I gave up on finding a mate.

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Gojira

Guest
#82
I wouldn't say that it's off-topic.

Why?

Well, because regardless of the topic on this forum, there's always some sort of contention, and "only by pride comes contention, but with the well advised is wisdom" (Prov. 13:10).

Pride is terrifying, and I've had similar revelations in relation to MYSELF in the past as well.

I'm not sure that God humbles us, however.

More like humiliates us for our own good.

The task of humbling is really our own:

"Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up." (James 4:10)

"Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." (I Peter 5:6-7)

Anyhow, I know what you meant.

In that regard, I more pray in line with this:

"Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression." (Psalm 19:13)

Even then, I still blow it from time to time.

Thank God for repentance and the cleansing blood of Christ.
You know, I can tell you that, at least in my experience, He has humbled me and I did not feel humiliated. Two of the experiences that come to mind are somewhat personal, but....

In my 1y 9m of homelessness and 4 years of a poor employment drought overall, I was slowly softened by God. Let's just say that I get mad at Him far less frequently and with much less intensity than I used to.

On May 13, 2012, I had a mind-blowing experience while stargazing. Long story short, the sky was "opened". What I mean by this is, I began to more deeply comprehend just what it was I was looking at. Since we cannot see the 3-dimensionality of everything over our heads, and the distances and sizes are too vast for true comprehension, the sky is 2-D in our perception. But, on this night, it became 2.5D.

The sizes and distances over my head started to become so clear and comprehensible that I started to feel terrified. Then, I thought of the Mind behind that. That was God. I fell to my knees in worship right there on the street in South Pasadena at 11pm. Went on for about 60 min, and about 30 more on my way back home. There is no other, I kept saying. Anyone who contends for your throne is a laughable joke I said, in joyful tears. No humiliation, but a profound sense of Who God is and what I am. Beautiful, humbling, and it felt absolutely wonderful. I've prayed for a repeat of that experience.
 
L

Live4Him2

Guest
#86
You know, I can tell you that, at least in my experience, He has humbled me and I did not feel humiliated. Two of the experiences that come to mind are somewhat personal, but....

In my 1y 9m of homelessness and 4 years of a poor employment drought overall, I was slowly softened by God. Let's just say that I get mad at Him far less frequently and with much less intensity than I used to.

On May 13, 2012, I had a mind-blowing experience while stargazing. Long story short, the sky was "opened". What I mean by this is, I began to more deeply comprehend just what it was I was looking at. Since we cannot see the 3-dimensionality of everything over our heads, and the distances and sizes are too vast for true comprehension, the sky is 2-D in our perception. But, on this night, it became 2.5D.

The sizes and distances over my head started to become so clear and comprehensible that I started to feel terrified. Then, I thought of the Mind behind that. That was God. I fell to my knees in worship right there on the street in South Pasadena at 11pm. Went on for about 60 min, and about 30 more on my way back home. There is no other, I kept saying. Anyone who contends for your throne is a laughable joke I said, in joyful tears. No humiliation, but a profound sense of Who God is and what I am. Beautiful, humbling, and it felt absolutely wonderful. I've prayed for a repeat of that experience.
Okay.

I hear you.

I know what it's like to be homeless, having personally lost everything that I owned TWICE (once to a fire, and once to toxic mold) since becoming a Christian.

Your second example reminds me of the following words of David:

"When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?" (Psalm 8:3-4)

In the past, I've watched videos about our solar system, galaxy, etc., and similarly thought on the excellent Majesty behind it all.

In fact, I pretty regularly meditate on the fact that we're presently floating in space of top of a globe, and that itself helps me to keep everything in a humble perspective.

I love the words of Isaiah, who wrote under Divine inspiration:

Isaiah chapter 40

[21] Have ye not known? have ye not heard? hath it not been told you from the beginning? have ye not understood from the foundations of the earth?
[22] It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in:
[23] That bringeth the princes to nothing; he maketh the judges of the earth as vanity.
[24] Yea, they shall not be planted; yea, they shall not be sown: yea, their stock shall not take root in the earth: and he shall also blow upon them, and they shall wither, and the whirlwind shall take them away as stubble.
[25] To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One.
[26] Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth.
[27] Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from the LORD, and my judgment is passed over from my God?
[28] Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.
[29] He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.
[30] Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:
[31] But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
 
G

Gojira

Guest
#87
Okay.

I hear you.

I know what it's like to be homeless, having personally lost everything that I owned TWICE (once to a fire, and once to toxic mold) since becoming a Christian.

Your second example reminds me of the following words of David:

"When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?" (Psalm 8:3-4)

In the past, I've watched videos about our solar system, galaxy, etc., and similarly thought on the excellent Majesty behind it all.

In fact, I pretty regularly meditate on the fact that we're presently floating in space of top of a globe, and that itself helps me to keep everything in a humble perspective.

I love the words of Isaiah, who wrote under Divine inspiration:

Isaiah chapter 40

[21] Have ye not known? have ye not heard? hath it not been told you from the beginning? have ye not understood from the foundations of the earth?
[22] It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in:
[23] That bringeth the princes to nothing; he maketh the judges of the earth as vanity.
[24] Yea, they shall not be planted; yea, they shall not be sown: yea, their stock shall not take root in the earth: and he shall also blow upon them, and they shall wither, and the whirlwind shall take them away as stubble.
[25] To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One.
[26] Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth.
[27] Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from the LORD, and my judgment is passed over from my God?
[28] Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.
[29] He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.
[30] Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:
[31] But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
One of my favorites, Psalm 19:1.
 
