Christianity Oasis Forum

[Christdaughter]

I know the title of this is miss leading but readers will understand once I am write this,
Years ago I was on the mountain top, I knew my gifts, God had shown me & I obeyed His every command, over the past 3-4 yrs. I feel as though I have lost them, I do not beleive God takes away the gifts He gave, Discerment, tounges & prophecey, these are the gifts used to give God glory in my life, my testimony to those who are going through what I went through before Jesus called me out of the darkness.
I am burdened, heavy! Weighted down & why I do not know, I sometimes feel antsy, like something is going to happen, I wait for God to speak, I do not hear Him, maybe I am not still enough I don't know, I just know I MISS my calling, I miss hearing His voice, I need to do something, I pray but maybe not the right prayer, I do not know.
Has anyone else experienced this? Gone through this Loooooong drawn out period, waiting, always waiting???
Please any advice, input, prayer would help, I love Jesus, ................truthfully, I am getting to be ahhhhhh... not so supportive of me or anyone else, I get pickey about the way things are done or not done..............
I await any advice or input on this. thanks everyone.

In Christ,
Christdaughter

[dema]

My church has been doing a series on exile. One of the sermons is how we learn much more in the valley than on the mountain top. I got a lot out of a book called "Hinds Feet in High Places" by Hannah Hannard - I may have that not quite right, but it is close enough to find it on Amazon or in your library computer I think.

I also read something about how God treats us much as a parent. At first the parent holds the bicycle and runs alongside. But after a while, the rider is allowed to fall off. To skin knees. To have to do the right thing even though it doesn't appear the parent is watching.

Faith is not feelings. Feelings are wonderful - and generally come in a flood to a new Christian and to Christians at various graduation stages. But in between, there are valleys. There are lessons and tests and trials. There is hard work that seems endless. And then, there is springtime and birds singing and hugs.

It is possible that you found a beautiful ministry, but that God wants to move you somewhere else. And you don't want to go. And so God will let you get good and miserable until in desperation you fall at his feet and then he can put you in the new position. Perhaps your new ministry is a lateral move. Perhaps it seems like a backwards move.

Another possibility is that you have said yes so many times that you are so busy that you have no time for God to speak to you in the peace. You need to have enough time to sit quietly with God, preferably every day or several times a day. The American culture doesn't readily allow for this.

So,

1. Are you spending time with God listening?
2. Do you say "yes" without prayerfully considering first?
3. Are you doing works that no longer satisfy you? Are you stuck with tasks in your church that no longer feel blessed, but your brain knows they are important and nobody else wants to do them? If you aren't blessed to do them, then you need to step out of them. God will provide. It is God's ministry first.
4. Sometimes God needs us to go through valleys in order to learn most effectively. And sometimes to learn certain lessons at all. Praise God in all things. Praise him for the work he is doing in you.


Be assured, God has not forgotten you.

[Mackenaw]

Hello Christdaughter

God bless you this day.

It is good to see you, and to see you posting. Dema has shared wisdom with you -- some practical and some spiritual, I hope you will consider both.

At one time, I was a licensed hairdresser, but, I haven't worked those skills in decades, with the exception of a few haircuts now and then. So, to say I'm an hairdresser is kind of the distortion of the truth. Same with gardening...I used to garden with such a passion, but I no longer have the physical endurance for it. So, to say I'm a gardener would also be a distortion of the truth. But, in my mind, I sorta still feel like an hairdresser and a gardener. Soooooooo, which is true? Am I an hairdresser and a gardener? Only if there is fruit.

With every title, skill, talent and even spiritual gifts, if I'm not using them, they serve no one.

Christdaughter, you need an outlet for the gifts He has given you. There are many members, here, that would benefit in your service to God. Sounds like an outlet to me. To God be the glory.

Prayers are rising to our Lord in the name of Jesus on your behalf, Christdaughter. May God's blessed will be done.

God bless and keep you.
Love,
Mack

[Christdaughter]

Thank you so much, I agree with you, but you also need to know what I didn't write........I have a daughter ( well I have two daughters & a son) my oldest child a duaghter, I feel she goes out her way to hurt me, to do things to make me see she is not going to heed my advice about God, she ask if I was going to church sunday, I was sick so I didn't go, but I have seen her use this ploy before to get her dad & I to help her, we cut her off a long time ago, but in a way really didn't since we raised our oldest granddaughter, now her son lived with us last year, her second child lives with my youngest daughter and her youngest child lives with her dad........my daughter only is around her children to put in a appearance or if she can use them to benifit herself.........I sound bitter but I'm not I am weary & tired.don't tell me show me is the attitude I have with my oldest daughter, I am disable, yet get no help from her or her ex husband, I am under attack with her always, I pray withour ceaseing over her................please keep me in prayer with this battle, ..( all my oldest thinks about is a man who will keep her & her next good time.she is 37)

[dema]

That is sooo hard.

It is still true that we grow the most in the valleys. God bless.

[grandma dolittle]

Christ daughter,
Dema mentioned "Hinds Feet on High Places". Read it. It will help you see your path clearer and the obstacles in your way. I love the book and have read it more than once.

I know the pain a wayward daughter can cause. 25 years ago, my only daughter was into drugs and men. She had two precious sons, two and half and fourteen months. I had to take the boys from her and it broke my heart. She allowed us to adopt them. For months I cried and prayed every night on my patio. One night I heard a voice say, "if you want the pleasure of loving the boys, you have to have the pain also."

It was like we were in a canoe in the middle of a still pond. My daughter had the oars and we went to whichever bank she rowed. Your daughter has the oars and you are just there for the ride. Whichever bank she steps on, it was of her choosing. It is hard to step back and let them hit the bottom, but they will not listen to you. God has ways of getting their attention when they are on the bottom. Once again, she has the choice which bank to step out on. All you can do is pray for her. She has to make the decision.

This does take a toll on your faith. Sister, remember that the Holy Spirit will go to God for you when you cannot pray and Christ himself will carry you when you are too weak to walk. Also, remember you are loved by God and the members here. God Bless you and your husband for caring for your grandchildren. It is a rough patch of ground you are going over, but in time God will smooth it out.

My daughter cleaned herself up, got her LPN licenses amd has a sister/brothers relationship with my boys. God is good and nothing is impossible with him.