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idjit
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Posted: Mon Feb 25th, 2008 09:45 pm |
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| ditto
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decide2love
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Posted: Tue Feb 26th, 2008 01:37 am |
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I just wanted to make a comment about the name "Sheep". They are the dumbest animals! They will die of thirst 50 feet from good water. If the Shepard doesn't lead them directly to the waters edge - they will die. I think it is appropriate to call myself a sheep, and it is inspiring. ...Think about it...... The Lord is my Shepard, I shall not want, He maketh me to lie down beside the still waters... (Sheep will drown in moving waters because their coat is so thick and it soaks up the water, then the movement of the water pulls them under.) Christ is the Shepard which means that I am not responsible for finding the water... just drinking it (not bathing in it)!   
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Guitarist_John
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Posted: Tue Feb 26th, 2008 10:04 am |
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Yeah, it wasn't a compliment when Jesus called us sheep. It makes a good analogy though .
Welcome to Blazing Grace, brother! I was sad when I read about your testimony. I'll certainly be praying for you.
I just want to add something. It's excellent to pursue purity, but don't make that your utmost priority! Make loving God and seeking Him your main priority. There are lots of other things to worry about than just lust, like vanity, as Wilderness Voice (or WV) has spoken about, and loving others, and forgiving others and forgiving yourself (Dun dun dunnn)!
We're all in this together, and we'll support you like a friend and a brother. Love fulfills the commandments. If you love somebody, you don't ever want to do anything wrong to them. Thats why its good to love God. Love fulfills the law.
I'm not a qualified theologian or anything. These are just some things that make sense to me.
Anyway, welcome to BG and I'll hope and pray you'll find freedom too!
____________________
"In the world you will have trouble, but I leave you my peace that where I am there you may also be." - Jesus
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truthseeker
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Posted: Tue Feb 26th, 2008 11:31 am |
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Yes, those things about sheep are true, though my focus was the preciousness to the Good Shepherd of one lost sheep who had been numbered among His flock. This also brings to mind Is. 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."
Just as I said that a sheep does not change species if it wanders from the flock, neither does any sheep in the flock become anything more flattering than a sheep, no matter how long we've been part of the flock, or how closely we have followed the Shepherd.
Baaaahhhh...
TruthSeeker
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Journey
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Posted: Tue Feb 26th, 2008 01:11 pm |
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Guitarist_John wrote: Love fulfills the commandments. If you love somebody, you don't ever want to do anything wrong to them. Thats why its good to love God. Love fulfills the law.
You know, I'm not sure how much of my obedience in my 35+ years of being a Christian has been because I love God. I know the right thing to do (even been to Bible college), but a love for God that would be stronger than the pull of the addiction? I just honestly say I don't know if I have ever experienced that. It seems so subjective. I'm not trying to make any point or anything, just sort of reflecting.
Journey
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Wilderness Voice
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Posted: Tue Feb 26th, 2008 02:50 pm |
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That is exactly what the root of the change that occurred in my wife and I's lives - we began falling in love with God and cultivating our love for God. It literally transformed us and continues to transform us. We are more in love with God now than either of us ever have been and that love grows stronger all the time. We ask Him to give us a greater capacity to love Him.
Love is the key to obedience. As Jesus said: in the volume of the book it is written of me I delight to do Thy Will O God, yeah, Thy Law is within My Heart. It is the heart where it all begins and ends. It is the heart that unlawfully loves sin and causes all the problem. But a love of sin is a lack of a love for God.
WV
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idjit
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Posted: Tue Feb 26th, 2008 05:46 pm |
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I just wanted to make a comment about the name "Sheep". They are the dumbest animals! They will die of thirst 50 feet from good water. If the Shepard doesn't lead them directly to the waters edge - they will die. I think it is appropriate to call myself a sheep, and it is inspiring. ...Think about it...... The Lord is my Shepard, I shall not want, He maketh me to lie down beside the still waters... (Sheep will drown in moving waters because their coat is so thick and it soaks up the water, then the movement of the water pulls them under.) Christ is the Shepard which means that I am not responsible for finding the water... just drinking it (not bathing in it)!
