Christianity Oasis Forum

[Lovingly4given]

Momo, those videos where wonderful. Songs that lifted my heart and put a smile on my face

Day 4,
So I know that I am a couple of days behind. This weekend I left town to visit my Great grand mother who doesn't have internet access, and just recently learned to use a cordless phone. I re-read Day 3 and went on to Day 4, which is by far the hardest thing for me to do ever. The stepping stone is right. It's so much easier to forgive others, but for myself I feel as if I should have knew better. I beat myself up. But God has freed me from it so who am I not to free myself, forgive myself, and as the study said "get on with God's business". I think it's the feelings of unforgiveness within myself that pulls me back to the place I'm trying to claw myself from. Harboring that unforgiveness is nothing but a weight hold me down. It's not how I want to be for the rest of my life. It's something I'm going to have to work on and a weed that I may need to go back and pull from time to time.

[momof3]

Heya Sis in Him

It IS a tough one...forgiving ourselves...this is where the renewing of our minds comes in. Sis..here is a hard truth. If God, our Holy Father...has forgiven us, who are we to not forgive ourselves. If Christ died to take our place for our sins...who are we to hold on to guilt. Truth is, Christ's sacrifice on the cross was complete..it is Finished. If the enemy of our souls can use this tool of unforgiveness against us, he twists the whole meaning of Christ's sacrifice for our sins and His free gift to us becomes null and void and insufficient. This is where faith comes in...choosing to believe what God's grace and mercy are all about. He has forgiven you...His mercy is unending. We dont deserve it, its Who He is. His grace IS sufficient. Replace the lies with God's truth. We love Him because He loves us so perfectly..and completely..and Wholly Holily (is that a word?? ) The truth will set you free..and the truth is you have the power to know you are His child..and you are forgiven...and, He sees your sin no more.

Oh, our Lord is sooo good...

Love you and am praying for you.

In Jesus,
love momo

[KrysyK]

Thank you for sharing Momo, have a blessed day!

love Krysy

[Lovingly4given]

Momo, thank you for your words they were a comfort to me especially as I read today Stepping Stone

Day 5
Identifying the problem. Which one would you life first? My problem is lust, and I am selfish. My problem is submission to God, and I am selfish. My problem is obedience to God, and I am selfish. My problem is lack of self control, and I am selfish.
I think if I sat here long enough I could fill this page up with my problems, but at the root of it all seems to be selfishness. Each decision I make that is contrary to the will of God is because I didn't want to do it, or listen, or wanted to do something else, go somewhere else. I've been all about me, me, me and pushed God aside. Day 3 and 4 really come in handy with the full revelation of my utter and complete selfishness. God wants nothing but the best for me but instead of listening and obeying I ran and ignored. Instead of giving up on me He continued to love me. Again the concept of God's love completely boggles my mind. It's this all encompassing thing that I honestly think I could drown in. The Bible says love covers a multitude of sin, but the full understanding of that is hitting me as I type. Every selfish sin I have ever committed is forgiven, covered by God's grace. I'm starting to feel that overwhelmed sensation again, as every sin of omission and commission floods my mind but across each one I see the word forgiven written in red. Oh how it humbles me and convicts me and makes me grateful. I am truly truly in awe of the awesomeness of God. I don't think these problems can be fixed in a day because they weren't created in a day. I do know that I have every resource available to me to resist and withstand any temptation that may come my way. I have the power to say yes to God instead of walking the other way. Through God I have everything that I need to overcome every sin I am faced with. I am God's child and He is my Father and He wants to help me. I am realizing that I can truly do nothing in my own strength except get myself in troublesome places. I can't live this life without God and I don't want to.

[dantyriverside]

4given hi I have enjoyed following along with you even though today is my first day to speak. I too suffer from not being able to forgive myself. It was hard for me to be able to grasp the concept that God can forgive me of everything. And if you are like me I also suffer from not being able to take a compliment. I have had to learn to just say Thank you. I always would say yeah but..... It takes practice. The same with forgiveing yourself it will take practice. I would always say yeah but he cant forgive me for this or yeah but he cant forgive me for that and I had to learn that he would forgive me for EVERYTHING even my yeah buts. Isnt that awesome. Everything! Everything I did, and will do. That doesnt mean I'm gonna go out and go crazy with sin but it is a comfort to know he loves me and will forgive me. Last night in the Chat room in one of the Programs called Discipleship we discussed how Jesus walked on water and calmed the storm. Then Peter walked out to him and guess what Peter sank some. Can you imagine Peter right there with Jesus looking at him and his faith waivered, he lost sight of Jesus for a few and he started to sink. I gives me hope to know that Peter was right there with Jesus looking at him and sank. So its ok if you or I get lost and come back. He loves us. He reaches out to us just like he did to Peter he doesnt want us to sink. He wants to lift us up. How awesome is that. You should really try coming to the chatroom we have alot of great programs.

