struggling

[TRANSFORMER26]

Hi everyone,

It's late and I can't sleep as ususal.....I'm trying to get closer to God through Jesus but I'm having a hard time understanding and believing the words in the bible. My life has been tragically altered and I guess I'm trying to figure out how to cope.... How does one become a Christian?

Thank you to all who respond.

 

[heirofChrist]

I think I have helping words for you. I understand you're life has been altered, and you want to cope. Jesus came here showed us how to live in a pleasing way before God...Without faith it's impossible to please God. Who does that faith go to though? Jesus Christ. Now, Creation was made by God for Him, so i want you to first notice that he isnt a crutch to make you have a better life, or all pain go away. It isn't even a moral issue we are talking about. Jesus simply came to make dead people live. We were born in sin, and seperated from God from day one. Jesus had to go to the Cross because someone had to pay the price of our sin, because the wages of sin is death. On that Cross he bore our sin, he actually became sin. God hates sin, So the Father crushed him and it pleased the Father to do so.... I know this is long but bear with me please... If God crushed his one and only perfect son who never sinned, but had the oppurtunities just like us, how much more do we deserve? We are all sinners who have fallen short of the glory of God so everyone of us deserves the wrath of God on ourselves. Jesus took that punishment for us. Now Jesus commands everyone to repent and believe this gospel...What is repent? it means change your mind. It's simply saying look to Christ. He is mighty to save all you have to do is believe in him.. When you have done that, a few things will happen. You will begin to hate the sin you used to love, and you will start to bear fruit, which is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness. Don't expect a perfect repentance because you may fall at times, and you may not bear all fruit at one time but as life goes if you've truly repented and believe you will produce fruit. If these things don't begin to happen and you walk around saying you're saved then you will only be living an illusion. So the ultimate answer to "how does one become a Christian"? is believe in Christ and repent. Its a free gift from God himself all you have to do is take it. Seek him now while he may be found. If you need counseling or anything like that feel free to send a private message, if not I hope this helped.

 

[OnThisRock]

Matthew 11:29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

I would also read psalms. They are comforting and show his love. Alot of times our lives go crazy right before we accept Christ. It certainly did for me.

 

[rosh037]

It's easy to be a Christian:
1.Accept that you are a sinner

• [SIZE=+1]Isaiah 53:6, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=+1]John 3:3, “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=+1]Romans 3:10, “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one.”[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=+1]Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”[/SIZE]

1. [SIZE=+1]There is a price on our sin―eternal death in Hell. [/SIZE]

• [SIZE=+1]Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=+1]Romans 5:12, “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.”[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=+1]2nd Thessalonians 1:8, “In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.”[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=+1]Revelation 20:15, "And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=+1]Revelation 21:8, “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”[/SIZE]

1. [SIZE=+1]Jesus paid that price by dying on the cross and shedding His blood; Christ was buried and rose again![/SIZE]

• [SIZE=+1]
  
  [/SIZE][SIZE=+1]Romans 5:8, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=+1]John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=+1]1st Timothy 1:15, “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.”[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=+1]1st Peter 1:18-19, “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ...”[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=+1]1st Corinthians 15:1-4, [/SIZE][SIZE=+1]“[/SIZE][SIZE=+1]Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.”[/SIZE]

1. [SIZE=+1]By faith in Jesus Christ ALONE we can be saved.[/SIZE]

Salvation is NOT found in a religion or good works, but in a Person... The LORD JESUS CHRIST!

• [SIZE=+1]John 11:25, “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.”[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=+1]John 14:6, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=+1]John 6:40, “And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.”[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=+1]Mark 1:15, “And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.”[/SIZE]
• Acts 26:18, “To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.”
• [SIZE=+1]Romans 10:13, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=+1]1st Corinthians 3:11, "For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”[/SIZE]
• [SIZE=+1]Galatians 3:26, “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.[/SIZE][SIZE=+1]”
  [/SIZE]