I definitely fit the dumb part. I think the similarity ends there, though. We are responsible to be attentive to God, and to eachother, sheep have no responsibility. Sheep don't go to hell, or heaven, they don't have "free will". The Lord hasn't led me to the waters edge, and if he has, I am SO dumb, I won't drink. If I am a sheep, I have been lost a long time, and I need my shepard to put me on his shoulders and carry me home, because I, while I am lost, am hurting alot of people. Spiritually, I am blind and deaf. I wound up on this board to see if I could find the insight that would change my destructive ways, and maybe inspire faith in me again. It makes me so sick to say that I have lost my belief that God loves me. I KNOW he loves me, I can see the evidence all around, I perceive his love, but I don't believe that I am am one of his sheep, more like a hanger on, or a dog who's been raised with sheep to think he's a sheep. Even that is silly, because I have been saved, I have tasted, drank, listened, and then my foolish heart was darkened. What does that make me? A foolish virgin? A wicked servant, unprepared at his masters coming? TERR0R. I need light, life, goodness and mercy, tenderness and peace in my heart. I need the light of life to shine in me again, and I don't think I can make that happen. Mostly all that's there now is self-righteousness, fear, and shame.
Sorry to get heavy on your post, when it is so hopeful and peaceful, and faith-filled. This is just me reaching out. anyone out there relate? They say that 75% of people in mental wards believe they have committed the unpardonable sin. I can see how they got there. Please pray that I will humble myself and trust him again, that I will not be angry at him, but grateful to him. Please pray that my foolish heart become enlightened, softened and confident. Thank you for reaching out to me
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idjit
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Posted: Tue Feb 26th, 2008 06:09 pm |
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*I just want to add something. It's excellent to pursue purity, but don't make that your utmost priority! Make loving God and seeking Him your main priority. There are lots of other things to worry about than just lust, like vanity, as Wilderness Voice (or WV) has spoken about, and loving others, and forgiving others and forgiving yourself (Dun dun dunnn)!
We're all in this together, and we'll support you like a friend and a brother. Love fulfills the commandments. If you love somebody, you don't ever want to do anything wrong to them. Thats why its good to love God. Love fulfills the law.*
I just responded to the post about the sheep which was still up on my screen from last night, so I hadn't seen your post or any of the others, lol and its beautiful to see how they all fit together First, let me say that you are right, I have not made Loving or seeking God my main priority... it's really that simple, maybe part of my troubles have been me thinking I will never measure up, but when your purpose is loving him, not measuring up, maybe that's the key. Less of me, more of Him! Thank you so much for offering your love and support to me, I am so thankful for your words of hope and mercy. I don't have anyone else I can turn to right now about these things. "in the multitude of counselors there is safety" or something along those lines. God bless Bosnia!!
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idjit
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Posted: Tue Feb 26th, 2008 06:17 pm |
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truthseeker wrote: Yes, those things about sheep are true, though my focus was the preciousness to the Good Shepherd of one lost sheep who had been numbered among His flock. This also brings to mind Is. 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."
Just as I said that a sheep does not change species if it wanders from the flock, neither does any sheep in the flock become anything more flattering than a sheep, no matter how long we've been part of the flock, or how closely we have followed the Shepherd.
Baaaahhhh...
TruthSeeker
I may not have changed species, but I don't believe in "once saved, always saved". I believe there is a chance that I am still alive only as a mercy so that I don't have go to hell *right now*. I don't have any scripture to back this up, haha, I guess my depression makes these thoughts seem plausible. God bless you truthseeker, and thank you for the scripture and for keeping tabs on me.
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idjit
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Posted: Tue Feb 26th, 2008 06:24 pm |
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Journey wrote: Guitarist_John wrote: Love fulfills the commandments. If you love somebody, you don't ever want to do anything wrong to them. Thats why its good to love God. Love fulfills the law.
You know, I'm not sure how much of my obedience in my 35+ years of being a Christian has been because I love God. I know the right thing to do (even been to Bible college), but a love for God that would be stronger than the pull of the addiction? I just honestly say I don't know if I have ever experienced that. It seems so subjective. I'm not trying to make any point or anything, just sort of reflecting.
Journey
Journey, I apreciate that feeling, and I can see in myself, maybe for the first time, how my own strength works. Maybe a month before my wife and I separated, at a home-church group, the "ice-breaker" was a call for everyone to say something nice about their spouse. My wife said that I was the most conscientious person who always wanted to make sure noone (except her) felt left out, and that people would feel cared for. It's just my righteousness. Salt water and spring water flowing from me. I *wish* I loved anyone or anything (especially God) more than my own flesh. Also just a reflection :-) thank you for your thoughts and insights.
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idjit
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Posted: Tue Feb 26th, 2008 06:30 pm |
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Wilderness Voice wrote: That is exactly what the root of the change that occurred in my wife and I's lives - we began falling in love with God and cultivating our love for God. It literally transformed us and continues to transform us. We are more in love with God now than either of us ever have been and that love grows stronger all the time. We ask Him to give us a greater capacity to love Him.
Love is the key to obedience. As Jesus said: in the volume of the book it is written of me I delight to do Thy Will O God, yeah, Thy Law is within My Heart. It is the heart where it all begins and ends. It is the heart that unlawfully loves sin and causes all the problem. But a love of sin is a lack of a love for God.
