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Random Dialog
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Ray
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04/04/2012 11:05 |
Not to be critical, but your feelings are your feelings, not reality. I do understand the feeling you express. I remember it well and it was a long time ago, but they are feelings only and there is something much bigger to look at here.
One of my reactions when I hit the wall you speak of was to commit be becoming more healthy and I did that which definitely helped me feel better. Make no mistake, you body chemistry is changing and it makes things "different." The other thing that changed for me through this experience is to recognize in a different way what life is.
Human life is a gift and very beautiful, not perfect, actually quite broken, but marvelous at the same time. It is beautiful in it's potential to be something the Lord made to be magnificent. And He will complete that, one day. He is committed to your completeness and faithful beyond imagination. Phil 3:20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
Life is walking with Him to that glory daily. Don't even think about what will be, because you can do little about these concerns anyway. Just walk and talk to Him and obey when you hear. If you don't hear, ask again. Sometimes it takes awhile to get the message, but that's not your fault completely. There is more going on here than meets the eye. See Daniel 10. Notice the delay and the cause of it. It's the same for all of us. We are in a fight and sometimes we don't even know about it, or we forget.
Some people look at the potential as something that comes later, on His return and we are in some sort of holding pattern now. Not so. Eternal life is now, it began when you met Jesus. Eternal is outside of time and we have a part of it now. Sometimes we just don't recognize that. We think "life" is ours and it lasts 70-90ish years. That's false, but a typical way of viewing things. Expand your view of the slipping away life into the amazing journey with the Holy Spirit that it is and you will begin to feel very different, very!
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Craig from Illinois
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04/04/2012 21:04 |
I love that perspective, Ray. I need a reminder of that myself! To be honest, I look at photos of my 4 year old and get nostalgic for the days when he just learned to walk and talk. It's emotional for me now to see my kids grow up. What a mess I will be when I cross where you're at now, Rick! I think Jake knows what I am talking about!
Thanks for bringing up this topic, Rick. And thanks to you Ray for you wise insights.
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Helga
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04/04/2012 22:00 |
Rick the wonderful part is that you are able to express your inner feelings. I am walking up slowly the ladder of fifty and I must say, it is true there are the physical changes and with it come the mental changes. Ray's words are very encouraging and when I was much younger, I said to myself to grow "gracefully" old.
So what did God help me to do? Change bad habits, live healthier, helped me to give my kids the opportunity to be also young, help me to have a relationship with them inspite of them leading their own lives and to trust more and more on God's grace every day. My outer body looks more wrinkled but it is the inner man God is at work and I pray that the light of God in you will shine so much that all your "worries" become Joy in the Lord.
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worric123
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04/05/2012 10:15 |
First, let me just say, I'm very appreciative of all of you (Jake,Ray,Craig, and Helga) for taking time to respond to my post. I was reading passages and I felt like I needed to hear from other christian brothers and sisters. Thank you!
Jake, I understand that period and it is physically and mentally challenging. Be sure to take lots of pictures. These days you can have a pretty good camera/video phone. I really treasure them and the kids really reflect back. Take care and Ray's perspective is a great piece which I am reflecting on. Thanks again.
Ray, I appreciate your comments and yes, I am probably thinking a little too much of what is mine and what I control (very little). I will think about what the Lord can do in my life and that each day is a gift. I do want to think more about my eternal self as it helps to keep focused on all that I do. I will try to do this with positivity since nothing is more enriching I think then being knee deep in wonder about our Lord and helping others. Thanks!
Craig, Yes the reminder of what Ray states. Glad to bring the topic up. It was just the way I was thinking. Thanks for being part of the community. It is a gift too!
Helga, Craig & Jeff are in that period where I really made a change of life decision to eat better, more refined and regular exercise just to keep up with my kids. Yes, I also want to grow gracefully old but hadn't put it into those words. I appreciate your prayer and I do think that people sense the holy spirit in us and it is something that shines through. In the hereafter, I believe we will reflect on all these things and understand it so much better. Many thanks for your time and comments- they do comfort me.
Best, Rick (Feeling better, focused on the now and thankful for the eternal future)
Trust and Obey final verse
Then in fellowship sweet,
we will sit at his feet or will walk by his side in the way.
What he says we will do, Where he sends we will go.
Never fear, only trust and obey.
p.s. hopefully my comments are legible and understandable. I notice no spell check.
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Ray
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04/05/2012 15:22 |
Did I come off preachy? I'm sorry. I didn't really mean it that way at all. I meant, we are in a war, and your feelings were a little taste of it. The enemy will do anything to drag you down. Anything. He'll even use your kids. Stand firm. We need each other to remind ourselves how valuable we are to Jesus.
I left something out that is really important. Love. Love like nobody is watching. Give it away. Ask Jesus to give you somebody to love right now. Ask Him again. Ask Him who He wants love to go to today when you wake up in the morning. When the Spirit starts flowing you will feel so alive you will want to scream it at the top of your lungs as you are washed in the river. There won't be any time for feelings. You will be so taken up. Try it. Dare Jesus to use you this way. Tell you are all in to what He has going on and watch what He does. He's amazing.
http://paulflemingbarcelona.blogspot.com/2011/11/why-evangelicals-hate-jesus.html
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worric123
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04/08/2012 15:29 |
i Ray
Hope you are having a great Easter. You definitely are not "preachy". Yes I do want to love and it gets me focusing on others. Thank you. I do believe you when you say our enemy will do anything to drag us down.
I do believe that love is the answer and I will ask God to use me.
Best, Rick
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Tom B
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04/08/2012 17:09 |
This is a good thread. It gives us pause to think about change, stages of life, how we think, how we are in relationship.
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worric123
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04/09/2012 08:10 |
Tom, I agree and I'm most thankful for all who contributed. I'm feeling energized after my quiet time this morning and closer to all of you. Please connect with me in the future and have a blessed day. Btw, I finished Passages, did my review (Under RAW on Amazon)and do believe reading the scriptures out loud is incredibly powerful.
Matthew 24,35 New English Translation - Heaven and Earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
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worric123
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04/12/2012 23:35 |
Just want you all to know. I'm feeling great and living like I'm an eternal being (which I am). Thanks all! [Just wanted to let you know - no reply necessary). Peace!
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Ray
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04/20/2012 13:51 |
Like.
"You are an unceasing spiritual being with an eternal destiny in God’s great universe. Say it. I am an unceasing spiritual being with an eternal destiny in God’s great universe. Memorize it. Say it to your friends."
http://www.dwillard.org/articles/artview.asp?artID=109
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