My first 4 weak class is over. I'm really glad I took it. The three guys that taught it sure did know a lot about the Bible. To sum the class up I would say God is good! I really did learn a lot. And as a bonus I had many questions I had answered.
This is going to be a lot of work. I guess work isn't the right word. It's going to be a minute to minute, day to day process. I guess the important thing is to keep pressing forward, keep learning and growing my faith. And when I fall, ask God for forgiveness and get back up. No more looking back!
God bless!
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Monday, October 26, 2009
Week 3/ Faith Class
Week 3 of my faith class delt with reading the Bible and prayer. Turns out I'm not alone with the problems I'm having in these areas. Kinda funny how I thought everyone knew and understood more than me, but in reality they have the same stuggles as I do. I guess that holds true in a lot of situations. Things ain't always as they seem.
I did learn some do's and don'ts for both reading and praying. They are not far from what I have been doing. But now I have a better idea of what I should be doing. I think it will help me a lot. One of the methods for reading is a 15 minute devotional. When we talked about that it seemed like too short of a time. But now that I think about it I probably don't average 15 minutes a day now. I'm dissapointed in myself for not spending more time reading the Bible. It's really kinda sad. Jesus died on the cross to save my sorry butt and I can't find 15 minutes in 24 hours to read about him. That is something I have got to change!
God Bless
I did learn some do's and don'ts for both reading and praying. They are not far from what I have been doing. But now I have a better idea of what I should be doing. I think it will help me a lot. One of the methods for reading is a 15 minute devotional. When we talked about that it seemed like too short of a time. But now that I think about it I probably don't average 15 minutes a day now. I'm dissapointed in myself for not spending more time reading the Bible. It's really kinda sad. Jesus died on the cross to save my sorry butt and I can't find 15 minutes in 24 hours to read about him. That is something I have got to change!
God Bless
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
FALLING SHORT
I feel as though I'm falling short of Gods expectations of me. And I'm not talking big things here. I'm talking about,what should be,smaller things. Well not that they are small. I'm talking about understanding the Bible and praying.
When I read the Bible I can't seem to understand what the meaning is. Or maybe I should say it takes reading it over and over to figure it out. In my faith class everyone seems to understand it more than I do. And when it is explained I'm like oh ok I get it now. I've never been much of a reader. I never thought of myself as a slow learner,but this is proving to be the case. Then I read, on a web site I visit, a question someone had about not understanding the Bible. The answer given was that because the reader did'nt truly believe what they were reading the Holy Spirit was'nt giving them the ability to understand it. Well I don't like that answer at all. Because I do believe and I will not back pedal on that fact. I'll just keep reading and re-reading as long as it takes.
Now on the praying side of this. I can't seem to pray, for any length of time, without my mind wandering off. Like if I'm praying for someone then all of a sudden I'm thinking about something I did with them. Part of my prayers are asking for forgiveness because I wandered off. But I'll just keep on praying and hopefully will get better at it. I think God will be glad when that happens.
God Bless
By the way. Only Adam and Eve created and listening to God's command to go forth and multiply. Told you, takes a while.
When I read the Bible I can't seem to understand what the meaning is. Or maybe I should say it takes reading it over and over to figure it out. In my faith class everyone seems to understand it more than I do. And when it is explained I'm like oh ok I get it now. I've never been much of a reader. I never thought of myself as a slow learner,but this is proving to be the case. Then I read, on a web site I visit, a question someone had about not understanding the Bible. The answer given was that because the reader did'nt truly believe what they were reading the Holy Spirit was'nt giving them the ability to understand it. Well I don't like that answer at all. Because I do believe and I will not back pedal on that fact. I'll just keep reading and re-reading as long as it takes.
Now on the praying side of this. I can't seem to pray, for any length of time, without my mind wandering off. Like if I'm praying for someone then all of a sudden I'm thinking about something I did with them. Part of my prayers are asking for forgiveness because I wandered off. But I'll just keep on praying and hopefully will get better at it. I think God will be glad when that happens.