WV
I love your zeal and hopefulness WV. I want that love for God. You are truly blessed to be able to walk with a partner and with God successfully (but so much more blessed just to be in love with God). Heading toward this mark: falling in love with God and cultivating [my] love for God. What a beautiful testimony!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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truthseeker
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Posted: Tue Feb 26th, 2008 09:09 pm |
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Hi Brother Sheep,
I recommend to you Ps. 51. The man after God's own heart had committed adultery, and then murder, when his plan to cover up the pregnancy for which he was responsible did not work.
I'm not going to quibble eternal security, or lack thereof, as theology is not the main point of this forum. I will, however, note that sincere confessions and pleas for mercy are not rejected. "Lord, be merciful to me, a sinner." This was the publican's plea, and Jesus said that he left the temple justified, as opposed to the Pharisee whose prayer was full of nothing but self-righteousness. "If we confess our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." None of us have any worthiness to fall at the foot of the cross, cling to the feet of Jesus, and wash them with our tears, as the harlot did. He received and forgave her, and does likewise with us.
Would God's love have any real value if we were actually lovable, or His mercy, if we were worthy?
TruthSeeker
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hans45
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Posted: Tue Feb 26th, 2008 09:39 pm |
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truthseeker
Would God's love have any real value if we were actually lovable, or His mercy, if we were worthy?
TruthSeeker
What a thought provoking statement. Something we should apply to our loved ones and our fellow man as well. It would be a hard thing to do. Thank you Truthseeker.
Dennis
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Wilderness Voice
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Posted: Wed Feb 27th, 2008 03:02 pm |
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| Sending you to Open Letter to IDJIT: I Desire Jehovah's Immortal Truth - in other topics.
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idjit
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Posted: Sat Mar 1st, 2008 04:17 am |
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truthseeker wrote: Hi Brother Sheep,
I recommend to you Ps. 51. The man after God's own heart had committed adultery, and then murder, when his plan to cover up the pregnancy for which he was responsible did not work.
I'm not going to quibble eternal security, or lack thereof, as theology is not the main point of this forum. I will, however, note that sincere confessions and pleas for mercy are not rejected. "Lord, be merciful to me, a sinner." This was the publican's plea, and Jesus said that he left the temple justified, as opposed to the Pharisee whose prayer was full of nothing but self-righteousness. "If we confess our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." None of us have any worthiness to fall at the foot of the cross, cling to the feet of Jesus, and wash them with our tears, as the harlot did. He received and forgave her, and does likewise with us.
Would God's love have any real value if we were actually lovable, or His mercy, if we were worthy?
TruthSeeker
Hi, sorry it took a while to get to your post. I had to reply to WV's Open letter to me.
God is merciful and we are awful. What is man that you are mindful of him? and it is entirely true that sincere confessions are not rejected. My doubt I think lies more with myself than with God, funny enough. I think that if at any time I had ever gotten real with God, I would have recovered much sooner. WV had a great insight, "shut up and run back to God", not a perfect summation, but awesome corrective words for a person like me who muddles things.
I am glad though, that I can confess to you, my brethren, and receive the comfort with which you have been comforted. I might actually be seeing my time here impact me already. I have been "clean" from porn for almost 2 weeks and have not yeilded to m for a few days. I have tried to control my thoughts, and have found out that I don't have any strong physical need for "release" right now. Maybe this is God's grace. I only say maybe because if/when I relapse, I don't want to feel like grace failed.
fight on freedmen
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TK
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Posted: Sat Mar 1st, 2008 02:52 pm |
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Truthseeker,
I just wanted to commend you on your response to Brother Sheep (idjit). Your reply, "I'm not going to quibble eternal security, or lack thereof, as theology is not the main point of this forum," showed your true maturity in your walk with Christ. I can't wait till my character proves that level of maturity. I have recently been on the "hot seat" in one of the discussions here in the BG forum, and unlike you I felt the need to "make a point", so to speak about an other's inconsiderate response to those of us hurting from this addiction. In hind sight, I feel as though I only fueled the fire for more of an examination of my lifestyle and choices, rather than my love and faith in God and my struggle to overcome personal fears, insecurities, and doubts that come have plagued the topic of sexual addiction. I felt that any hope or encouragement I may have been able to offer someone else, is now clouded with my downfall of simply being human and having struggles, regardless of the tons of other aspects of my life I have overcome with the help of God, himself. I now accept it as a lesson in humility. Therefore, I have been humbled. I have to remember that God is my only judge.
____________________
-TK
"Everything Happens For A Reason."
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