I have found that when I stopped reading my Bible everyday my faith was not as strong. What I mean is I did not feel as close to God as I do when I read my Bible. I started out just reading a few verses a day before I knew it I was reading chapters. I have a few suggestions 1) start by reading John my fiance suggested it to me because it tells the story of Jesus' life 2) Since you said you are haveing difficulty with the flesh and pornography we have 2 supportive programs in the chatroom 1) is S.O.S. on Wednesday nights at 9:00 eastern time 8:00 central and 2) Real Solutions on Thursday nights at 9:00 eastern time 8:00 central. S.O.S. is for Sexual Addiction but we (addicts) are in there and we usually discuss many different addictions along with Sexual Addiction. Real Solutions is for all Addictions. These are really great support programs and everything is kept within the group. You might wanna try them there are alot of other really great programs that you can attend to help get the love and support you need. All you need to do is check out the chat calendar. We also have games on Friday and Saturday night If you are at home and just want something fun to do. You should really check out the programs. But above all remember God loves you and is with you always AND you have the love and support of your Oasis family .

I'll keep you in my prayers
loves danty

[gabrielle1965]

He has forgiven you, all you have to do is start walking with him.
He never gave up on you, he never gives up on us. Sometimes we have to go through things, we are a work in progress no matter how many times we might leave him. He knows we will stray back, he is the best friend we will ever have.

[b]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rS894cgzKk8&feature=related[/b]

[Lovingly4given]

oh dear Day 5 didn't post o.O No worries I shall just copy and paste it.

Day 5
When I read Day 5 I immediately thought: "The Miracle Grow project is going to be a tough one for me. I'm really going to need help with this. I have so much on my plate in terms of school and work already. I don't have time for this! Whew. Completely each stepping stone daily is a challenge now I've got more things to do?" NOW, the minute I thought of all this I mentally crossed it out, and then felt guilty. I've spent so much time doing things other than spending time in my Word or praying or having a moment of Worship, I can surely find the time to do that. God makes time for me so it's my responsibility to make time for Him. It's the only way to built a relationship, spending time with God and talking to Him and also listening for His voice and His instructions. I've always let things go in the way of spending time with God thinking "Oh I can do it later" well it's later now. It amazes me how much time I have to do things that don't matter but as soon as i try and do something worthwhile I don't have the time. Well, no more excuses. I'm making my flow chart first thing in the morning right after I read Proverbs 31. This process, these stepping stones are really helping me to control my thoughts and for the first time in a long time I don't feel like an ocean is between me and God. I've been so busy running from instead of to Him and He's always been right there waiting for me to turn it around. What am awesome God.

P.S. Danty, thank you so much for your words and suggestions. I would love to check out those chat rooms and really get to know you guys better. I have checked out the S.O.S and Real Solutions forums just haven't been brave enough to post again on those yet. Thank you for the encouragement.

[Lovingly4given]

Gabrielle,
I should have a sign made and posted on my door that says major construction zone because that's what I feel like is going on inside of me. This little garden I've got growing is bring in the heavy equipment to pull up weeds and lay new foundation. I've got buildings and statues coming down all over the place, and it feels GREAT! Thank you for your words of encouragement.

[dantyriverside]

4 given when I did my grow chart I added easy things to it like take my medicine,remember to thank God at least 3 times each day and say grace. These are easy but these were things I would forget to do.So dont get bogged down with putting difficult things on your chart because the point is to become closer to God not to feel defeated because you did not complete all you wanted to. Also remember to reward yourself. I went shopping at the Thrift store. Sometimes I bought stuff sometimes not but that was my reward.

You are doing great. Keep up the good work. And remember God is with you through it all, he will never let you go through anything alone.


loves danty

[Lovingly4given]

Day 7

I just realized I have two entries for Day 5. The second Day 5 is supposed to say Day 6. Anyway, know my mind. My Bishop called what this stepping stone is about "guarding the gates". What is meant by that is guarding the way thoughts enter the mind through the 6 senses. I've done a very poor job, in the past, of guarding my gates. I've let each and every thought come my way and I've let it run a muck with my mind. It's great to be actively taking back control of my mind and by extension my life. I'm excited about the things that are happening within me. I've gotten up and prayed each morning since starting this journey. I've been able to resist temptation and turn my mind to God when thoughts come my way. Hey I guess I've already started the process of building protection around my mind once again. I've not gonna say this process won't work, because it will. I'm leaning so heavily on the strength of God right now. I trust Him way more than I trust myself. He's my rock and I can't ever see myself losing sight of that again.

[Lovingly4given]

Day 8

Today has been a difficult day for me so far. I decided to to the Steppping Stone earlier instead of later. I''m glad I did. It's put me in a whole different mindset and it shows me that the program is really working or better yet I am really taking it to heart. I hqven't been to church in a while and I am going tonight and I really excited to worship again like I used to. Music has always been a excellent mood changer with me so I think that is going to be my go to when I need to change my thought.that and prayer. I like knowing the problem is not me but I'm really big on taking responsibility for my actions. But now I know how to change those thoughts before they become actions. It gets easier each day and I hope by the end of this study it's like second nature or should I say first nature.

[KrysyK]

Hi 4given, It's good to see the difference in the posts- how 8 short days can transform us from deep within. While I am guilty of not doing a lot of the activities, I did manage to read each step and I have managed not to beat myself up over the activities i failed to do. I have intentions of re-reading the steps and doing the activities that I skipped like the chart. Anyhoos I just wanted to say keep it up and let you know that reading your posts bring such warmth into my heart. It reminds me of when I was doing the steps, I looked forward to each day and I was greatly rewarded! It's nice to hear of your rewards. May God continue to bless you always.

Love Krysy