God Bless
By the way. Only Adam and Eve created and listening to God's command to go forth and multiply. Told you, takes a while.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
QUESTIONS ON PRAYER
I find myself looking for answers on this subject pretty much every day. The definition I'm using is....A personal experience and intimate connection with God. Seems easy enough. Just talking to God. Asking Him for forgiveness, guidance, for me and other people. And also thanking God for everything I have.
John 5:14-15-"This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us- whatever we ask- we know that we have what we asked of Him. That seems pretty clear. If I ask, and God approves, I shall receive. Now that I'm writing this I'm wondering what my problem is!
Ok here goes my questions. So what if 2 people are praying for total opposite outcomes? Example- Please let my connecting flight be delayed cause my flight left late. While at the same time someone wants it to leave on time. This probably isn't the best of examples but you get the idea. Or maybe if it's Gods will, everyone would be praying for the same things. Ok that makes sense. I guess I can't think of any examples of people praying in opposite directions. In the above example you would'nt be praying to God, more like just hoping. I guess I can check that question off.
Now what about in the case where there were many people praying that I would accept God? What if I had died before accepting Him? Prayers go unanswered all the time. Then we say"it was in Gods plan." So why pray? Why not just wait and see what Gods plan is? I guess for me it goes back to the what if question.
This is getting long so I'll say, I know why I pray. It's because I feel closer to God when I do. I truly believe He is listening and will answer if it's in His plan. And I pray to thank God for saving me.
God Bless!
John 5:14-15-"This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us- whatever we ask- we know that we have what we asked of Him. That seems pretty clear. If I ask, and God approves, I shall receive. Now that I'm writing this I'm wondering what my problem is!
Ok here goes my questions. So what if 2 people are praying for total opposite outcomes? Example- Please let my connecting flight be delayed cause my flight left late. While at the same time someone wants it to leave on time. This probably isn't the best of examples but you get the idea. Or maybe if it's Gods will, everyone would be praying for the same things. Ok that makes sense. I guess I can't think of any examples of people praying in opposite directions. In the above example you would'nt be praying to God, more like just hoping. I guess I can check that question off.
Now what about in the case where there were many people praying that I would accept God? What if I had died before accepting Him? Prayers go unanswered all the time. Then we say"it was in Gods plan." So why pray? Why not just wait and see what Gods plan is? I guess for me it goes back to the what if question.
This is getting long so I'll say, I know why I pray. It's because I feel closer to God when I do. I truly believe He is listening and will answer if it's in His plan. And I pray to thank God for saving me.
God Bless!
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Adam and Eve / Take 2
So I had my first faith class this morning. First thought is, four weaks, not enough! So I guess there will be many more classes to take. But I think this will help put me on the right path. I was pretty stund when the first class has, in part, to do with my question about Adam and Eve. This can't be some coincidence. I'm telling you there is some crazy stuff going on here.
It turns out the answer to my question is in the very beginning of the Bible. Genesis 1:26. Then God said," let us make man in our immage, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth ."
Now this may not even be correct but I notice He used the word them. God did'nt say let him. So can I assume there was more than one man created? Or was He refering to Adam and Eve as them? So maybe the Adam and Eve story is just a more detailed account of how God actually created man and women. That would sure clear up my whole freeky looking family tree theory.
I'll keep reading and looking for answers. But for me to have asked the question yesterday, and then get pointed in this direction today really gives me faith that God is listening. And He is trying to help me get some answers.
I also like how God uses the word us in this passage. It's like He's talking to himself. I'm glad I have this computer to put down my thoughts. I don't need my family thinking I have lost my mind and am talking to myself.
God Bless
It turns out the answer to my question is in the very beginning of the Bible. Genesis 1:26. Then God said," let us make man in our immage, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth ."
Now this may not even be correct but I notice He used the word them. God did'nt say let him. So can I assume there was more than one man created? Or was He refering to Adam and Eve as them? So maybe the Adam and Eve story is just a more detailed account of how God actually created man and women. That would sure clear up my whole freeky looking family tree theory.