[SIZE=+1]HERE IS HOW YOU CALL UPON THE LORD[/SIZE]​

​

​

[SIZE=+1]Do you admit that you are a GUILTY sinner, under the condemnation of God's LAW, deserving of Hellfire?[/SIZE]
[SIZE=+1]Do you believe that Jesus is the Son of God (God in the flesh) who died upon the cross, sacrificing His precious blood to pay for your sins? Do you believe that Jesus was buried and rose again three days later?[/SIZE]
[SIZE=+1]That is the good news of the gospel... Jesus DIED, He was BURIED and He is RISEN![/SIZE]
[SIZE=+1]If you'd like to be saved, simply come in your heart as a guilty sinner and BELIEVE upon the Lord Jesus Christ. [/SIZE]
[SIZE=+1]Perhaps you'd feel comfortable praying a sinner's prayer as did the publican in Luke 18:13... “And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto Heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=+1]Dear Jesus,
I admit that I am a sinner deserving of Hell. I believe that you died, were buried and rose again. Please forgive me of my sins and take me toHeaven when I die. I now believe upon You alone, apart from all self-righteous works and religion, as my personal Savior. Thank you. Amen.[/SIZE]
​

[SIZE=+1]Just as you were born physically to your parents, so you were born spiritually into the Family of God when you received Jesus! Please understand that we are not saved because we pray a prayer; but because we believe upon the Lord Jesus Christ. It is certainly appropriate to ask the Lord in prayer to forgive and save us; but it is our faith which prompts us to pray. You could just as easily believe in your heart upon the Lord to be saved, and not pray at all. Salvation is of the heart, as we read in Romans 10:10, [/SIZE][SIZE=+1]“[/SIZE][SIZE=+1]For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness...[/SIZE][SIZE=+1]”[/SIZE][SIZE=+1][/SIZE]
It's not what you're doing that gets you to Heaven, it's where you're looking.[SIZE=+1] Look to Jesus![/SIZE]
[SIZE=+1]You do NOT have to be water baptized nor doing anything to get to Heaven other than trust upon the Lord as your Savior. Romans 4:5 proclaims... “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him (Jesus) that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” What a wonderful truth! Our faith is COUNTED for righteousness! There is NO self-righteousness involved in salvation. It is the gift of God. You see, we have no righteousness of our own to offer God. No amount of good can undo the bad we've done. Thus, Jesus paid a debt that He did not owe, because we owed a debt that we could not pay. Salvation is receiving, not giving. We are Sinners and Jesus is the Savior. Jesus is precious![/SIZE]
[SIZE=+1]Unbelief is the only sin which can keep you out of Heaven. [/SIZE]
Just take God at His word and claim His salvation by faith. Believe, and you will be saved. No church, no lodge, no good works can save you. Remember, God does the saving. All of it!
[SIZE=+1]Trusting Jesus is meaningless without the cross. You must believe that Jesus died, was buried and rose again. 1st Corinthians 15:1-4 teaches that the gospel is the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.[/SIZE]
God's simple plan of salvation is: You are a sinner. Therefore, unless you believe on Jesus Who died in your place, you will spend eternity in Hell. If you believe on Him as your crucified, buried, and risen Savior, you receive forgiveness for all of your sins and His gift of eternal salvation by faith.
You say, [SIZE=+1]“[/SIZE]Surely, it cannot be that simple![SIZE=+1]”[/SIZE] Yes, that simple. It is scriptural; it is God's plan. My friend, believe on Jesus and receive Him as Savior today.
If you've never been saved, then now is the time to believe upon the name of Jesus, the Christ, that your sins will be blotted out forever and you can know that your name is written in Heaven.
Christ died for your sins. You are a sinner by nature and by choice. Jesus took your sins and charged them to His own record. He went to the cross and paid the penalty for your sins. He says if you're willing to receive Him in faith; He will transfer His payment to your debt, and His righteousness to your sins. He will impute to you His goodness, and impute to His own record your sin; if you in faith will trust Him as your Savior.
Romans 8:34, [SIZE=+1]“[/SIZE]Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.[SIZE=+1]”[/SIZE]

 

[kenisyes]

Welcome, Transformer. Odd you should choose such a name. Jesus is the real transformer. Becoming a Christian is easy. Just ask Jesus to show Himself to you. He's very good at such things. Once you decide you want Him and His way to live more than you want the life you have now, and you decide to follow Him from then on, you are a Christian.

