DIR Return Create A Forum - Home
---------------------------------------------------------
Love God Only
HTML https://lovegodonly.createaforum.com
---------------------------------------------------------
*****************************************************
DIR Return to: Things of the Soul
*****************************************************
#Post#: 1416--------------------------------------------------
Who's Strength....
By: Runner Date: November 2, 2012, 11:12 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which
strengtheneth me.
I saw a sign on a church that said,"Trust in God, believe in
yourself, and you can do anything." I don't believe it.
There was probably a time that I would have 'given it the nod'
and agreed....but I don't now. We really can't do anything we
want to do. We are not free to do anything or everything that
everyone else is doing. But.... we can do everything God has
called us to do. And we can be anything God says we can be.
Over the years I have had my fingers in many multi-level
marketing programs...some I lost money on, a few were good ones.
I went to the meetings and heard all the emotional hype, "You
can do anything. Think you can do it; believe you can do it; say
you can do it—and you can do it!" That's true to a
degree. Carried too far, it gets off into humanism. We need to
speak and think what the Word says .
I am all for 'positive thinking' and 'positive speaking'. ( as
Proverbs says...our words are life or death to us ) The
positive speaker/thinkers are a much happier lot to listen to
and be around than the ones who are always bemoaning their fate
and life.
But, what counts With-God in the long run is what was done by us
"in Him" and 'by Him'.
As He said.." Without me you can do nothing".......nothing that
counts!
We can do what we are called to do, what we are gifted to do.
We can learn to recognize the grace gifts that are on our lives
and move in them to be a strength and blessing for the body.
#Post#: 1424--------------------------------------------------
Re: Who's Strength....
By: Leaf Date: November 2, 2012, 12:01 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
I'm with you Helen, and that means (I should hope) we are
with/on God's side regarding this.
#Post#: 1427--------------------------------------------------
Re: Who's Strength....
By: bənê hāʼĕlōhîm
Date: November 2, 2012, 12:15 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
[quote author=Runner link=topic=158.msg1416#msg1416
date=1351872725]
But, what counts With-God in the long run is what was done by us
"in Him" and 'by Him'.
As He said.." Without me you can do nothing".......nothing that
counts!
[/quote]
I believe Jesus is a witness for exactly what you have stated in
the gospel of John...
#Post#: 1651--------------------------------------------------
Re: Who's Strength....
By: Runner Date: November 8, 2012, 8:39 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
"weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning."
:)
The rain that fell a-yesterday is ruby on the roses,
Silver on the poplar leaf, and gold on willow stem;
The grief that chanced a-yesterday is silence that incloses
Holy loves when time and change shall never trouble them.
The rain that fell a-yesterday makes all the hillsides glisten,
Coral on the laurel and beryl on the grass;
The grief that chanced a-yesterday has taught the soul to listen
For whispers of eternity in all the winds that pass.
O faint-of-heart, storm-beaten, this rain will gleam tomorrow,
Flame within the columbine and jewels on the thorn,
Heaven in the forget-me-not; though sorrow now be sorrow,
Yet sorrow shall be, beauty in the magic of the morn.
~Katherine Lee Bates~
#Post#: 1656--------------------------------------------------
Re: Who's Strength....
By: Leaf Date: November 8, 2012, 8:52 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
That makes me smile. Thank you.
Have had a week where tears come more easily than usual. They
come easy to me as it is, but something stirred them up in me
this past Sunday night, wherein we have bible reading. It was
when it came my turn to read and it was Psalm 22.
By the second verse I said: I don't know that I will be able to
read this one. I am already starting to cry.
Somewhere along the way... between verse 10 and 15 my husband
volunteered to take over, which I certainly was grateful for due
to the near sobbing and the struggle to keep reading
coherently... it was quite the effort.
The floodgates have been opened and while I generally tear up
over beauty, the greatness of God and the sadness of others too,
I must be seeing more of that.
Yet, it was grief that started this continuing episode. Why
should it grieve me so?
#Post#: 1664--------------------------------------------------
Re: Who's Strength....
By: Leaf Date: November 8, 2012, 9:24 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Oops! I edited my post to show Psalm 22. ::) <--- at self, lol
#Post#: 1665--------------------------------------------------
Re: Who's Strength....
By: Rita Date: November 9, 2012, 12:26 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Hi Leaf
I guess the question would be, is it human grief you feel, or a
spiritual one - I have come to know both. Sometimes something
will stir up emotions that don't appear to be mine, they appear
to be deeper and I have often wondered if it is God sharing his
heart with me ( if you know what I mean ) The psalm, spoke to me
of Jesus on the cross at times , even though it was David that
was speaking.
