A lonely place this side of Eden

[comfy]

And we can feel what God is feeling. This is in prayer deeper than words. So, then . . . if you are not talking in prayer, we can be sharing deeper.

Now, you said we can get lazy with just enjoying having things easy with other Christians, I think you might mean. Yes, we can. And Jesus says, "For if you love those who love you, what reward have you?" in Matthew 5:46. But also we have, in Mark 3:14, how "He appointed twelve,

. . . . . . . .that they might be with Him,

and that He might send them out". So, they were not called just to go out to preach and do wonders. But our calling *first*, I would say, is that we "be with Him", so we are sharing with our Groom Jesus; and then this love sharing runs over from our cup to others.

And so, also, we need to be with one another in this love . . . not so we get complacent but so this our cup runs over to make others the same way in our relating. Ah . . . so your family is God's cup of love, to run over to others to make them also the same way. But it is deeper than what they are seeing on the surface, I'd say. I understand that we spread God's very own to others, by being His *example* of this in *ourselves* > our cups run over with whatsoever is really in our own cups, to make others the same way > "nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock." (1 Peter 5:3)

So, this does come with growing. And it is deeper than words of praying and "serving" Jesus. Ones can burn out in their serving. I consider Martha so busy busy busy, then worrying how her sister Mary was not helping her; however Mary somehow could tell that her Groom Jesus wanted her to sit and rest with Him > Luke 10:38-42 > and listen. So, prayer possibly included how she deeper than words knew what her Savior and Master and Groom wanted. There was this deeper-than-words communication, I would say in her praying.

[josinella]

Hey, Mack!
Thanks for the response, all!

It has been a wierd day. I am really trying to stay on His path. I tend to deny myself rather easily, you know because it is all about Him. It is like He is trying to bring me to awareness and I don't want to go. More info about me, I have been a youth coach for a number of years. While bowling today, some of my college age youth came up and hugged and kissed me today. I sensed a need and I am glad that I have been a positive role modal for these young adults. People have come up and asked if I am real about loving these kids, and I am, through Him. I think that is all these "older" kids need is love, His. Just like He loved me when I was coming up.

I have also received emails from some of the youth leaders from the church processing our youth club from Wednesday. It is like God has opened doors and people are seeing something that they didn't before. It is all His, and it has allowed me to see that if people would just step out on faith, and allow God's will to take place, things will be according to His will. We can commune with Him, have peace, and love as we originally did before the Fall if we just choose Him fully.

I do have a fallen friend that I can't speak about. He was instrumental in turning me around. I don't know what to say to him and it is wierd that I can sense sorrow but I can't do anything about it because I have to stay out of God's way. I feel He has chosen not to follow God's path which I regret because I know what that brings. All I can do is pray for him and ask that God protect and fill him with His wisdom.

I think that God was talking to me today through others, letting me know that through Him, I can make a difference and not to give up. I must in all things give God the Honor and Glory! I just don't understand why He picked me. I feel so weak and fallible. I fear sometimes following Him because I don't want to get hurt, or be emotionally overwhelmed. I guess He sees something in me that I don't want to see. As long as He is happy I will learn to be. This is the best I can do right now.

Thanks everyone and have a blessed week.

[mlg]

Sis, I see such Hope in your shared words. So wonderful that you are now seeing God moving all around and through you.

Sis, as for this fallen friend, just continue to plant seeds and pray for them. God hears your prayers and He can reach this friend....in His way...pray for God to send someone who CAN reach him.

Have a delightful day sis.

luv ya

[deetu]

Aren't you glad that you didn't leave when the enemy tried to get you down?

You said "I tend to deny myself rather easily"
Don't forget that God wants you to be happy too. He will give you things because He wants to... to help you along the way.
For example, you get a little money from an unexpected source and you remember that dress that you saw that you really liked but you put the money in the collection plate instead. Maybe He heard that you liked that dress and wanted you to have it, which would have made you happy to wear to church to glorify Him, give you confidence.
Understand what I am trying to say?

Sorry about your fallen friend. I can't understand how someone who has know God can go back to that old life...enemy lies. Humm... maybe that is the thing that needs to be prayed aloud, to break the enemy's lies off of him so he has new ears to hear.

