thinking. Sorry to be a doubting Thomas. I keep talking to Him, (or Sophia) and interpret any good moment as positive. I try to gain encouragement and give it, around people who try and do the right thing, as giving up completely seems unwise. I feel silly and foolish a lot of the time. Sorry I cant send you a special scripture to turn all that around.

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i though this deserved a comment dear sister. The Truth is God is both male and female, you and me too, in Spirit, as He so are we.

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That is why Mother Mary was so no issues for the 'holiness' of Jesus, that is what Virgin spiritually means my understanding much more so than an unbroken hymen is PURITY, UNTOUCHED, UNSPOILED, NOT TAKEN, INNOCENT, and of course AVAILABLE if of age for childbearing to bear Divine Life Revelation 12 style. Our rebirth in The Truth of our salvation Jesus and ourself The Word of God.

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So when you are being put down, mocked, scorned, or belittle, please know blessed are those who do not HEED them. Read Psalm 1 about that. And if those thoughts or feelings want to remain powerful putting you down for you seek, love and trust God then you are the one Jesus loves the Word Psalm 2. Let The Truth set you free Psalm 23 style. As easy as that His truth lived. i love Jesus for salvation i know you do, us all here do, that is ALL it takes. We are His. That means we are TRUE His in His loving truth. Forever!

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Be of good courage i love your faith dear. You are genuine.

His love for us all. @ENKELI @Realness @ENKELI @Lozenge @heartathome

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yG-Y9bWlCw8&list=RD4Fhv4arL3yk&index=23

Hi @ENKELI

( @Appleblossom , @heartathome , @DownMoreThanUp )

I read something in my theology course that encouraged me. If I can get the words right it might help with God feeling distant.

The reading started by saying that John taught that God is love and God is light. That God's love never eliminates His holiness. That's how complete Jesus' victory over sin and death was. God's agape love for the unworthy. Our standing with God does not depend on our grasp upon Christ nor our obedience. "If we are faithless, He will remain faithful" (2 Tim 2:13). Jesus' victory over human frailty is complete!

Mmm reading over what I've written I'm not sure it will help. I will share it anyway.

ENKELI, it is so good to have you back. Thanks for sharing. I also wonder about my commitment to God - I think about the church going Christians creating communities of love - but each morning I grab for God's Word and I suspect for me in my current situation it may be enough. Your strength is prayer. Something many Christians are weak at.

I do like Psalms and Proverbs. Thank you @DownMoreThanUp

@ENKELI @Realness @heartathome

I am heartened by 2 faith communities I am a part of. Yes, Agape can make a huge difference.

@Appleblossom So true me too!

@ENKELI @Lozenge @heartathome @Realness

Over the last 21 years i always wanted to witness the works of God in my life, but often it bit me in the bum more than it did me good. For years i thought that comes with the territory. For at times people were greatly helped, but at other times people be upset, or what i shared fell on deaf ears. For people can genuinely tell me they love hearing me share about Jesus, then gently disappear, and at church look the other way. My wife does the same. i thought that was just the territory. Yet with everyone gone, even though i had loved, and tried to love, i learned to understand that my lived truth was often not welcome when i witnessed that about Him and me.

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So i asked Jesus about this.

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He showed me something that opened my eyes - This was the guts of what He showed me my lived experiences over the years as His witness.

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Cathedrals look pretty to City Dwellers, yet that's all for most City Dwellers, most wont use it, no one will ever build one themselves. Yet in the wilderness show a starving cave dweller how to make a bow and arrows, and share the ability how to make a fire to keep warm, (His word lived,) and they will not only benefit my witness and instruction, but also gladly make a place for me by their fire and share their successful hunt also as food for me.

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i certainly experienced that hanging out with depressed people. So glad i know others who love Him, who also get depressed. Each lived experience shared becomes useful that way.

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Don't you reckon Friends?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Fhv4arL3yk&list=RD4Fhv4arL3yk&start_radio=1

@heartathome @Realness @Lozenge @ENKELI

@DownMoreThanUp Witnessing and giving testimony is different in different denominations. I was asked recently to give testimony and I did not feel comfortable with it, and the pastor understood. Is it my shyness, is it the historical family institional abuse? Some things are too sacred for me. Yet I work well with him in a peer faith based mental health group, so in a way I do give testimony, in a way that sits well with my experience and various trainings.

For me, the soul journey, is both private, with God, interpersonal, and social and public. I feel that is central to Jesus and his life in the gospels. I am very flexible and love that I can keep learning about the history of Christianity and mingle with good people.

Yes, the most elaborate building can be contrasted to the cave, and both exist and have their purpose and place. I am careful not to speak about or preach absolute truth. I dont feel called to preaching the word, for me the call has always been social justice and music ministry. That is my private truth. I have a lot of study in various words, but it is not my religious calling.

Ironically, despite my extreme poverty as a kid, I have been in a lot of city churches and made my First Holy Communion in a cathedral. I can see beyond Pomp and Ceremony, but also see value in many people being touched, or pay respects, in different ways. I am glad I had a year of the boy's choir and formal majestic organ singing in my ears. Some people go for Hillsong. Yes, I know well there are issues behind the scenes. I try and mine the riches in my experience for good, for me and others. Dont know else to do. Its all I can do.

Gotta go and sing 10,000 reasons .... in choir practice...

@DownMoreThanUp, @Realness @Appleblossom @heartathome @Lozenge

I think I struggle with the belief that God loves me as a father would because my biological father never really did. Being used to neglect, hurt and trauma I don't understand how God's love for me could be so true, so real and so fulfilling.

Maybe if when I am over the pain of the father who was never there, I'll be able to embrace the Father who is Always There.

Yes, no matter how I feel or how far away, it is like breathing to pray. I am always so grateful for that gift He has given me.

May God bless you all and keep you safe, you're in my prayers my dear friends xo 🫂🙏

@Appleblossom @DownMoreThanUp @Realness @Lozenge @heartathome

I liken witnessing to cold calling - 99% will reject what you say, but you'll get 1% who are interested.

Everyone I know is aware of my faith but I don't discuss it unless it is relevant to the conversation or if asked.

I am not comfortable witnessing, especially when I look at my life and realise it was actually better before I gave my life to Christ. As a non Christian, people have asked how I could say it is better now and I can't answer because it's an internal thing, it's knowing that I will see heaven and spend eternity in the Fathers' arms. You can describe that to most non believers.

I do believe we all have different gifts, some to witness, some to pray and some to share gospel. I think that's the important thing to remember.

@DownMoreThanUp you I believe have the personality to witness, I hope you continue to do so even though it may be painful right now xo

Thanks for sharing @Appleblossom and @ENKELI sending you both hugs much love 💚