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Originally Posted by cogs

good question crissydi. i have some points i came up with reading the responses:
1. thankfulness- relating to god your thankfulness in prayer, for that which you have already
2. listening- in prayer, listen to god... he may be saying something totally off your subject, and like you said, a personal revelation might come from his spirit
3. use what you have- take the things god has given you and use them the best you know how for him, cause it's the small faithfulness he blesses
4. process of change- in my opinion, it's not what you're asking for that god focuses on, it's the process of receiving it... a process of changing you. perhaps through patience, or faithfulness, or a sin that's dealt with or repented of. the bible says to seek first the kingdom of god. first is first.

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Change- that is a big word. I am always seeking God for ways in which I can become more like Him. My life is a constant focus on helping others and ministering to others and so I earnestly try to take some moments to reflect on myself. That is not so easy for me because God is contstantly bringing people into my life that He is asking me to minister to... and I'm learning to balance that call with investing in my personal relationship with God, myself, and my husband. And humbling myself before God in knowledge that my good works don't mean that God is required to give me what I want. (He is my Lord, not my Genie. Ouch! That lesson hurt! Hee Hee)

Thankfulness- I know I lack in that area, because it's so easy to listen to the words of the enemy about how far away I am from where I want to be or "deserve" to be. I've been forcing myself to verbalize little things that God does for me, to myself, so that I can combat the enemy's seeds of frustration that he sows into my mind.

CrissyDi
I think that you have a good attitude about that.
Peace and kindness,
Frefd

Someone posted a response to my previous one that suggested I 'stay on the topic'. I think it was Cogs? Well, if you really read it you would see that I indeed DID stay on the topic. I answered the question: have you ever waited on the Lord and What happened?
Wasn't that the question? Or do you people only expect and accept a positive answer? I have indeed waited on the lord and what happened? Nothing! I have been through all religions and eventually found they are all based on... mythology. Far be it from me to discourage anyone from their beliefs, however futile, but, some night, look up at the cosmos. Isn't that enough to wonder at? The magnificance of it. Isn't that religion enough for you? Okay, I will shut up. Believe in your Lord as it gives you purpose in life.. but if you ask a question, expect an answer not necessarily to your liking.

No, I said, 'i hope everyone stays on topic... lol'
I should have added everyone else.
richka, the stars are nice to look at, but won't help my soul to grow.

Richka, thank you for your honesty. I respect your standpoint and all others who have replied.

COGS
You are assuming there is a soul. Read Carl Sagan. A scientist and a great man. You might understand that the 'stars' are not just 'nice to look at' but can deepen awareness, enlarge consciousness, even give a spiritual awakening to the soul, whatever that might be. Nature is a wonder. I had a spiritual experience once, in Mazatlan, Mexico of all places. Just watching the waves crash upon the beach but it was far more than that. A breathtaking vision if you will. I came away changed.

richka,
I'm familiar with Carl Sagan and his Cosmos program. I read some of his books
I find the universe to be a mind blowing phenominon.
I often wonder how God planned and made it to be what is is today.
Peace and kindness,
Fred

[QUOTE=CrissyDi;1382208]it's so easy to listen to the words of the enemy about how far away I am from where I want to be or "deserve" to be. [QUOTE=CrissyDi;1382208]

CrissyDi
The enemy's name is in Greek ''anaxiopestea'' and it's job is to make someone feel not worthy of God's love and blessings.Pray to Jesus and He will send it away!
When me and my wife were trying to have a baby , that spirit was there to make us believe that it was not going to happen.
Our son's name is Hristoforos and it means ''he that carries Christ''!

Deuteronomy 4:19 And lest thou lift thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve them, which the LORD thy God hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven.

Genesis 1:14 And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:

15 And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so.
16 And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.

17 And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth,

18 And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good.


James 4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

Mark 14:36 Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.