 

[kenken28]

Hey transformer!
First of all,for your insomnia, I suggest you to have a sleeping pattern of specific time to sleep so that when the time reaches, your body will be 'half shut downed' (personal experience, not a professional advise )

and for your struggle. I don't know what your struggle is and I can't say that I'm 100% being empathic because I might not experience the tragic that you're experiencing. However, i know it's really heavy, painful, suffocated etc when the bad thing happens (because i experience bad events which might not same as yours). I'd say, the best rest is with Jesus. "Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" Matthew 11:28 . It's a good verse when people feel tired and sick of everything around and feel nothing goes right. I found a DNM talk (Deep N Meaningful) with God is really helpful. I feel so 'light' when I know there's Someone who is looking at me and cares about me.

Be a Christian doesn't mean you are perfect. We've decided to follow Jesus and become Christian because we acknowledge how sinful we are, how bad we are, how messed up our lives are (this might not true for some Christians) and we decide to do an easy Way which is by putting all our troubles, our worries and most importantly our sins to Christ and live a new way. God gives us a solution and if we accept it, our sinful lives won't constrain and eat our conscience anymore and we will live with Love, Faith and Hope. Believe me, He loves everyone that's why He provides a way to save us from sin. "For God so loved the world, He gives His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life" John 3:16.

*personal experience, I've become Christian when I acknowledge Christ's sacrifice and that's His death. He basically is a real pro in touching people's hearts and it's through bible so if you don't understand the bible, don't worry, it's not easily understood and I'm sure every Christians agree on that. You can post a topic in this website like you did or you can ask people like your Christian friends or people here. Rome wasn't built in a day. I'd say before the reading,maybe you can pray to God and ask to let you understand the bible, no need to be long, as long as it's sincere.*

For the part of not believing Jesus, it takes time , some people believe in Jesus in one night seminar, some people don't. They need to read and understand what actually Jesus provides and His way to decide whether they want to follow him. I think it's good to do that, seek Him and He'll surely have a plan for you

+additionally, you still have friends and us!!you can just keep 'annoy' us with your message. Most people here will be happy to talk to you, including me

Cheers

 

[TRANSFORMER26]

heirofChrist,

Thank you for your response. You sound like a wonderful person. I really appreciate you trying to help and having such faith and strong beliefs. I read and have been told Christians believe Jesus was God in the flesh and I was told you need to believe this in order to be a Christian. I'm just not sure about all of that. I think God is in all of us.

Please keep in mind I'm bible stupid so to speak and I still need to read more....I do believe Jesus existed and he was exceptional but I'm having a hard time understanding the sacrifice. We are all God's children and I would think any of his children being harmed would be hard for him (many people were awful back then...they tortured and harmed and crucified other good people for ridiculous reasons) I hope this doesn't offend you or anyone else because it surely isn't my intention to do so but I don't believe everything in the bible. This makes some Christians think I'm terrible and doomed to hell. I just have trouble trying to figure out fact from fiction with the bible since people didn't know how to write or go about compiling information way back then and relied on information being passed on by word of mouth. Many years passed before anything was written for the bible and I question the accuracy. I don't question the overall message which I think is love.

I think Jesus tried to teach people what is truly important and that is love. People were so terrible to each other back then and God sent Jesus to show people love and compassion. I know we are all sinners and we need to be forgiven and I do ask God for forgiveness when I pray. I'm just having a hard time with the sacrifice, trinity and all of that.

I will keep reading and see what happens.

Thank you so much!
God Bess you

 

[wwjd_kilden]

Well, God is in everyone who has accepted Christ as their savior

Ouch, where are my manners?! Welcome to CC!

OK, what was I saying?
Yes, the bible says that we cannot work ourselves to God ("Being good" isn't enough. Though we should definitely be good).
I know the OT is difficult to read, but it gives to context of the NT with an important message:

We all sin, and since God is holy, sin cannot be in his presence. In the OT, you will see people sacrificing animals, because spilling the blood of a perfect, firstborn animal would pay the price that was required ("The wages of sin are death").

However, people kept sinning, and a larger sacrifice was needed. One that would be one and for all. To pay for the sins of everyone that was willing to accept it. And that was Jesus. He was the firstborn, innocent, perfect sacrificial "lamb" of all mankind.

Imagine if you were charged with something, and someone gave you a piece of paper saying: "If you stop doing this, and sign this paper, you are free to go" ... and you told them "signing that paper won't make any difference".

Jesus is the only way to God. Christians do not go to heaven because they are good, but because they are washed clean first, by his blood, the moment they accept his gift, and THEN strive to live as they should.

 

[TRANSFORMER26]

OnThisRock

Thank you. I do like that scripture.