L

Live4Him2

Guest
#88
One of my favorites, Psalm 19:1.
Yeah, that's always been one of my favorites, too.

In fact, when I first went into business for myself about 21 years ago, I sold nature photography that I double-matted and framed.

Each matte had an additional opening in it below where the photo was placed in which I included a corresponding Bible verse to match the photo.

I used to sell a lot of sunrise, sunset, and even outer space photos, and Psalm 19:1 was oftentimes the accompanying text that I used.
 

Lanolin

Well-known member
Dec 15, 2018
23,460
7,188
113
#89
when Job lost everything thanks to Satan apparently he didnt lose his wife but his wife was quite mean to him!

I would have also thought Job be thankful at least she was still alive (after all their children died) but she kinda held a grudge against him and she didnt comfort Job at all ....?!

so marriage in the Bible isnt necessarily wedded bliss.
 
G

Gojira

Guest
#90
Job offers some astronomical commentary as well.
 
L

Live4Him2

Guest
#91
Job offers some astronomical commentary as well.
Should I make it into the kingdom of God one day, then properly understanding the book of Job (which I love) will be a major reason why.

In it, I learned to never pit my (self-) righteousness against the true righteousness of God.

When everything was said and done, Job rightfully abhorred himself and repented.

Good luck finding a "pastor" who will tell you that.
 
G

Gojira

Guest
#92
Should I make it into the kingdom of God one day, then properly understanding the book of Job (which I love) will be a major reason why.

In it, I learned to never pit my (self-) righteousness against the true righteousness of God.

When everything was said and done, Job rightfully abhorred himself and repented.

Good luck finding a "pastor" who will tell you that.
I generally find churches where the pastor doesn't mess with the word of God. I've had to pass up on a few bizarre ones along the way, but eventually, you find one.
 
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Live4Him2

Guest
#93
I generally find churches where the pastor doesn't mess with the word of God. I've had to pass up on a few bizarre ones along the way, but eventually, you find one.
If that's been your life's experience, then I'm truly happy for you.

It definitely hasn't been my life's experience.

in any case, I thank God for my Bible (and for those who suffered, some even to the point of death, to get it to me in my own language) and the Holy Ghost who not only inspired it, but who also helps us to rightly divide it.

Anyhow, we're getting off track here, so I'll turn this all back over to the OP...
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
59,845
29,223
113
#94
"When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;
What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?" (Psalm 8:3-4)

Psalm 8:1-4 :)
 
G

Gojira

Guest
#95
I've tried to encourage SC in my own way. Unfortunately I have no answers other than that I feel God is deliberately blocking us. If so, there's nothing we can do except wait -- either for Him to lift it, or for us to stop caring so much about it, or to die.
 

tourist

Senior Member
Mar 13, 2014
42,553
17,024
113
69
Tennessee
#96
Please do.

I still pray for her every day.

She regularly takes Jesus' name in vain now.

There was a time when she literally used to cast demons out of people in Jesus' name.

Having watched her downfall, and having seen how God himself sought to get her to repent so many different times to no avail, I have to consider that she's been given over to a reprobate mind.

As I said earlier, it's horrifying to watch.

P.S.

She calls Christianity a "cult" and "bondage", and she's told others that I'm a "cult-leader".
She has a troubled mind. The Great Physician can heal her.
 

tourist

Senior Member
Mar 13, 2014
42,553
17,024
113
69
Tennessee
#97
I just wanted to put this out there, publicly, that I gave up on finding a mate.
You have a lot going for you. I wouldn't give up trying to find a mate. I have read some of your poetry and believe that you have a sensitive nature. That is a good quality to have when searching out for an enduring relationship.

It is not necessary for women to want you, only for that certain special woman of your heart's desire.

After my divorce in 1984 I was single and celibate for 18 years. This wasn't from lack of trying either. One day a few years later I just gave up. Finally the loneliness got to me and I started to pray for God to search and find the one of my heart's desire. And that is what God did. With God, anything is possible, including matters of the heart.

Like I have said before, you just never know who you are going to meet.
 
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Live4Him2

Guest
#99
She has a troubled mind. The Great Physician can heal her.
Yes, she does, and yes, he can, BUT that would require some willingness on her part:

"For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them." (Matthew 13:15)

As I've said before, she has literally renounced Christ and Christianity.

I'm tempted to give some background information on what she witnessed and/or received firsthand MANY TIMES from Christ in the way of miracles, whether in the areas of healing and deliverance or in the natural realm where supernatural provision was provided, coupled with her previously held belief in and understanding of God's word.

If I did, then you might better understand why I seriously consider that she may have reached a point of no return in relation to her spiritual condition.

It might also be helpful for anybody who would be interested in praying for her, and it would definitely be a potential eye-opener for some who seem to have a "pie-in-the-sky" mentality as far as marriage is concerned.

For the moment (if not forever), however, I'll forbear from doing so.

P.S.

As I've also said before, we're amicable now, and I truly have no malice towards her whatsoever. In fact, we spoke on the phone just about an hour or so ago.
 

tourist

Senior Member
Mar 13, 2014
42,553
17,024
113
69
Tennessee
To be clear, lyrics are for my wife and not for yourself. :)I think that I will post this in my Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band thread. I started this thread when I was single. Then I met my wife, JesusLives, and we started to sing to each other during our courtship.

Hold me, love me, hold me, love me.
I ain't got nothin' but love babe,
Eight days a week.