Dear Acura Sir,
I'm so glad you are familiar with Carl Sagan. He was such a marvelous man, who unfortunately died so young. Well, I guess you would already guess my opinion on the universe and the extended cosmos. i.e, god did not 'make' it. It came about through natural selection. I respect your viewpoint but that's the scientific explanation that I follow and can be just as mind blowing as being designed by a supernatural being somewhere.
My sincere wishes for your continued happiness with the "lord". Richka

Adam, thanks for James 4 and Mark 14. They are great to meditate on. I have been reading a rereading LISTENING TO GOD by Charles Stanley. It is an awesome book. Anywhoo, thanks for your input. I've been like a thick sponge, trying to absorb all the word I can get. I've always attended church faithfully, and I attend an awesome WORD ministry... I use to be so focused on serving, but in this season God is really calling me to listen to HIM and spend more time with HIM. It's hard getting out of my habits of being busy with the world. But I know it's what I must do. (Quiet my soul.)

1. crissydi, you have the 'quiet my soul' correct... listening to him, is like listening to an internal person. You do learn what he says by spending more time with him. That's the living word in you.
2. richka... so the experience touched you internally, doesn't that mean you have a soul? Also, the creator of the mormon religion, joseph smith, had a vision, and I don't believe every vision or supernatural happening is god's will for us. I believe satan is able to deceive us in this manner.

richka,
Thank you and I respect your right to believe as you want to.
Peace and kindness,
Fred

1. crissydi. You said before that you were non religious but spiritual! Yet you are quoting the bible all the time. That's Bronz age religion!
2. Cogs. Being in awe at thesight of giant waves, glimmering in the sun as they crash onto the beach at Mazatlan does not mean I have a soul. The way I see it, it just means I have an appreciation of the BEAUTY of nature. Now you're going to say god created that beauty. Isn't it rather 'natural selection'?

cogs. I just drove down from Phoenix. (I live in Tucson)
You seem to be an educated man. I just don't understand then, how could you believe in a being like satan? Re: Joseph Smith. I've read a book (forgot the title now) that exposes the entire scam of mormonism.

Acura.
Thank you! For clearly seeing everyone has that right. This reminds me of once in my health club locker room the other guys were talking about god and I foolishly said " But I'm a non-believer". Then one was going to punch me out and said he had fought in Viet Nam. I failed to see what that had to do with it but there you are. (Believe as I do or else). So I said, what you were fighting for was my right to think as I please. He didn't get it!

richka ,
I think the hot head you were referring to was one (like me) who fought for God, Family. And Country so goes the indoctrination.
He had not right to threaten you or your beliefs, but some folks just don't "get it".
It's like the people who believe in freedom of speech but only for them.
Peace and kindness,
Fred

Quote:

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Originally Posted by richka

1. crissydi. You said before that you were non religious but spiritual! Yet you are quoting the bible all the time. That's Bronz age religion!

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Same here I am spiritual Christian and not religious. Religion is man made formulas on how they believe you reach God.

Yes I have waited on the Lord for over 20 yrs on most things and God is finally starting to bring about some good things in my life. I believe he allowed me to go through many things so that I can relate to others and use my life experiences to help people.
Many people go out to help people but can't relate but want to do 'good deeds'. They can't help much more than that because they do not understand what many of the poor and hurting are going through. I believe people need more people that have gone through it all to share their experience and be there for them as well.

NoHelp, that's awesome! I know how good it feels to see God moving in your life. I'm learning in my wilderness period, that even though I can't see him moving, He is moving and therefore He is good.

I do understand about helping others out of your experience rather than just sympathy. I do find that my ministry to others is much more effective when I can relate to what they are going through.

N0help4u,
I do not believe that all religion is man made.
God made the religion of Yahweh. He set up the laws and rules for it thousands of years ago.
It is all in the Old Testament.
Jesus Christ established His religion my forming the teaching and commandments to be taught and followed by what He called "My Church"
In that is where we learn about, worship, and do the things that Jesus told us to do.
Peace and kindness,
Fred