My life is definitely crazy, more like catastrophic....I have been reading the New Testament mostly. My husband recently passed away and when he was sick I tried to find everything I could to do with healing and focused on that.

I was never real religious. I mean I felt I had my own relationship with God (still do) but didn't go to church or read the bible. I would pray from time to time. My prayers were always for loved ones to be healed. That's the only thing I ever prayed about in the past...just for the people I love to be healthy and safe except for one prayer. When I was a young girl in highschool I prayed for God to send someone to love me and that's when my wonderful husband came along. We were together for 31 years and he was so special. I can't figure out why he had to leave me. I know he passed on to some place wonderful and he is with God but I miss him.

When you say accept Christ what exactly do you mean?

Thank you!

 

[TRANSFORMER26]

rosh037,

Wow thank you for your response. I'm still learning....I haven't read all of the bible yet. Please don't be offended but I'm having trouble believing everything I'm reading.

I will keep reading though and see what happens.

Thank you!

 

[wwjd_kilden]

It basically means that you believe that He died for your sins, and that you want Him to do things in your life (to draw you closer to God)

Hmm, I think maybe Romans 10 is a fairly good answer? If not, feel free to ask more

1Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. 2For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. 3Since they did not know the righteousness that comes from God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. 4Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.

5Moses describes in this way the righteousness that is by the law: “The man who does these things will live by them.”[SUP]a[/SUP] 6But the righteousness that is by faith says: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’[SUP]b[/SUP]” (that is, to bring Christ down) 7“or ‘Who will descend into the deep?’[SUP]c[/SUP]” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,”[SUP]d[/SUP] that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: 9That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

10For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. 11As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”[SUP]e[/SUP] 12For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”[SUP]f[/SUP]

14How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”[SUP]g[/SUP]



Full chapter:
Romans 10 NIV 1984

 

[TRANSFORMER26]

kenisyes,

Thank you for your response. I chose transformer26 because my husband passed away on Oct 26. I like to think of him as being transformed to a different realm. He is with God in the spiritual world. I reached out to Jesus during my husband's illness and the healing prayers didn't come through. I'm not bitter about that though, I know we don't always get what we pray for. I guess I just don't understand why it states prayers can be so easily answered in the bible. There are so many scriptures that refer to ask and you shall receive.

I do want Jesus in my life but my prayers were answered better when I just prayed to God without Jesus in the equation. I know Jesus is exceptional and I believe he walked the earth but still reading about his role in everything...

I will keep reading and see what happens.
Thank you!

 

[Jordache]

God is a healer. Praise God! He's king of kings and Lord of lords, redeemer, loving friend, savior of the world, ruler of hearts, righteous judge. True Christianity requires community. Go to a church. A relationship with Jesus is in one way about you and Him, but fellowship with others is a huge part of your relationship with God. He has been drawing you, but He is also a coming God. Ask Him and He will come and meet with you. Talk to Him. Commune with Him.

 

[TRANSFORMER26]

kenken28,

Thank you for your response. I work early every day so usually I can get to sleep on weeknights because I'm tired from working the day before. It's the weekends that keep me awake. My mind can't seem to stop racing....I still wake up in the night praying for God to heal my husband then I realize ...oh yes he is gone...too late....Sometimes I take Benadryl.

My husband passed away on Oct 26 and I'm just lost. We were together for 31 years and I am trying to live without him. It feels like I lost a part of myself.

I do believe Jesus walked the earth and did all of the wonderful things mentioned in the bible. I just have trouble with him being God in the flesh, the trinity and all of that. I don't know what is fact from fiction since the bible was written so long ago by word of mouth. How accurate is it I wonder...

I will keep reading.
Thanks!

 

[TRANSFORMER26]

Jordache,

Hi and thank you for your response. You seem so nice....I did reach out to Jesus. I've been praying to God since I was a teenager but just recently tried to reach out to Jesus. I prayed for healing but he didn't heal my husband. We were together for 31 years and my heart is broken. I don't understand many of the scriptures in the bible....healing for one.....I'm not sure prayers for healing are answered. At least they weren't for me.

I will keep reading but not sure about going to church.

Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts!

