Christianity Oasis Forum

[Christnundrconstruxn]

Hi Lyl,
I wanted to post and tell you that it is not that IF you SHOULD serve but how, we all were created to serve Him but in MANY different ways, just as you spoke of your brother in law and sister in law and those who serve our country (and may God bless them ALL) BUT do you think they could serve him by teaching those kids?? probably not just as you were not chosen to serve Him as they do
it is meant for us ALL to serve Him BUT in the ways He needs us to.
And it sounds as if you already know your calling to serve, it is a VERY important postition to be the one that teaches His word and ways to the young....and you I think have been chosen to do just that.

As for the way you live, dress and such do not allow satan to turn your thoughts of being happy into the thought of God does not wish for you to have things or be blessed as others are BUT as you said do not sit and feel cheated or less loved because you do not have what others do, when you feel these thoughts just remind yourself of those who have less than you but are happy with the blessings of the love of God they share.
I use to go around thinking as you seem to feel sometimes, but I have gotten SO much blessing from being here and reminding myself anytime satan sneaks those thoughts in that I AM blessed even if I don't have perfect teeth or a new car or a perfect love, I do have God's love, I do have the blessing of KNOWING Him, I do have MANY blessings that I tend to forget when I am busy thinking of the stuff others have, but many times they are not blessed by feeling the love and security of knowing He loves me NO MATTER WHAT I do or have.

You are very blessed and are chosen to raise your little ones knowing Him as welll as those you teach
I hope you see you are VERY important to Him doing just as you do now and IF you see He wishes for you to follow another path He will make that clear to you when He is ready BUT until then just know you are needed as you are.

God bless and may He show you that you are doing just as He planned for you
Cuc

[Christnundrconstruxn]

It also crossed my mind of the verse that speaks of how the different parts of the body serve
(you or someone else I'm sure know of the verse I just felt you needed to hear this
You may be the eye or ear and not the leg, can you imagine the "leg" tryin to speak or listen to what God calls you to do
I was wishing to have a ear or eyeball smiley with legs about now
It takes ALL parts of the body of Christ to serve Him effeciantly

Cuc

[Christnundrconstruxn]

I am SO sorry for blowing up your post but
I am sitting here wiping the tears from my eyes due to the AWESOMENESS of how God works
there is a post here titled

Battle Born

by spiritonetwothree

I read AFTER the post I made above, and I wish for you to look at it but I will tell you why
1 Corinthians 12.......this is the verse I spoke of above and I opened this post directly after yours......He's awesome like that!!!

[realtmg]

Amen.
God gathers those tears and puts them in a bottle for ya.

GBU

Real

[lyl1114]

Thank you, cuc! Yes, my title should be changed because we ARE chosen (actually I will change it). Starting this study, I already came with the knowledge of my gift of teaching children but wanted more conviction. I have and the study is helping me how (like you said) I can do this. Thanks for your encouragement, once again. Just love how this blessed community can really help each other with God being the main controller from above! He IS soooo awesome!
I did read the post you recommended and was humbled. and I prayed to the Holy Spirit before starting out my journey in reading the Bible. Put this off for about almost a month ( ) because I just didn't know where to start. But He lead me to Proverbs because wisdom was what I was searching for. And you know what? Reading the bible before, all throughout my life, I didn't really understand it but today, each verse, Holy Spirit was helping me understand, like a commentator in a movie! hehehe. It was awesome! So many things I learned from Proverbs 16 today and wrote down the whole chapter in my personal journal.

[lyl1114]

Step #8: Spiritually Gifted

Must always remember that the gift is from God and that I should use my gift to glorify GOD, never myself. Lord, please help me to remember this, keep me humbled, and to use my gifts with love. I also seek the spirit of wisdom, for I long to do what is right in Your sight. In Jesus' name, Amen.


Step #9: Do not judge
"Judge not, that ye be not judged" Matthew 7:1
This is a hard one because I can do this without realizing ...it sometimes just happens so naturally. I need to be aware of this for God is the ONLY judge.

The point is to get back up when we do fall down...not to wallow in pity and guilt. Praying for discernment and wisdom...
Always get back to God's grace, accept it by believing that Jesus died for our since and REPENT.

[lyl1114]

Step #10: Feed My Lambs Fee My Sheep

Matthew 4:4
"But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God."

Can you believe that I have heard "Feed my sheep" so many times throughout life and didn't even think about what it meant! I seriously can't believe it. What I keep feeling is that even though I was brought up in a Christian home learning about the Bible , I was just reading and listening BUT I wasn't really searching the TRUTH. Wow...the Holy Spirit has really convicted my heart. Last step discussed how not doing what is right is also a sin...I wasn't searching and doing. I was being PASSIVE...Now at 33, I see the light.

