Hi. I love to teach as it is my calling, learn about other people, and yes, I would like to meet my mate.
New from WA State, looking to share and/or find my God match.
- Thread starter Ballaurena
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Hi welcome to the fellowship here at CC! There's lots of fun topics in the Singles Forum and a good way to meet people is by joining in the convos. I wish you the best in finding your God-mate soon. Lovely to have you here Ballaurena, God bless & keep you
"A close relationship with our Lord often leads to the unexpected."
hello , Good to have you on here .I live to be edified and also edify by the word of God . I hope I can learn from you . am single also ,that's if u female and like brownies ..lol God bless
Yes actually. I recently started teaching a children's ballet class and take swing dance lessons myself.
That's an an interesting skill set and takes a LOT of training. I am familiar with that from attending ballet performances. It's amazing how much balance, muscular control and memorization goes into the choreography.
What's the story behind teaching your new class?
Thanks for asking and for recognizing the hard work. Though really, I find my current position to be almost play. I mean who gets paid to share one of their favorite hobbies with some adorable new friends?
Actually I am a state certified teacher to teach in the sciences, but God and I do our own thing with my credentials. About a year ago, my roommate and I moved in with my Mom both to help her out and because we had an abrupt need for some housing and it was the door God opened (pretty literally there). After getting her more stable, I have been wanting to get back into teaching but either it wasn't the right time and place, or the public schools in blue state Washington are just going to find ways to discriminate against real Christians. What I know is that, that door didn't open. Trying to connect with my healthy desires, though, (something God has been emphasizing) I searched the job classifieds for ideas, got intrigued when a ballet school was hiring for the beloved hobby I learned as a kid, so I applied. They liked me but didn't feel I was the right fit for their program.
With ballet now on my radar for teaching, though, God seemed to put me at the right place and time when a position that better fit me opened up at my health club just a few weeks later. In fact, I was put in a position to hear about it before they had even offered it in-house. And it even turned out that my science background was helpful since they wanted someone familiar with anatomy. Its not many hours, but it has potential to grow, and I don't want too many right now anyway.
Mark Twain said, "What work I have done I have done because it has been play. Who was it who said, "Blessed is the man who has found his work"? Whoever it was he had the right idea in his mind.
We can't always do what we enjoy most, but it sure is nice when we are given those opportunities.
I appreciate you sharing that personal part of your life. It sounds surprisingly familiar. I know of a man who followed a similar path.
Isn't it amazing how the Lord designed us? We are privileged to know the One Who established the sciences, provided knowledge about the world, our own design, and how it applies to us.
When I was 5 or 6 we moved to Washington for a short time. My Mom couldn't adapt to the weather and wanted to move back to West Virginia .
It sounds like the left coast bias doesn't just include California. My state is pretty conservative, but I think public education across the country has continued to become more and more biased against Christianity since it's origins. There are a lot of decent teachers throughout, but their hands are tied when it comes to teaching from anything Biblical or outside of the designated curriculum.
Have a good day!
"Isn't it amazing how the Lord designed us? We are privileged to know the One Who established the sciences, provided knowledge about the world, our own design, and how it applies to us."
It is indeed. There are two reasons I went into biology. I both wanted to learn the mechanical designs of the master engineer, and I wanted to understand what makes people who they are. On the latter of those I have since come to understand that the second of those two isn't from the physical, but I have consequently studied the body enough to know how unsubstantiated it is to think otherwise; I can now wrap my mind around the chemistry and physics of everything from how a muscle works to the intricate dances of flow that allow the kidneys to get just the right balance of excretion and reservation of different substances. But in all my studies of the brain and neurologic system there was nothing that could logically or intuitively bridge chemical and electrical impulses over to consciousness other than an assumption that it must work because we are conscious.
"When I was 5 or 6 we moved to Washington for a short time. My Mom couldn't adapt to the weather and wanted to move back to West Virginia"
Couldn't take the weather, huh? Presuming you all went to the population-heavy west side, I am guessing she couldn't take the gloom, since having moved to the east side, I personally miss the mild temps that meant I could almost always go outside without fear of snow or the triple digits.
"It sounds like the left coast bias doesn't just include California. My state is pretty conservative, but I think public education across the country has continued to become more and more biased against Christianity since it's origins. There are a lot of decent teachers throughout, but their hands are tied when it comes to teaching from anything Biblical or outside of the designated curriculum."
Indeed, the left coast includes CA, OR, and WA. And one really sad thing about the continued increase in the bias against Christians is that our public education system was invented to make sure everyone could read the Bible. How far we have fallen!