 

[TRANSFORMER26]

Hi wwjd_kilden,

You know...I still don't understand the sacrificing of animals, the spilling the blood of a perfect creature.....and Jesus. I still don't understand how Jesus being crucified, as many other poor people were back then, is a way of excusing us of our sins. I'm sorry, I feel stupid but I just don't understand. My brother is a Christian and he tries to explain it but my brain just can't grasp the concept. Please please don't think I'm being disrespectful but to me it all sounds barbaric. People were terrible back then and I think sacrifices go along with the mind set of many people long long ago.

I think (just my thoughts) it is more important how a person lives their live. Jesus says we should love one another and love is the most important thing to me. This is how he lived when he walked among the people. He showed love and compassion. I think Jesus is all about love and compassion and not so much about believing he died for our sins and all of that...When we love, we already have God in us whether we are "washed clean" or not. God is in all of us, isn't he? It can't just be Christians.

God is far more loving than any one of us can imagine and if I would not turn my back on someone that wasn't sure about Christ, I don't see how God could.

I just don't know.....I'm trying hard to come to some kind of peace with all of it.
Thank you so much!!

 

[RickyZ]

In simplified street terms,

When one sins, or goes against God, their soul is banished from the presence of God. It goes back to the original sin and Adam's banishment for turning against God. Sacrifice was the way for the soul of an innocent, an animal, to be banished from God in place of the sinners soul. Jesus, as the ultimate innocent, was sacrificed once and for all for the souls of all who sin, as a permanent solution to sin and end to banishment.

 

[AgapeSpiritEyes]

Hello Transformer26 I understand by experience about your loss of your husbandand the great mystery of death, maybe it it is not the way you were formed to understand first before you experience, just as your experience of your husband's death and absence in your life that affords you the opprtunity to can call out to Jesus to experience Him real and perfect for your need for the divine love of Jesus so that you may know His love you forever, this was how i was i did not want to learn about and figuure out logically but i wanted to the depth of my soul experience whether Jesus was real the one who is all powerfully loving and able to love me, so i simple told Him IF you are real and are who you say you are i want to know my self in my heart and in my soul and if not i will not consider you at all for my experience of Religion was emptyness. I desire above everything that you will be touch by the perfect Love of God that is in Jesus for yourself with peace and joy from the precious comfort that can only come from the Divine.

 

[kenisyes]

I'll try to compose a couple answers. The reason some of the Bible does not seem true, is love. When you are in love, the whole world looks different to you. The Bible is the Word of God and he is in love with us all the time.

I lost my wife in June, too. 31 years, same as you. I gave her to Jesus' hands personally. She died in a unique position. I tried the position later, and saw the door of heaven opening. God not only took her to heaven, but let it be the last thing her physical brain saw. As far as why God does not always heal, I don't know. Maybe because His plans are bigger than our understanding.

The original story on animal sacrifice I read (from back then) is Adam and Eve hated themselves so much for having sinned, they wanted to kill themselves. So God said, "I love you too much for that; kill an animal instead". If we sin and know how much it hurts God, we want to die. But if Jesus took all the pain and suffering life can give, and rose again, and sits at the right hand of the Father, then God let a human being in. If earth's worst couldn't stop Him, then it does not need to stop you. So now, we can get into heaven too, so we don't need to kill anything anymore. All we need to do is die to our own ideas, and follow Jesus.

Can you have real love in you without having Jesus? That is kind of the ultimate question of life, when you think about it.

 

[TRANSFORMER26]

Thank you for trying to explain kenisyes and I'm sorry about your wife. I think I may have to research a little more because I'm not one of those people that can just believe something because it is stated in a book, even if the book is supposedly the word of God. Maybe God was not a big fan of sacrifice and the people in that day were, so that's where the stories orginated maybe? Not sure but the human race has come a long way since then and now what would we think if God told us to kill an animal to make us feel better about our sin? Doesn't make sense to me.......I try to add a little logic to the stories and some just don't add up. No disrespect to the people that believe all of it. For me it's not so much believing in my mind but feeling it in my heart.

As far as the healing goes, it shouldn't be stated so clearly in the bible that prayers are answered when we all know a big portion are not. I know they can't all be answered but the bible is a little misleading when it comes to that.

I feel God with me so that has to be a good thing..... I'm hoping it's enough at least for now until I have a better understanding if that is even possible. I have to admit I worry about not believing as so many other people do but I can't make myself believe something I don't feel.

Yes I think you can have love in you without Jesus. For me the question is am I expressing it like I should....