[josinella]

Thanks Deetu!

I have never looked at God's gifts in this way. I have actually done exactly what you said, not knowing. God blessed me with extra money that I wasn't expecting and I did tithe it to the church. I never thought of it as a way of glorifying Him. I thought that I would be being selfish to keep it. As you can tell, I am very other directed. I am very intelligent and I really love God but a lot of times I miss the simple things He is trying to tell me.

As far as my friend, you can take a good thing to far. He takes his faith so seriously that it has become a sin: pride. I know that God called me to this situation and He gave me wisdom and revealed His purpose with him and I; he articulated that. But, pride & comfort prevents him from moving in the direction God has called him to, for the Savior to take Him to a deeper spiritual place in his ministry. And I do pray for him because it is a loss for all, he is a very gifted Christian counselor, he being his worst patient.

[mlg]

I've seen this happen to many people, where they try to overthink God and their so "religious" they don't see that they have forgotten their first love...I pray that God will reveal the Truth to your friend and that your friend will breakdown with the pride and truly let God work for Him.

luv ya sis

[comfy]

I have fallen, and I would be ashamed and not want to talk to Christians or people of the world. Conceit. Being made to look like a fool, so then I didn't want to go on.

Now when I have problems, I tend more to just be quiet for God to do what He sees fit with me. See what happens with peace (o:

Bill

[josinella]

I tell you what my spirit feels reading your post, Comfy. Men tend to withdraw, as my friend has, when trials & tribulations come. God sometimes takes us exactly where we don't want to go, so He can bring us to obedience, to experience His love & wisdom, and seek His will for us. It feels like you withdraw from people, you are just calling it something else now "peace". I am also a really big loner, almost to the point that I rebuff people who come to help. I have had to heal from that because God loves all of us, and He manifests His love through others. God will send His saints to you to minister to you and help you come into His wisdom. Not everyone who comes is sent by Him though and you have to discern that. Prayer and devotion helps with this discernment.

My friend isolates himself, and he is in a sinful situation, as revealed by him. That is not a place to be alone in, especially since he has admitted that God has given him this wisdom. I feel his mechanism that is working is "Pride" because that is what the Spirit has revealed to me in his walk. You are one step ahead because you know yours "Conceit". Look at it from another perspective: Seek God's purpose for you in life, this is so much more imiportant than what people (worldly people) think. The love of God and having a relationship with Him means so much more to me than what others think of me. In working with the youth, it was scary for me to do as God asked but I did it because He means more to me than my fear. And we know where fear, conceit, pride, . . . comes from, don't we.

[mlg]

Josinella I love what you just shared...God means more to you than your fear....oh if we would all remember these words when God asks us to step out and do something new. Can you imagine how the world would hear about Jesus, if more would know that thought to be true in their own hearts.

Thank you for those words today sis.

luv ya

[hannahlostsheep]

God Bless you Josi

[josinella]

God bless you, too!

[josinella]

I'm feeling like it is a little too quiet, that is, between me and God. I took a big step with the kids group, through Him. The kids are doing pretty good, they are just kids. But I have a sense like they (leadership) is coming along and I'm in "limbo" waiting on what's to come next. It is like I can hear His voice telling me "just sit back and wait". I'm not getting depressed, stressed (even though my body is telling it's stressed) or anxious. I do feel a bit lonely and it is like He is clarifying His purpose through my loneliness. I feel that He has it why I can handle these feelings.

I get on here and talk about what is going on because I can't believe it is happening to me. It is a process that is hard to explain to others and there is so much more that I haven't expressed that adds to it. I am feeling a little distance from my church members, I hear God's voice telling me that I am where He wants me to be right now like He has pulled me back. I really see things differently now, I can't get through a day without reading the Word, having devotion with Him and witnessing to someone about His magnificience!

My friendships are changing, love within is growing, understanding is deepening, and my faithfulness is true. Where else can I serve you Lord, what else must I do? Keep me in your bosom Lord so that I won't have opportunity to stray. I turn to you in faithfulness, devotion, with the only love I know to give you Lord! Thanks for all you have done for me Lord Jesus, thank you!