Thank you for recognizing the decent teachers. I have given up traditional social media, and one of my many difficulties there was the Christians and conservatives there that would rail against teachers, ignoring the fact that there are many of us in their same camp, so we were getting attacked from both sides. And even if the state won't hire us to teach their kids, it doesn't mean we cease to be teachers - Teacher is my identity and the core of my being as designed by God.
@Ballaurena i saw in another thread that you and your roommate did a reading on someone here.
Can you do a reading on me?
Thank you.
Can you do a reading on me?
Thank you.
A reading? Yikes! First off, can we address the lingo? Fortune tellers do readings and are generally either fakes or listening to fallen spirits. People of God read the spirit and relay God's words via spiritual gifts meditate through the Holy Spirit as God enables. Yes they can look similar on the surface but both the spiritual source and the relational placement with God are different.
I know language matters too because God has made numerous distinctions Himself. For example, He doesn't like the term 'demon' because it comes from false religion. He clarified too that I am a Prophet, not a Prophetess which presumably has too many associations with false religion as well.
Second, my gifts generally function a little differently so it is going to be what my roommate gets in the spirit here.
When we ask what you need the answer she gets is "humility." Also "God will speak to you when it is time." She adds that "He will, it just isn't time." Finally she gets, "God doesn't do readings," (which makes us both laugh).
At least you are asking a much better source.
A reading? Yikes! First off, can we address the lingo? Fortune tellers do readings and are generally either fakes or listening to fallen spirits. People of God read the spirit and relay God's words via spiritual gifts meditate through the Holy Spirit as God enables. Yes they can look similar on the surface but both the spiritual source and the relational placement with God are different.
I know language matters too because God has made numerous distinctions Himself. For example, He doesn't like the term 'demon' because it comes from false religion. He clarified too that I am a Prophet, not a Prophetess which presumably has too many associations with false religion as well.
Second, my gifts generally function a little differently so it is going to be what my roommate gets in the spirit here.
When we ask what you need the answer she gets is "humility." Also "God will speak to you when it is time." She adds that "He will, it just isn't time." Finally she gets, "God doesn't do readings," (which makes us both laugh).
At least you are asking a much better source.
Ballaurena, first of all i'm very picky about language too and now that i know that you're picky too, i will adjust and update my language as well.
I can tell you a lot about humility if you're interested but can you and your roommate tell me more about suffering?
Why does a child have to suffer?
Then we can talk about humility if you like.
I have found much wisdom from Gamaliel in Acts 5, near the end. If this is from God we should leave it alone. If it is not from God, it will fall under its own weight.
Right now i'm spinning the wheel, where it might appear randomly but it's not random at all.
I will wait and see what Ballaurena has to say about suffering.
Ballaurena, first of all i'm very picky about language too and now that i know that you're picky too, i will adjust and update my language as well.
I can tell you a lot about humility if you're interested but can you and your roommate tell me more about suffering?
Why does a child have to suffer?
Then we can talk about humility if you like.
Thanks on the language thing.
Unless I'm mistaken, you seem to be attributing the humility assessment to my roommate and myself. Often God speaks by giving understanding but we are very much just the messengers on this one. If you disagree, then you will have to take it up with God. I will say, though, that God's standard of humility is much higher than we can often recognize on our own. Job wasn't exactly an arrogant jerk when God decided to give him a thorough lesson on the subject, in fact it was an honor because Job had so much right.
Why does a child have to suffer? Oh boy, there is a lot to unpack there. I just hope you can take it. I know from what God has taught my church, which came mostly through a tested elder Prophet over time, but there is a lot to it. At least my primary gift is teaching (though it is getting late and my brain isn't as sharp).
First off, throw out the doctrines of God being omnipotent and omniscient. I had to doublecheck this one for myself, but these are based in tradition and black-and-white thinking rather than the Bible. Why we Christians get so taken in by fancy sounding language (myself included apparently), I don't fully understand. Anyway, is God very, very, very powerful? Yes, indeed. Is his power limitless and infinite? No. Just like Bill Gates has the capacity to help out many but not all, God is very capable but He isn't able to fix everybody's life, at least not instantly or all at once.
Part of this too is that miracles aren't magic. The limits of spiritual reality go far beyond what you and I know, but even God is limited by the 'physics' of his reality. For example, it literally requires faith for a miracle to happen. People who expect healers to go around healing everyone in the hospital have no idea how ridiculous the suggestion is; I suspect it would even kill the healers! Righteousness is another spiritual currency that God spends as He can. On that note I'm suddenly wondering if it wasn't a coincidence that a verse I encountered today stuck out at me: "Even if these three men—Noah, Daniel and Job—were in it, they could save only themselves by their righteousness, declares the Sovereign Lord" (Ezekiel 14:14).
