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PandaPower

New member
#1
Oct 25, 2020
11
9
3
#1
Hi everyone!
First of all I want to say that English isn't my first language, so I'm sorry for any mistakes I may make...

Okay so... Hi! How are you all?
I'm Anne, 19 years old (in a few weeks I'll be 20!). I'm currently a freshman at an art school, and am just getting started on my 'christian journey'.

A little back story :) I didn't grow up in a religious family. As a kid I kind of thought Faith and Religion were things from the past. "People don't believe anymore' (kind of sad... I know. But I just was not surrounded by believers.) I always felt there must be more than this life, but I never knew what that could be. I really felt a longing to something (or Someone?) higher, never knowing this someone might be God.
I think it was around last year that I started believing. I watched a lot of Mrs. Midwest's videos on youtube and also followed 'Girl and the World' on youtube and instagram. Around that time I dealt with a lot of anxiety and panick attacks and even though I was still very sceptical towards God, I needn't something to believe in. I really think this belief, this faith got me through these hard times.

Now, I bought my first bible, and am trying to find my way to this new life. It's difficult. I don't know anyone who is a follower of Christ. It's very intimidating, not knowing where to start. So I thought I might start with making some friends! :)

I hope I can still be here, even though I'm not really a Christian (yet) (I've never been to a physical church 'session' (What do you call it?) and I have so much to learn and I'm afraid I sin without even knowing it)... If there are people here who would like to become friends, I'd be more than happy :D

I hope you have a wonderful day and I wish you lots of peace and happiness!
 
oyster67

oyster67

Senior Member
#2
May 24, 2014
11,887
8,705
113
#2
Wishing you a warm welcome to CC, sister PandaPower!:)
 
Isny

Isny

Senior Member
#3
Jan 15, 2017
2,530
2,645
113
#3
Hallo hoe gaat het vandaag!

We are delighted that you have joined us at Christian Chat. We hope you find many friends and good fellowship here. There are several members here from the Netherlands and from Zuid-Afrika (Afrikaans). Can Afrikaans be understood by the Dutch?

I have visited the Netherlands many times. The country is beautiful and the people so very friendly. My wife is from Bremen (Germany). Her father knew Low German and could converse in simple Dutch. At one time certainly in the 1950's and 1960's one could ice skate in the winter on canals from Oldenburg just west of Bremen to Groningen and points west in the Netherlands, stopping at restaurants and Guest Houses along the canals. In Zeist I once attended a Easter Sunrise Service (Evangelische Broedergemeente Kerk). Yes, I could spend more time in the Netherlands.

In the town where you live, attend several church services until you find a church that is more Bible oriented. Maybe you can find a Bible Study group where you can learn more about the Bible from the group. Here at Christian Chat look through the Forums to find a thread that interests you and join in on the conversation. You English is very good. I believe that I make more mistakes than you do.

We are very glad that you have joined us here. Anne, we welcome you.
 
oyster67

oyster67

Senior Member
#4
May 24, 2014
11,887
8,705
113
#4
PandaPower said:
Now, I bought my first bible, and am trying to find my way to this new life. It's difficult. I don't know anyone who is a follower of Christ. It's very intimidating, not knowing where to start. So I thought I might start with making some friends! :)

I hope I can still be here, even though I'm not really a Christian (yet) (I've never been to a physical church 'session' (What do you call it?) and I have so much to learn and I'm afraid I sin without even knowing it)... If there are people here who would like to become friends, I'd be more than happy :D
Click to expand...
You are very wise Anne. Not all who claim to know Jesus actually do. I am going to pray that the Lord give you spiritual discernment and lead you to the right people. I will pray the the Holy Spirit guide you as you study your new Bible. It is not about saying a bunch of magical words at some church...

Matthew
7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

It is about letting Him into your heart's door...

Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.


You don't have to go to a Church to find Jesus. He is right there with you right now. He is knocking at your hearts door right now.

He loves you so much that He died on the Cross to give you eternal life in Him and with Him. He wants you to come to Him and He wants to have a very personal relationship with all of us. Just let Him make it so. He would like you to let Him do it right now. He made it that simple when He died on the Cross for you. God bless you dear. I am so grateful for the opportunity to share this with you.
 
P

PandaPower

New member
#6
Oct 25, 2020
11
9
3
#6
oyster67 said:
You are very wise Anne. Not all who claim to know Jesus actually do. I am going to pray that the Lord give you spiritual discernment and lead you to the right people. I will pray the the Holy Spirit guide you as you study your new Bible. It is not about saying a bunch of magical words at some church...

Matthew
7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

It is about letting Him into your heart's door...

Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.


You don't have to go to a Church to find Jesus. He is right there with you right now. He is knocking at your hearts door right now.

