So is that how I'm coming across as having it all together? If so, that's not how its intended because I certainly don't.
What I wrote about is how God works in the heart of His children. We all grow in Him. It's impossible not to grow in Him unless we deliberately aren't obeying Him or deliberately reject His truth. A new life in Christ grows. We all grow at different paces, but we all grow.
I'm not totally disabled, but I live with pain each and every day. I'm limited in what I can do. I feel very different from most of my friends because I am.
I could make a list of all I go through, but I won't. I'll just say that some days are so difficult, I sometimes think dying would be better. I use to struggle with each wasted day that would go by because I didn't see any value in my life. Again, without going into a lot of details, I've learned so much in my struggles.
I've learned to say, "this is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it." I've learned to say that this day is not a wasted day when I was so out of it because I haven't slept for days.
I've learned to have to rely on God for so many things. It's been such a struggle for many years and in my sorrow, in my weaknesses, in my tragedies, in my pain in my whatevers, God really is my answer. He's all I have when my heart is sick.
I'm older now. Thirty seven years have passed since I first became sick. So many things die away that we once thought were so important such as someone saying thank you when you've done a good deed.
Years ago I made a special effort to make a person's day so special because she was struggling because she turned 50. I bought her a nice gift, I took her to lunch at a nicer restaurant. She threw a tantrum and threw it all back at me for reminding her she was 50.
So yes, I understand what you're talking about. I was very upset. It took a while to get over. But after that incident God showed me my own heart. We can't put expectations on others. They aren't us and their reactor isn't the same as ours. They're their own person.
So I haven't stopped doing nice things for others, but I'm more wise now and I'm more patient now. I've learned a lot about my own character flaws and it helps to be stretched by God and He helps you to look at things in a different light.
So within my limitations, with a lot of my life lived in my recliner chair, I do a lot of reading and online bible study.
So when I share with others here at CC, I'm actually sharing what I'm learning through my bible studies. Much of what I learn I have acted on and am changing because God is using my studies to change my heart. But I also fail along the way - I'm being sanctified each and every day as you all are.
I've been in a lot of churches and some of them are very shallow and some are very grounded in the word of God. Growth is encouraged, sin is spoken about, repentance is required in some of them. Others were more of a feel good kind of church. Sin wan't spoken of and the focus wasn't on spiritual growth. I realize we all come from different points of view and different denominations.
If I've offended anyone by what I said, if what I've said isn't the word of God, please correct me where I've said something wrong. It would be greatly appreciated.
I'm not holier than you. In fact I don't know you at all. I can't make judgements against you or for you. I can only respond to what's written. If I've overstepped please accept my sincere apology.
What I wrote about is how God works in the heart of His children. We all grow in Him. It's impossible not to grow in Him unless we deliberately aren't obeying Him or deliberately reject His truth. A new life in Christ grows. We all grow at different paces, but we all grow.
I'm not totally disabled, but I live with pain each and every day. I'm limited in what I can do. I feel very different from most of my friends because I am.
I could make a list of all I go through, but I won't. I'll just say that some days are so difficult, I sometimes think dying would be better. I use to struggle with each wasted day that would go by because I didn't see any value in my life. Again, without going into a lot of details, I've learned so much in my struggles.
I've learned to say, "this is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it." I've learned to say that this day is not a wasted day when I was so out of it because I haven't slept for days.
I've learned to have to rely on God for so many things. It's been such a struggle for many years and in my sorrow, in my weaknesses, in my tragedies, in my pain in my whatevers, God really is my answer. He's all I have when my heart is sick.
I'm older now. Thirty seven years have passed since I first became sick. So many things die away that we once thought were so important such as someone saying thank you when you've done a good deed.
Years ago I made a special effort to make a person's day so special because she was struggling because she turned 50. I bought her a nice gift, I took her to lunch at a nicer restaurant. She threw a tantrum and threw it all back at me for reminding her she was 50.
So yes, I understand what you're talking about. I was very upset. It took a while to get over. But after that incident God showed me my own heart. We can't put expectations on others. They aren't us and their reactor isn't the same as ours. They're their own person.
So I haven't stopped doing nice things for others, but I'm more wise now and I'm more patient now. I've learned a lot about my own character flaws and it helps to be stretched by God and He helps you to look at things in a different light.
So within my limitations, with a lot of my life lived in my recliner chair, I do a lot of reading and online bible study.
So when I share with others here at CC, I'm actually sharing what I'm learning through my bible studies. Much of what I learn I have acted on and am changing because God is using my studies to change my heart. But I also fail along the way - I'm being sanctified each and every day as you all are.
I've been in a lot of churches and some of them are very shallow and some are very grounded in the word of God. Growth is encouraged, sin is spoken about, repentance is required in some of them. Others were more of a feel good kind of church. Sin wan't spoken of and the focus wasn't on spiritual growth. I realize we all come from different points of view and different denominations.
If I've offended anyone by what I said, if what I've said isn't the word of God, please correct me where I've said something wrong. It would be greatly appreciated.
I'm not holier than you. In fact I don't know you at all. I can't make judgements against you or for you. I can only respond to what's written. If I've overstepped please accept my sincere apology.