Another thing...the sheep, even the lost ones, belong to God and not me. I should ALWAYS be careful as to how to share the gospel. I am NOT better than another of God's children. Secretly I had told myself that I was because I was saved and I was going to heaven although others who are very well off in the worldly sense were not. Oh my goodness, how TERRIBLE is this!!! How sad and angry God must have felt! Yet, He waited patiently for me to realize (with the help of the Holy Spirit) and I believe He has forgiven me now that I have repented. My friends who aren't Christians are God's children too! I want to share the gospel but I really just don't know how because all the times I have spent with them, I haven't shared the gospel. This hits harder for me because I will see them tomorrow. I really don't know how I will share the gospel because I too haven't lived an exemplary Christian life before their eyes. And I know that they think having money is the most important thing in this life...and I don't have a lot of it, therefore would they even take what I say seriously? I am definitely not good with words...maybe it isn't what I say right now but maybe how I am...even though they know we are having a lot of financial difficulties, that I can seem truly happy?

Lord God, I come humbly at your feet. Help me to NEVER think I am better but help me to have a heart like Yours and pray for those lost sheep. I really don't know how you will use me but do for Your will and help me. I KNOW YOU are here with me, ALWAYS. Help me to know YOU ARE here with me always. Help me to be bold that I will be able to answer "HERE I AM, LORD! SEND ME!" I am nothing...may YOU receive all the glory! I love YOU, LORD!

[lyl1114]

Step #11: Discernment

Yes, reading the Bible, most of the times, I just read it but didn't really understand it. I need to read His Words by being in Spirit and seek in Spiritual view. The story of Job is sobering. It teaches me that nothing is mine, I am owed nothing, and that the world does NOT revolve around me. Everything is given to me by God...and no matter what, praise is due to God.

Help me, Lord, to have a spirit of discernment...to understand Your words with Spiritual insight.

One thing I will also remember is to LOVE in our children's name so their sins & potential sins will be removed. WOW...I can do that! How gracious and merciful is our God that He allows us to send up a sacrifice/offering on our children's behalf! Allow my love for others to be this offering! In order to do that, I need to have understanding; understanding requires discernment. Lord, please grant me the gift of discernment.

[lyl1114]

Step #12: The Body of Christ

Unity in the Body of Christ...I guess there has been moments in my life that I did envy other people's gifts, whether in worldly sense or spiritual sense. I never really believed I was good at anything like others...My problem is that I compare myself too much with others. I need to stop that. This made me realize that I really am not good at LOVE. I thought I was but I am not. With the gifts that we are given, if we use and share them with LOVE, it is much greater. Thinking deeply about it, I am not really good at love. My definition of love is nowhere near what our God commands us to love.

Romans 12:9-16

Love in Action

9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.[c] Do not be conceited.

I have loved from the worldly sense. I need to learn how to love in Godly way. Lord, forgive me for not loving like you have commanded us. Teach me how to love like You do through Your Word. Help me to understand and help me to put that love into practice in my life. You have been so good to me, covering my inadequacies with Your love. My body is weak (and so tired) but thank you for allowing me to devote my time with You, for I know You will supply my needs. Honestly, Lord, I didn't think I will be able to pull through with this but I was able to with the help of the Holy Spirit. Thank you! Praise God. Please continue to equip me to do Your will...

[lyl1114]

Step #13: Fellowship

In this step, we are encouraged to help others...love thy neighbor as yourself. I am pretty shy and never really reached out to others...I am afraid of what I say may offend them or that I don't have wisdom to say the right thing. Still seeking wisdom and discernment. Need to love others like Christ has loved us. Hard to put that into action...
I have been studying and know what I should do but isn't hard to just do it?

[lyl1114]

Step #14: Great is your reward...in HEAVEN

With all that I have learned here, I will choose each day to serve the Lord with what He has given me. As spoken by Moses long time ago, I will teach my children the stories of God and Jesus, and teach them how to live for God...as this is also my prayer for them...that they will "love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all they might..." Deuteronomy 6:5

And I need to try every single day as this Christian walk is a Procedure. I am not perfect and I have to know that I will fall but will have to remember to go right back to God. Another thing is to remember that I am only being used by God and all the glory is due to Him, never to myself. I will just have to do my best in doing what God leads me to do and for those others who hear the gospel, God will work in them as well.

Very grateful for this study for it has allowed me to spend every single day with God. Life is so hectic and everything is always rushed. Especially today when things didn't start out well and felt the attack of the enemy to me, my husband, and my kids. I need to take time in my daily life and dedicate it to Him so I can grow spiritually and to hear His voice.

thank you God and to those whose who encouraged me through this study.

[dema]

I read in CS Lewis today that when we can rejoice in our own accomplishments, including what we have done for God, neither no more nor no less than if someone else had accomplished them, then we are in balance.

It is a lie to have false modesty.

If we build a fabulous Cathedral - we should rejoice in the Cathedral and in our role in building it - knowing we are part of the team that built it. We should not diminish what God has done through us by not appreciating the magnitude of it.

I found this enlightening - and it rang true.

Serve God, and rejoice in doing so. See yourself as the beautiful jewel that you are - one of a string of jewels.