He loves you so much that He died on the Cross to give you eternal life in Him and with Him. He wants you to come to Him and He wants to have a very personal relationship with all of us. Just let Him make it so. He would like you to let Him do it right now. He made it that simple when He died on the Cross for you. God bless you dear. I am so grateful for the opportunity to share this with you.
Click to expand...
Thank you so much! You describe it as a 'very personal relationship'. I never knew you could look at it that way. A relationship! Your words are very inspiring and encouraging! It feels less forced, less about rules and more about God. Thank you so so so much. This really changed my outlook :) <3
 
P

PandaPower

New member
#8
Oct 25, 2020
11
9
3
#8
Isny said:
Hallo hoe gaat het vandaag!

We are delighted that you have joined us at Christian Chat. We hope you find many friends and good fellowship here. There are several members here from the Netherlands and from Zuid-Afrika (Afrikaans). Can Afrikaans be understood by the Dutch?

I have visited the Netherlands many times. The country is beautiful and the people so very friendly. My wife is from Bremen (Germany). Her father knew Low German and could converse in simple Dutch. At one time certainly in the 1950's and 1960's one could ice skate in the winter on canals from Oldenburg just west of Bremen to Groningen and points west in the Netherlands, stopping at restaurants and Guest Houses along the canals. In Zeist I once attended a Easter Sunrise Service (Evangelische Broedergemeente Kerk). Yes, I could spend more time in the Netherlands.

In the town where you live, attend several church services until you find a church that is more Bible oriented. Maybe you can find a Bible Study group where you can learn more about the Bible from the group. Here at Christian Chat look through the Forums to find a thread that interests you and join in on the conversation. You English is very good. I believe that I make more mistakes than you do.

We are very glad that you have joined us here. Anne, we welcome you.
Click to expand...
Hoi!
What a coincidence! I have family in Germany as well! And what a lovely story! When I was younger (and the ice would be thick enough) I would go ice skating on a lake! A few of my fondest memories :D Thank you for the advice! Sadly, a lot of churches are closed, but I'm going to look if there are any online church services :). The Forums are a great idea! Thank you.

Oh, p.s. I think I have a general understanding of Afrikaas. I believe Dutch and Afrikaans share a lot of the same vocabulary! Haha :giggle:
 
Magenta

Magenta

Senior Member
#9
Jul 3, 2015
59,682
29,024
113
#9
PandaPower said:
Thank you <3
Click to expand...
You are welcome, and welcome to the family!

Some suggest when reading the Bible to start at the beginning, and I do find Genesis into Exodus quite fascinating, with so many characters and interesting (to say the least!) story lines that inevitably all point forward to Jesus Christ. However, others will say, as a new believer, it is best to start with the New Testament, especially the gospel of John. Paul's letters will help you understand the gospel message better, also. There is certainly a lot to learn, but I would suggest not pressuring yourself to try to learn it all too quickly, as more will be revealed as you grow in understanding. Finding a good home church may be more difficult during this pandemic, as many are not even meeting in person any more... but there are plenty of online resources, and also lots of zoom meetings.

You may enjoy this word for word rendition of the gospel of John. It is very well done :)

 
P

PandaPower

New member
#10
Oct 25, 2020
11
9
3
#10
Magenta said:
You are welcome, and welcome to the family!

Some suggest when reading the Bible to start at the beginning, and I do find Genesis into Exodus quite fascinating, with so many characters and interesting (to say he least!) story lines that inevitably all point forward to Jesus Christ. However, others will say, as a new believer, it is best to start with the New Testament, especially the gospel of John. Paul's letters will help you understand the gospel message better, also. There is certainly a lot to learn, but I would suggest not pressuring yourself to try to learn it all too quickly, as more will be revealed as you grow in understanding. Finding a good home church may be more difficult during this pandemic, as many are not even meeting in person any more... but there are plenty of online resources, and also lots of zoom meetings.

You may enjoy this word for word rendition of the gospel of John. It is very well done :)

Click to expand...
Thank you so much for the great advice! That video is amazing! I'm definitely watching it one of these days!
It's encouraging to hear your point of view. Not rushing, taking your time. I have a tendency to be to hard on myself and try to do too much. So it's nice to hear this :)
 
Magenta

Magenta

Senior Member
#11
Jul 3, 2015
59,682
29,024
113
#11
PandaPower said:
Thank you so much for the great advice! That video is amazing! I'm definitely watching it one of these days!
It's encouraging to hear your point of view. Not rushing, taking your time. I have a tendency to be to hard on myself and try to do too much. So it's nice to hear this :)
Click to expand...
You are welcome again :D Please keep in mind if and when you watch the movie that it is not the best translation, which is unfortunate. Some swear by the King James Version while others find its language too archaic, and prefer instead the NIV, NASB, ESV or some other. Comparing one version/translation to another is also a good way to broaden and deepen your grasp of what is being conveyed in particular verses. These days I am very much gravitating toward the Berean Study Bible. If you have some passage in mind but cannot get the wording right in your mind, biblegateway.com and biblehub.org are excellent resources, where you can do verse search and even single word searches. Oh, how well I remember my early days being so hungry for the Word, reading lots, and going to multiple services and meetings weekly. I am sorry that sort of thing is not available to you in today's climate. Blessings to you in your walk :)
 
tourist

tourist

Senior Member
#12
Mar 13, 2014
42,538
17,014
113
69
Tennessee
#12
Your English seems fine to me. I congratulate you on beginning your Christian journey. Buying your first bible may turn out to be the most important purchase of your life. Glad to have you as a member of our community. Welcome to CC.
 
