January 14, 2005
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Bible study today was more on Revelation.
My Pastor seems to feel that the 7th seal and revelation 6:12 occur simultaneously. I am not sure of that. I have to think about that because there seems to be an orderly progression of the events.
He also talked about the Glory of God, which shows up in Revelation, and said that some of the precursers were the burning bush of Moses, Moses’ face, Elijah’s chariot, the Mt. Of Transfiguration, Jesus brought up into the clouds. Are precursers.
I am still sorting out the timetable of Revelation.
Want to talk about putting God in a box.I think that often I do put God into a box. I know that we do not know the height, depth, breadth, etc. of God’s love. That we are limited in our understanding of God, that we only see things darkly, etc.
I think I put God into more of a box than most because I am afraid to lean on or trust God.
In my private studying I was reading Joshua. One concept that amazed me is that 2 1/2 tribes refused to enter the promised land, they wanted to stay where they were on the opposite bank of the Jordan. These people ultimately ended up not tending sheep and cattle, but farming pigs, and it was where Jesus healed a man possessed of many demons. I think that I sometimes would tend not to want to cross over the Jordan in some areas of my life, the fear of taking that next step terrifies me.
Then Joshua had that wonderful victory in Jerico, where he followed God’s instructions and the walls came tumbling down. This was followed by a severe defeat in Ai. Joshua assumed that it was a small battle, acted on his own without consulting God, and got seriously traunced. He found out that Achan had sinned against God’s instructions, and hoarded some treasure.Had Achan waited, he would have had treasure beyond measure, but instead he got greedy. Following God’s instructions Ai was defeated easily.
This one speaks to me so much. I tend to act on my own a lot, not waiting to ask God. Partly from fear of not receiving an answer, partly because I have been so used to depending on myself and haven’t learned fully to depend on God. I know that a relationship will build with God as I spend more time getting to know Him, but it is so easy to figure that I know what is the best way to act.
Some things I find it hard to let go of, the Promised Land is there waiting for me to reach out and claim it, but sometimes I hold onto things of the past and don’t let go. Tried and true behaviors that work, but maybe they are not God’s best for me.
How easy it is to see this in the abstract, but applying it is much harder.
Still battling depression, and a headache. I want to run and hide, so I know stuff is coming hard when I want to hide so much. I wish God never gave us feelings.
Heather
Comments (16)
Relinquishing control to God is difficult even for one who has been a Christian all her life.
If you want, you can come back for more chocolate … unless that’s what gave you the headache in the first place!
<3
:::HUGE HUGS::
Thank you.
I know what you mean
About not wanting feelings
But they make us human
The pain makes the joy
So much more intense, no?
But they hurt so badly
Sometimes
I know… ::::HUGE HUGS:::::
When I were younger, I’d read the entire book of Revelation over and over again during sermons, and draw pictures of the demons. I was an interesting child… : )
Best thing about your chocolate, no calories!
Good Poit Neela, you do need the opposites to appreciate, the saddness to appreciate Joy. It is just that there are some on this site that seem to have experienced way more than their share of pain. Wish that there were rules for moderation of pain, so that none had to be so oppresed.
Jill, interesting reading -Revelation. I have been studying it myself these past few months. Am curious if you saw the other side of Revelation – the non-demon side. See, the good guy wins. And the bad guys end up with well-deserved justice. I think you are still very interesting (she says smiling).
Heather
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I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.
I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye.!
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made in God’s image=God has strong feelings! He is touched by our pains, our joys, our fears, our tears. we are His greatest source of pain and joy!
here’s to feelings of all sorts……….the stuff life is made of!
Thank you for your visit and coment.
May God continue to richly bless you,
Maria
Heather – you asked a question on my Xanga, which I answered there, but wanted to answer directly as well….
Ps 24:1 says that Everything is God’s, the world and everyone in it. We don’t have to understand God to accept Him. Just as difficult to comprehend as the bad is that there’s also good.
I’m starting a study of the book of James with my coworkers. James is like an owner’s manual for Christianity. It is practical, and no-nonsense. It starts out with a dialog about temptation (aka trials). We are called to find joy in temptation/trials. Not to enjoy the difficulties, but to find joy in the pearls that come from them. We have a vast array of promises made to us. For example, God is faithful (1 Thess 5:24).
So why does God allow Evil? Good question. Why does God allow free will when his plan includes predestination? Certainly God doesn’t do the evil. God also doesn’t tempt. (James 1:13). I believe it is people who do evil. Satan creates scenarios that provide temptations to do evil. Our desires to carry out the evil lead to sin, which in turn leads ultimately to death (James 1:14-15).
