Posted by Març on May 13, 2003 at 19:02:59:
In Reply to: Re: A question of trust posted by Fiiiyer on May 13, 2003 at 16:57:26:
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: Jason: My biggest challenge right now is fulfilling this scripture consistently. In my thinking, to be "transformed by the renewing of [my] mind" is a continual process. (cf. Luke 9:23 - "And he said to them all, 'If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.').
: Nancy: I hadn't thought of it that way. I guess I'm so used to immediate gratification, that I just figured it would all happen at once. Granted, I have been seeing some amazing changes in my life recently and I have attributed them to God's presence and my recognition of that presence, in my life...but hadn't though of it being larger in scale. Sometimes I think so small. And how exaclty would one deny oneself and take up his cross?
~what can I say? when I first came to Christ it would seem that way, immediate, and in some ways it was, some changes were inmediate, but I guess as God wants us to continue our personal relationship with Him, some things will take more time. So yea, the process is also continual, as we continue a personal relationship with Christ. In my experience I have gone forward and then I have gone backwards as well. Early on I had to take my cross, as I realized I would be different from other people, and my faith in Christ would drastically change my relationships with people I knew. How to deny oneself? I don't know, can take forms in different things in our life, perhaps continuing in our relationship with Christ means fighting against or denying what might get in the way at that moment, it depends on one's life and situation, it's not about legalism though. Cross? many things I could think of as "crosses" in my life, I don't think I would need to make one up for myself, there's plenty everyday, many from my own failings, feelings, doubts, fears, etc. The thing is as J said
in prayer everyday there is a sense that things may be muted, maybe as if these things are not as important, but they're still there, and those are crosses too, but I can take them and get through and take them up with Christ. we won't always feel like we're there when we pray, I think I know what you mean, despite what much of how, at least in my case, I thought or was led to believe, like if
would be in this continual charismatic high all the time, but look at Jesus in LK 22:42 or better yet down to verse 44, as He was in agony, or look at Jesus on His cross in MT 27:46 or MK 15:34, I don't think he was just pretending there, but as Steve has pointed out in Parallel Universe, this was a man, a human being like us, and in His cross he felt as we would (and I know I would) in our crosses,
i.e. perhaps in our doubts, mistrusts, fears, etc. etc. I think its only human, I think that's what Evangelical, channel 22 type christianity fail to convey to me in my first period of time after havingcome to Christ. But perhaps in those moments in our crosses, perhaps then is when we are close to the man/god Jesus, who was a man as Steve has been incessantly pointing out. Again in MK 8:34 also says to come after Him take up our crosses, and deny ourselves, correct me if Im way off Steve, perhaps as Jesus was on His cross, he denied himself, since he did not talk back to those who said "if you are the son of god, then come down from the cross" (Im badly paraphrasing), yea with his divinity he could have saved himself and come down from the Cross, but he denied that continued on the cross, for our salvation, according to the will of the Father, as I already mentioned Jesus prayed before hand.
But anyway, now I don't where Im going with this, but I also point out 2Cor 1:5, so as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds by Christ. and actually the verses that surround that are pretty cool also.
Finally, I'll just say Im rite there with Ryan also, on that yea, we got the body also, your not alone, if I can help you in some way you can call me, seriously, you have done a lot for us, it would only be right to reciprocate it, you are loved.
Març I
: Jason: There was a stretch of time before my son came to visit that everything was rolling right along. It just so happened that I had been consistently spending quality time in God's presence. After my "normal" daily routine got switched a bit, it has been difficult to get back into it. The final preparations for Cornerstone chewed into the time last week - "helping" me to lose the little bit of ground I had gained.
: Nancy: When I make a concerted effort to do so, it does make a difference...
: Jason: Don't get me wrong - I am not complaining. I loved the time I spent with my son! I am grateful that I was able to do that... I'm also happy that I was able to spend time working on Cornerstone and sleepless nights working on the PU Building. The issue at hand is more of a challenge - how to be renewed daily. How does this happen?
: Nancy: Time spent in prayer and studying...time spent with God as your focus. I'm trying to set aside time every night for this...sometimes I don't feel like it's enough time...that I should be more dedicated...but I still do it. I know you've been doing the same in the mornings...mabey I just don't know how to pray effectively...mabey I'm just not doing something right, because sometimes I feel like I'm sooo 'there'...and more often, I don't. I wish I was 'there' all the time.
: Jason: The evidence I have seen in my life has happened because I have spent time with God. I find peace when I am praying. My situation doesn't necessarily change, but when I draw close to God, all the other issues in my life seem "muted" - even when I don't feel like He is there.
: Nancy: As in: the feelings of anger at being distrustful, the feelings of being scared I won't make it etc? those would be muted? What do I/Can I do to draw closer to God?
: : J
: : N