B

bojack

Well-known member
#13
Dec 16, 2019
2,309
1,006
113
#13
PandaPower said:
Hi everyone!
First of all I want to say that English isn't my first language, so I'm sorry for any mistakes I may make...

Okay so... Hi! How are you all?
I'm Anne, 19 years old (in a few weeks I'll be 20!). I'm currently a freshman at an art school, and am just getting started on my 'christian journey'.

A little back story :) I didn't grow up in a religious family. As a kid I kind of thought Faith and Religion were things from the past. "People don't believe anymore' (kind of sad... I know. But I just was not surrounded by believers.) I always felt there must be more than this life, but I never knew what that could be. I really felt a longing to something (or Someone?) higher, never knowing this someone might be God.
I think it was around last year that I started believing. I watched a lot of Mrs. Midwest's videos on youtube and also followed 'Girl and the World' on youtube and instagram. Around that time I dealt with a lot of anxiety and panick attacks and even though I was still very sceptical towards God, I needn't something to believe in. I really think this belief, this faith got me through these hard times.

Now, I bought my first bible, and am trying to find my way to this new life. It's difficult. I don't know anyone who is a follower of Christ. It's very intimidating, not knowing where to start. So I thought I might start with making some friends! :)

I hope I can still be here, even though I'm not really a Christian (yet) (I've never been to a physical church 'session' (What do you call it?) and I have so much to learn and I'm afraid I sin without even knowing it)... If there are people here who would like to become friends, I'd be more than happy :D

I hope you have a wonderful day and I wish you lots of peace and happiness!
Click to expand...
Welcome Anne, and God Bless ..
 
T

Tararose

Well-known member
#14
Sep 30, 2020
753
564
93
Uk
www.101christiansocialnetwork.com
#14
I Just want to say welcome :) Congratulations by the way, you say you are not a Christian yet, but all that is required is to believe that Jesus Christ died for your sins really. The church is great and the Bible is great, but it all is pointing us to That one truth really. There are other related, wonderful teachings from there of course, but if you have made that step of believing, I assure you, you are a Christian. God has adopted you into His family and will help you every step of the way, just keep asking Him and don’t worry :) He is more than happy to help you find your way. Getting a bible
Is a fantastic start. Talk to God as much as you can, you don’t have to say set prayers or be formal, He is your Father now. Thank Him and grow to love Him by just spending more and more time with Him, reading the bible and talking with Him and other believers.

Feel free to ask any questions or For advice here. We don’t all agree on everything but most of us can point you to the parts of the bible that we might feel would be a help, and you can read those through and pray for wisdom yourself too. We are all on a journey but Christ is the right “way” so stay on Him and your path will be the right one :)

Bless you
 
stepbystep

stepbystep

Well-known member
#16
Aug 31, 2020
619
496
63
#16
Welcome Sister.

Study that Bible you got, and learn to pray to God for guidance, and, if you can, find a Church near you that you can attend. That way, you will have support from a Congregation of believers to guide and support you on your quest to find salvation
 
Deade

Deade

Called of God
#19
Dec 17, 2017
16,724
10,531
113
78
Vinita, Oklahoma, USA
yeshuaofisrael.org
#19
Tararose said:
I Just want to say welcome :) Congratulations by the way, you say you are not a Christian yet, but all that is required is to believe that Jesus Christ died for your sins really. The church is great and the Bible is great, but it all is pointing us to That one truth really. There are other related, wonderful teachings from there of course, but if you have made that step of believing, I assure you, you are a Christian. God has adopted you into His family and will help you every step of the way, just keep asking Him and don’t worry :) He is more than happy to help you find your way. Getting a bible
Is a fantastic start. Talk to God as much as you can, you don’t have to say set prayers or be formal, He is your Father now. Thank Him and grow to love Him by just spending more and more time with Him, reading the bible and talking with Him and other believers.

Feel free to ask any questions or For advice here. We don’t all agree on everything but most of us can point you to the parts of the bible that we might feel would be a help, and you can read those through and pray for wisdom yourself too. We are all on a journey but Christ is the right “way” so stay on Him and your path will be the right one :)

Bless you
Click to expand...
Hello Tararose welcome to Christian Chat. I hope you'll enjoy your stay here.







 
TabinRivCA

TabinRivCA

Well-known member
#20
Oct 23, 2018
13,039
10,600
113
#20
Glad you are here and I'm sure you will gain much insight here. Have fun browsing the Forums and God bless you!
 
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