As for omniscience, my looking for myself into if this was really true of God led me to a conclusion of "Well sort of, but not the way most people mean it." The Bible demonstrates God checking in on things. (Sorry, I can't think of a verse to support this at the moment.) The only alleged pro-omniscience verse I could find that said something about God knowing all was in a very limited context like our emotions or thoughts or something like that. Yes God knows the number of hairs on our heads and when the birds drop dead, but to extrapolate those into God knowing absolutely everything and every possibility is quite a leap.
I suppose the omniscience issue isn't as connected to your question, but it was related to the doctrine of omnipotence, which is.
Let's go back now to the Bill Gates metaphor. Let's say Bill wants to help someone out with his financial power. Who does he help first? Most likely his friends and family, or those doing work he agrees with. God is not that different in this. The Bible says in James 5:16, "The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much." And I know I have heard of at least one other verse with this same message. The one I quoted above in Ezekiel may also support this. Anyway, God doesn't answer everyone equally, but listens first to those who are His or who are essential to complete his purpose. After that he hands out what he has left to some who ask as He is able.
This is seen in the story of the Canaanite woman in Matthew 15 who asked Jesus to help with her daughter that was possessed by an unclean spirit. Jesus initially denied her request, saying in verse 24, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel" and in verse 26, "It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs." But after she compares her and her daughter to the dogs eating the crumbs under the table, he is impressed with her answer and relents.
There is also the differing accounts of Peter and John's deaths as suggested in the end of John, and seen elsewhere. Peter even got a little indignant at Jesus for suggesting that John wouldn't die like Peter, but we know that John had work to do in recording the Book of Revelation. Why God allows a particular little child to suffer and not get delivered while another is healed can be like these, not as essential as the deliverance of another person, or because their parent isn't a righteous person when they ask for help.
That last part is a little hard to take, I must say, but in order for things to work and for Him to develop people as He needs to, God is very generous with authority. And for that authority to be real, God has to not save everyone from their bad mistakes. Or their children.
Also realize that our view of suffering isn't necessarily the same as God's. I'm not saying intractable pain is a good thing - Jesus did pray for another way than the cross if there was one, but God doesn't give either pain or pleasure as much value as we often do. For one thing, God created BOTH pain and pleasure for good purpose. Have you ever heard of the children born without a sense of pain? They don't live long. Pain is an alarm that is vitally important for life. Yes, it can become a negative instead of a positive when it gets out of place, but pain and suffering aren't bad or evil in and of themselves.
These are lessons about pain God taught me at a particular point, by the way. He even sent a bee to give me a mild sting. (For which I was a bit annoyed with Him.
)Oh, also, God also sometimes uses our love for others to teach us. Therefore He has been known to allow what we see as bad outcomes in our children. I don't know the extent of this, and I doubt it would be inclined to be just be horrific suffering of little children, but God may allow some suffering by children to reach the hearts of the parents.
Also realize that there are things God doesn't like either but have to happen. Noah's ark would be one likely example.
Anyway, I know I just covered a lot. I hope you got what you need because I'm beat and gonna go to bed here soon.
Have a good one.
Maybe you will meet your mate here on this sight. Glad to have you onboard with us. Welcome to CC.
Thanks on the language thing.
Unless I'm mistaken, you seem to be attributing the humility assessment to my roommate and myself. Often God speaks by giving understanding but we are very much just the messengers on this one. If you disagree, then you will have to take it up with God. I will say, though, that God's standard of humility is much higher than we can often recognize on our own. Job wasn't exactly an arrogant jerk when God decided to give him a thorough lesson on the subject, in fact it was an honor because Job had so much right.
Why does a child have to suffer? Oh boy, there is a lot to unpack there. I just hope you can take it. I know from what God has taught my church, which came mostly through a tested elder Prophet over time, but there is a lot to it. At least my primary gift is teaching (though it is getting late and my brain isn't as sharp).
First off, throw out the doctrines of God being omnipotent and omniscient. I had to doublecheck this one for myself, but these are based in tradition and black-and-white thinking rather than the Bible. Why we Christians get so taken in by fancy sounding language (myself included apparently), I don't fully understand. Anyway, is God very, very, very powerful? Yes, indeed. Is his power limitless and infinite? No. Just like Bill Gates has the capacity to help out many but not all, God is very capable but He isn't able to fix everybody's life, at least not instantly or all at once.