Okay, so now we know God isn’t the one tempting us and we know that when we cave in to temptation WE are the ones performing the sin. Ever notice how a baby falls down a lot before it learns to walk? Does the baby give up and sit down and cry? Sometimes, but the baby always gets up and tries again. Sometimes it hits its head pretty hard. A parent will try to coach the child, but the child may or may not comprehend the instructions, no matter how simple. It isn’t a sin to fall down or get bumped. Its a sin not to make the effort to listen to instruction, to grow and learn, or to sit there and cry and decide you’re going to forget about standing and walking. I think this is what childlike faith means. We are called to be childLIKE, not childISH.
So how does this relate to God allowing evil? Satan puts out stumbling blocks (temptations) and when we run into them (desire) we fall down (sin) because gravity (the natural order) pulls us down once we’ve lost our footing. An infant (unbeliever) doesn’t know about standing and has no idea they aren’t walking. The little child will not be able to negotiate all the stumbling blocks at first, but with time the child will learn (grow closer to God) how to negotiate the blocks and will conquer them. The child smiles (joy in the face of temptation) and wants to show his parents his success when he does well, even though the act of overcoming the blocks (temptation/trials) was not, in and of itself, enjoyable. The parent longs to see the child succeed and rewards (blesses) the child for good behavior. If the child misbehaves there’s also punishment. This isn’t to hurt the child, tho it may seem like at the time. It creates discipline so that the child learns right from wrong and will want to choose right. Anyway, so it is with God. God doesn’t put the blocks in the way, but when Satan throws out a block, God takes advantage of the opportunity to help you grow – if only you’re willing to learn. One of God’s many promises is that he won’t allow a block that you can’t overcome (with His help). He also promises to correct those he loves. Neither the correction nor the stumbling is meant for fun, but there’s joy in overcoming and certainly in the ultimate reward.
I don’t know if this helped, but its about the best way I can think of to explain it.
Thanks for responding, FKI Professor. Suggestion, read my Dec. 31 post and then look at what you wrote. As far as trying to turn the past into good, even a Gentile would do that. And there is evil and there is EVIL. I can see God letting some stumbling blocks be put our way, but some EVIL it does not make sense that God permits, especially one who wants to be known as a loving God.
I readily admit I am a sinner in need of salvation, and have asked for such. I am struggling to put things in order, but trusting God will be hard fought in my life.
Heather
Hi Heather, Just found your site because the “professor” replied on mine… so I went to his… and so around goes the Xanga loop.
I just wanted to say I would be praying for you. It is tough to not have a childhood…. I am one of those too… I will spare you my story. I am just now able to handle some things and begin to “dig” into them … and I am a middle-aged woman!! The one thing that I have to keep hanging onto with tooth and toenail is the things I KNOW to be the truth and keep telling myself those truths over and over to drown out all of the lies the Enemy wispers in my ear! And… they are not “intellectual truths” they are viseral heart truths. Some of the truths are that there is HOPE and that God has a PLAN …. and that even though I sometimes can’t feel it and for sure don’t understand it… He does LOVE me. It seems somedays I have to remind myself several times… depends on how much the devil is hounding me. So anyway… just wanted to let you know you are not alone! Love, Bee
Hey Heather……{{HUG}} thanks for the comments…..i so apreciate you….and your takin the time to come by my site and comment ….thank YOU!!! ahhh i can’t tell you how many times i have literally yelled at GOD WHY DID YOU CREATE FEELINGS!!!! this is such a huge area for me at which i struggle at daily…..***sighs*** keep up the good fight my sister….you are in my prayers and thots……Father LIFT UP MY sister today….out of the darkness and into the light….take away and lift this depression that hangs over her!!!! Let her feell how loved she truely is!!!!
Love,
)
Gloria
“I wish God never gave us feelings.”
I’m totally with you there.
Thank you for your concern. I’m hoping the weekend will give me some recovery time. That’s all it is… school brings the world down, time away starts to heal it to a degree… Thanks for the love. School was interesting. Some of it worse than other parts. Thanks for asking.
I’m going to keep in mind the thought about not keeping it all in. It’s too much to try and do alone.
*hugs* Thanks for everything.
Much love.
Hiya Heather! Thanks for the nice words of encouragement on my xanga. Always great to “meet” new friends who share the Passion. I really like your observations about the 2.5 Tribes who wanted to stay behind when the children of Israel entered the Promised Land.
BE blessed!
~!Steve
Sheesh, you’re lucky., people care about you.
Anyway, thanks for visiting and for the nice words. I’d tell you to return if you wanted to but no one is ever that interested.
I wish I wasnt feeling right now. Alisha is hurting so bad now. Zack was going to college in another state and has cut off communication with her. he wants her to move on since he feels he cannot have a future with her….thanks for careing…
Hello Sister of the King.
I just read this post and I am laughing because. God has been breaking boxes in me lately. Actually it was a message I had to give a church. And was received. That is a good feeling to be in tune with the HOLY Ghost.
That is my desire.. Break the boxes LORD in us all.
Bless you Heather
Diamondofgrace
@diamondofgrace - Oh yes, He sure has been breaking boxes in me. Thanks for subscribing.
Heather