Then of course the psalm is also about a dark moment in David's
life when everything around him was going wrong, the first verse
conveys a desperation for answers and resolve - so I guess it
could have sparked off a memory, or perhaps you feel grief for
someone else in a similar place and desperately want answers for
them , or perhaps have felt under attack - these can all stir up
the human side of out own emotions and grief.
I get like that with ordinary reading or listening to music of
all kinds, words are very powerful aren't they, and sometimes we
just have to allow the emotion to be there - God usually gives
us understanding as the days unfold xxxxxx
Sending you a (((HUG000 anyway - although you are proberbly
sleeping as I write this. xx
#Post#: 1666--------------------------------------------------
Re: Who's Strength....
By: Rita Date: November 9, 2012, 12:46 am
---------------------------------------------------------
[quote author=Runner link=topic=158.msg1416#msg1416
date=1351872725]
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which
strengtheneth me.
I saw a sign on a church that said,"Trust in God, believe in
yourself, and you can do anything." I don't believe it.
There was probably a time that I would have 'given it the nod'
and agreed....but I don't now. We really can't do anything we
want to do. We are not free to do anything or everything that
everyone else is doing. But.... we can do everything God has
called us to do. And we can be anything God says we can be.
Over the years I have had my fingers in many multi-level
marketing programs...some I lost money on, a few were good ones.
I went to the meetings and heard all the emotional hype, "You
can do anything. Think you can do it; believe you can do it; say
you can do it—and you can do it!" That's true to a degree.
Carried too far, it gets off into humanism. We need to speak and
think what the Word says .
I am all for 'positive thinking' and 'positive speaking'. ( as
Proverbs says...our words are life or death to us ) The
positive speaker/thinkers are a much happier lot to listen to
and be around than the ones who are always bemoaning their fate
and life.
But, what counts With-God in the long run is what was done by us
"in Him" and 'by Him'.
As He said.." Without me you can do nothing".......nothing that
counts!
We can do what we are called to do, what we are gifted to do.
We can learn to recognize the grace gifts that are on our lives
and move in them to be a strength and blessing for the body.
[/quote]
Hi Helen
I agree, but I think if you live in the US or Cananda perhaps
this message is drummed in more- that you can achieve anything
you want to - which, for those who succeed brings a self
appraisal into the equation, and for those who fail, a never
ending sense that they are doing something wrong. This kind of
positive thinking is invading our shores, I hate it. When my
marriage ended I lost most of my dreams, but that can happen
with illness and events- the one thing I came to learn is that I
need to believe in what God can bring out of it, new dreams, but
these will be in line with his will, but those dreams way not
consist of human success. but that is okay and it doesn't mean I
am a failure, but the things I am learning will stay with me
when all around me fails.
Can I ask what you meant by ' grace gifts ' - I notice it is
plural, I always presumed grace was something God gives us all
when it is needed, not different.
Rita
#Post#: 1671--------------------------------------------------
Re: Who's Strength....
By: Leaf Date: November 9, 2012, 8:48 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Hello Rita,
Thank you so much for responding to my post and for the hug too!
:D
[quote]Hi Leaf
I guess the question would be, is it human grief you feel, or a
spiritual one - I have come to know both. [/quote]
Depends upon our definitions I suppose. I'll tell you what it is
and even while I have intellectual reasonings that tell me I
should not feel such sorrow or grief, I do.
When I read that Psalm, I think of Jesus. When I think of Jesus
on the cross, or hear anyone speaking about Jesus on the cross,
it hurts me terribly. It is so terrible that mankind is so
depraved that He had to go through all that for us... so that we
could be changed and transformed.
I know that He was the lamb slain from before the foundation of
the world, but still... that doesn't change the reaction I now
have to it. It isn't just a matter of course for me that that is
the way things are.
I remember years ago... over 20, that while watching a show
about Jesus and during the scene of Him carrying His cross and
the soldiers beating Him that that made me cry too, but
otherwise I was able to just accept the crucifixion. Now, and
for some time now, it immediately causes me to cry. It's more, I
think, than it just touching my heart... I recognize that with
songs, and other things... but this, this alone, is more like it
affects my whole body and internal self. It's a profound grief.
Otherwise, I am so grateful to Him. Otherwise, I am so indebted
to Him. Otherwise, I am so glad that He loved/loves us so.
Otherwise, I am so amazed over what He still does for us.
Otherwise... just doesn't take away the sorrow I feel for what
He did... and so many can't, won't and doesn't want to give up
tiny little insignificant things that hurt themselves and
others?
Maybe that's what it is. That the world is not ready or doesn't
want to appreciate Him and love Him as He loved us? I don't know
lol. Maybe it's tears that I didn't shed earlier for so many
years on behalf of what He did?