Part of this too is that miracles aren't magic. The limits of spiritual reality go far beyond what you and I know, but even God is limited by the 'physics' of his reality. For example, it literally requires faith for a miracle to happen. People who expect healers to go around healing everyone in the hospital have no idea how ridiculous the suggestion is; I suspect it would even kill the healers! Righteousness is another spiritual currency that God spends as He can. On that note I'm suddenly wondering if it wasn't a coincidence that a verse I encountered today stuck out at me: "Even if these three men—Noah, Daniel and Job—were in it, they could save only themselves by their righteousness, declares the Sovereign Lord" (Ezekiel 14:14).
As for omniscience, my looking for myself into if this was really true of God led me to a conclusion of "Well sort of, but not the way most people mean it." The Bible demonstrates God checking in on things. (Sorry, I can't think of a verse to support this at the moment.) The only alleged pro-omniscience verse I could find that said something about God knowing all was in a very limited context like our emotions or thoughts or something like that. Yes God knows the number of hairs on our heads and when the birds drop dead, but to extrapolate those into God knowing absolutely everything and every possibility is quite a leap.
I suppose the omniscience issue isn't as connected to your question, but it was related to the doctrine of omnipotence, which is.
Let's go back now to the Bill Gates metaphor. Let's say Bill wants to help someone out with his financial power. Who does he help first? Most likely his friends and family, or those doing work he agrees with. God is not that different in this. The Bible says in James 5:16, "The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much." And I know I have heard of at least one other verse with this same message. The one I quoted above in Ezekiel may also support this. Anyway, God doesn't answer everyone equally, but listens first to those who are His or who are essential to complete his purpose. After that he hands out what he has left to some who ask as He is able.
This is seen in the story of the Canaanite woman in Matthew 15 who asked Jesus to help with her daughter that was possessed by an unclean spirit. Jesus initially denied her request, saying in verse 24, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel" and in verse 26, "It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs." But after she compares her and her daughter to the dogs eating the crumbs under the table, he is impressed with her answer and relents.
There is also the differing accounts of Peter and John's deaths as suggested in the end of John, and seen elsewhere. Peter even got a little indignant at Jesus for suggesting that John wouldn't die like Peter, but we know that John had work to do in recording the Book of Revelation. Why God allows a particular little child to suffer and not get delivered while another is healed can be like these, not as essential as the deliverance of another person, or because their parent isn't a righteous person when they ask for help.
That last part is a little hard to take, I must say, but in order for things to work and for Him to develop people as He needs to, God is very generous with authority. And for that authority to be real, God has to not save everyone from their bad mistakes. Or their children.
Also realize that our view of suffering isn't necessarily the same as God's. I'm not saying intractable pain is a good thing - Jesus did pray for another way than the cross if there was one, but God doesn't give either pain or pleasure as much value as we often do. For one thing, God created BOTH pain and pleasure for good purpose. Have you ever heard of the children born without a sense of pain? They don't live long. Pain is an alarm that is vitally important for life. Yes, it can become a negative instead of a positive when it gets out of place, but pain and suffering aren't bad or evil in and of themselves.
These are lessons about pain God taught me at a particular point, by the way. He even sent a bee to give me a mild sting. (For which I was a bit annoyed with Him.
Oh, also, God also sometimes uses our love for others to teach us. Therefore He has been known to allow what we see as bad outcomes in our children. I don't know the extent of this, and I doubt it would be inclined to be just be horrific suffering of little children, but God may allow some suffering by children to reach the hearts of the parents.
Also realize that there are things God doesn't like either but have to happen. Noah's ark would be one likely example.
Anyway, I know I just covered a lot. I hope you got what you need because I'm beat and gonna go to bed here soon.
Have a good one.
Ballaurena, i appreciate the long post but we differ a bit on communication style which might make it difficult to understand a point especially via text.
In your post you have the followingt topics:
* Humility
* The omniscience of God, which i have to admit it's a very fresh take from what i've heard all my life.
* God is limited and miracles aren't magic
- This God sounds a bit like a calvinist mafia boss the way you've described it, which is another topic onto itself about language and what kind of words we have to use to understand each-other
and then we have the topic of suffering which you have a few categories listed there.
* You can't appreciate the good without the bad
* The child suffers for a purpose (have you thought about that children die for no purpose alone?)
* and ultimately how do we call God himself? A loving God or a merciful God? In my church we call Him a Merciful God by the way.
But now my problem is that which of these topics do i want to engage? Because each one of them is complicated enough.
It would be great if you can summarize your understanding of a topic with a short sentence which then can turn into long posts if i don't understand the meaning of the sentence.
I'll get back to you on which topic to talk about but i think i would like to continue with the topic of suffering.
Thank you again for your answer and God bless.