I'll keep reading and looking for answers. But for me to have asked the question yesterday, and then get pointed in this direction today really gives me faith that God is listening. And He is trying to help me get some answers.
I also like how God uses the word us in this passage. It's like He's talking to himself. I'm glad I have this computer to put down my thoughts. I don't need my family thinking I have lost my mind and am talking to myself.
God Bless
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Adam and Eve
OK, so I've been thinking about this for a while now. I'm sure someone will read this and say, "are you kidding me?" or "you're a Christian?" I'm sure the answer is in the Bible somewhere, Just have'nt found it yet.
So Adam and Eve are put on the earth by God. Then the whole apple and sin thing comes along. Then the two of them have kids. Then what? Their kids have kids with each others kids who are kids of their kids. See where I'm going here? Don't get me wrong, I'm not questioning that it happened. And it's not something that has shaken my faith. I've wondered this for a long time. I wish I had asked my Pastor when we had our meeting.
I do know while reading the Bible it often says something like, the son of---,who was the son of---, who was the son of---. Well if they kept going, would it end with the son of Adam? Could it be that's why it's said we are all brother and sister. And could we all have a family tree that ends with Adam and Eve?
Well like I said in my first post, I'm not a scholar on the subject. But as I'm writing this I've come to the conclusion that I'm ignorant on the subject! But I pray God will reveal answers to all my question. I also pray He will give me the courage to ask the question when I can't figure out the answer.
God bless you!
So Adam and Eve are put on the earth by God. Then the whole apple and sin thing comes along. Then the two of them have kids. Then what? Their kids have kids with each others kids who are kids of their kids. See where I'm going here? Don't get me wrong, I'm not questioning that it happened. And it's not something that has shaken my faith. I've wondered this for a long time. I wish I had asked my Pastor when we had our meeting.
I do know while reading the Bible it often says something like, the son of---,who was the son of---, who was the son of---. Well if they kept going, would it end with the son of Adam? Could it be that's why it's said we are all brother and sister. And could we all have a family tree that ends with Adam and Eve?
Well like I said in my first post, I'm not a scholar on the subject. But as I'm writing this I've come to the conclusion that I'm ignorant on the subject! But I pray God will reveal answers to all my question. I also pray He will give me the courage to ask the question when I can't figure out the answer.
God bless you!
Sunday, October 4, 2009
First Communion
Well today I took Communion for the first time since the 8th grade. This may not be totally true. I may have done it since then, I guess I should say the first time I was able to do it without feeling guilt. That's like 30 some years! That sure is a lot of wasted time.
I'm guessing there are probably people who take Communion and never really even give it a second thought. This is something I always took very seriously. It's what Christians do to remember that Jesus died on the cross and shed his blood so that I can be saved. Man, just writing that chokes me up. To be honest one of the reason for me not partaking before this was the fear of being struck down by lightning. I'm not kidding. It's a fear I had with a lot of things involved with God.
Luckily this was one of the things my Pastor put to rest when I talked to him. That and the fact that I never felt like I was worthy of Gods Grace. The way he put it, and it probably sounded better when he said it, was in Gods eyes you are as good as you can get right now. And I've come to learn that while reading the Bible. Even in the little I have read Jesus says that He has'nt come for the rightous but for the sinners. And that was and is me.
Our God Is Great!
I'm guessing there are probably people who take Communion and never really even give it a second thought. This is something I always took very seriously. It's what Christians do to remember that Jesus died on the cross and shed his blood so that I can be saved. Man, just writing that chokes me up. To be honest one of the reason for me not partaking before this was the fear of being struck down by lightning. I'm not kidding. It's a fear I had with a lot of things involved with God.
Luckily this was one of the things my Pastor put to rest when I talked to him. That and the fact that I never felt like I was worthy of Gods Grace. The way he put it, and it probably sounded better when he said it, was in Gods eyes you are as good as you can get right now. And I've come to learn that while reading the Bible. Even in the little I have read Jesus says that He has'nt come for the rightous but for the sinners. And that was and is me.
Our God Is Great!
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