[quote]The psalm, spoke to me of Jesus on the cross at times ,
even though it was David that was speaking.
Then of course the psalm is also about a dark moment in David's
life when everything around him was going wrong, the first verse
conveys a desperation for answers and resolve - so I guess it
could have sparked off a memory, or perhaps you feel grief for
someone else in a similar place and desperately want answers for
them , or perhaps have felt under attack - these can all stir up
the human side of out own emotions and grief.[/quote]
This Psalm speaks to me of Jesus. I did ask myself some
questions to see if this was due to something within me, but
nothing came. I do truly think it is because of what I wrote
earlier.
So forgive me... it seems I do know why I grieve, but I don't
know how to stop. I have been this way for around 13 years and
it is always the same. And once it starts, it seems to stay with
me... the quick, hot tears... the deep sadness felt... lol, the
quivering lip, tehe, the blowing of the nose. At least I can
laugh at myself. Today is the 6th day of this, this time. Yet,
while having this grief I can also celebrate Him, which brings
more tears!
[quote] ...get like that with ordinary reading or listening to
music of all kinds, words are very powerful aren't they, and
sometimes we just have to allow the emotion to be there - God
usually gives us understanding as the days unfold xxxxxx
Sending you a (((HUG000 anyway - although you are proberbly
sleeping as I write this. xx[/quote]
Oh yes! I too am very sentimental... tears can roll down my
cheeks easily, but still be able to talk. Usually I can get
those tears to be checked quickly. A quick dab here and there
and that's it, not always, but usually. I think you know what I
mean by that.
And this is where it gets odd, usually those tears are gone
quickly while the emotion remains, but during these episodes...
those tears that are usually gone quickly turn into the tears of
grief I've been experiencing.
I did read a quote yesterday about tears being the telescopic
lens that allows us to see God's rainbow. That idea pleases me.
Hugging you right back! :D
#Post#: 1676--------------------------------------------------
Re: Who's Strength....
By: Runner Date: November 9, 2012, 10:48 am
---------------------------------------------------------
[quote]
Can I ask what you meant by ' grace gifts ' - I notice it is
plural, I always presumed grace was something God gives us all
when it is needed, not different.
[/quote]
[IMG]
HTML http://i779.photobucket.com/albums/yy76/kattsue_2009/smilies2/soapbox.gif[/img]
This is how I see it all....no one has to agree.
1 Cor 12. 4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same
Spirit.
And there are differences of administrations, but the same
Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the
same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the
Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is
given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of
knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same
Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To
another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another
discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to
another the interpretation of tongues:...etc these we all know
as "The Spiritual gifts."
Yet there are more......called the grace gifts, or motivational
gifts.
In verse 28 "helps" is in the list.
Elsewhere we read "Distributing to the necessity of saints;
given to hospitality."
" he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do
it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that
sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness." Romans 12:8
Not everyone has the 'gift' of hospitality, anyone can do it,
but not well. ( my elderst daughter does for sure) a 'mercy
ministry' is easy to spot. Also helps...some have a 'real gift'.
( all people can 'do' these things, but some have it deep in
their heart, it shows and glows)
All I can say is, when one has a Church where there is 'true
Body Ministry' as Paul showed us.... It is the leadership ( if
good and sensitive to the Spirit) that "sees" and encourages the
members to move out in their callings and ministries to the
body.
Not all move in what is mainly called " The Spiritual Gifts" (
healing, Prophesy etc..) yet in most (if not all) churches, the
motivational grace, gifts are totally overlooked!!
People just come " to church", they think that is 'their job
done....they are not taught that each of them has a place, has a
gift that is needed for the church to be healthy!! ..each is a
"joint which should supply".
It is all "top heavy." ( most elders are no longer 'active",
it's all "the pastor".)
These days we don't even have churches with the functioning
"spiritual gifts" in full operation.....a dearth of exhortation,
interpretation, word of knowledge etc ...heaven sakes...no one
these days goes to "church" and even expects God to show up with
these!!! ::) Hymn, prayer, song, prayer, offering, notices,
little sermonette, hymn, prayer, go home.
Worse yet, their are many grace gift laying dormant in the body
of Christ, most pastors don't ever see it, let alone ever draws
it forth.
"New" Pastors ,fresh from seminary ,are not taught to look for
anything from the "congregation" ( The Body) ...but money and
offerings!!!!
Yep...as you can see...a subject close to my heart. ;)
Whoops, in all that maybe I didn't answer.
"grace gifts"...God's love shown to The Body in strengthening
and tending it.
Sorry for my big ramble!!
*****************************************************
DIR Next Page