Christianity Oasis Forum

[Dora]

These steps are taking me more than a day each.
I copy pasted one in the chat room as other members joined. We were all blessed. It took over 2 hrs and we never finished. Was an awesome time together. As we shared our thoughts and discussed that step.

I left the house today, alone, driving down the road with my music on. Filled with the spirit. Completely filled with joy and peace.

Then...

My eyes fell on a tiny crack in the windshield. It wasn't there before. I thought another issue to deal with. More cash to try to come up with to replace it. Michigan winters are hard on vehicles.

How quickly I let something of this world steal my joy and peace. I noticed the spirit was low, when just before I saw the crack the vehicle was filled with his presence.

Why would I allow something so small to come between me and the Holy Spirit. Maybe in time I'll be able to see cracks in windshields and not allow it to steal my peace and joy.

I've noticed money seems to steal the spirit and cause me the greatest stress. I have to ask myself, Who is my God! Money or Jesus! My goal is to not allow circumstances steal my joy and peace. As my God is greater than any and all circumstances.

I've also started praying Gods will over my day and over my family. I've seen his hand working in situations since I've started doing this.

[Dora]

I went on with day 6. I had started day 5 yesterday and finished it up first thing this morning. Since I started yesteday I figured I could move on to day 6.

Day 6 talks about Gods feelings. I have begun to experience some of these feelings. I think I felt them before but never trusted what I was feeling. If that makes since.

A few weeks back I had an experience where I was struggling. I was not only worried about somethings, some people, I had begun to revisit a time in my life I had forgotten about. I allowed myself to think on these things. Big mistake. Through the stress, fear, and unforgiveness of those in the past I allowed Satan to sneak in. I was amazed at how God responded. Satan was whispering constantly in my ear. Telling me I don't really hear Gods voice, that I'm just crazy, that I'm unworthy, that the plans I heard God share with me was not real, and so much more. I heard another another voice. One I know so well. The voice of my Father. He tried to coax me back into his presence. Reminding me of who I am in him and so much more. I pushed him away as I began to buy into the lies of the enemy. I can't explain the deep darkness I had felt. During this time. I felt the sadness of the Lord. As I stepped away. I grieved the Holy Spirit. Like a very good friend calling come back, come back, come back. Even hearing the voice I still stepped away. It was at that moment I felt his sadness. I knew I couldn't do this. I couldn't stand in the darkness and deny my Fathers voice. I had to believe. I had to trust. I had to fall into his arms once again.

I wish I could explain to you how dark the darkness is. After walking in the light for so many years I had forgotten of what it felt like.

I am ever so grateful we have such a loving heavenly Father. This study is the truth. He is the friend who wont give up on me.

I had a dream a while back I was ice skating with the Holy Spirit. It made me realize I had given up iceskating during a time in my life I had given up anything and everything that wasn't about my kids. Painting, drawing, and photography. I loved to ice skate. So I decided I was going to find my ice skates this year. Today I went ice skating. Wow have I lost the ability. It's been almost ten years. It's like learning to walk all over again. But I was determined. I stood there at the edge of the ice, gripping the bar, my skates slipping a bit. I said, "Catch me Daddy." And I took off. Wasn't nothing graceful about that moment. Except I knew my Daddy had me. The entire way around the rink I talked to him. I almost fell once. I swear just like a dad who caught his little girl and put her back on her skates, I was caught and put back up right. I knew it was him. I felt him ever so close.

Well now wouldn't the world think I'm absolutely nuts. Ice skating with God?

[Mackenaw]

Hello Pine

God bless you this day.

I love when you share what The Holy Spirit is doing in your life, and I particularly liked the ice skating sharing. It reminded me of a Lee Ann Womack song that He has brought to my heart often.

"I Hope You Dance"

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder,
You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger,
May you never take one single breath for granted,
GOD forbid love ever leave you empty handed,
I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean,
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens,
Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.

I hope you dance....I hope you dance.

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance,
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Livin' might mean takin' chances but they're worth takin',
Lovin' might be a mistake but it's worth makin',
Don't let some hell bent heart leave you bitter,
When you come close to sellin' out reconsider,
Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.

I hope you dance....I hope you dance.
I hope you dance....I hope you dance.
(Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along,
Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder where those years have gone.)

I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean,
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens,
Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.

Dance....I hope you dance.
I hope you dance....I hope you dance.
I hope you dance....I hope you dance..
(Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along
Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder where those years have gone)


God bless you, Pine.
Love,
Mack

[Dora]

Thank you Mack.
I'm learning what my dance is and how to dance it.
One day!

The more faith you have in His power in every situation, the more He can fill you with His joy and peace. You won't need to worry about anything because you will know that God is taking care of everything.

I know I have to grow more faith. I've come along way. I wonder just how far my faith will grow.

Saw some people a different way today. As I was getting irritated with their mouths I started to talk to the Holy Spirit. And listen! The irritation left. I didn't feel like leaving. It's interesting, to say the least, to see, hear, and feel the way Christ does through the help of the Holy Spirit.

[Timothy]

Pine

[Dora]

I do nothing else but abide in His Holy presence, and I do this by simple attentiveness and an habitual, loving turning of my eyes on Him. This I call A wordless and secret conversation between the soul and God which no longer ends.