I don't need people's approval. I know who I am and I know what God thinks of me. And that's all that matters. No matter how people treat me or what they think of me. Jesus is all that matters and that's all that has ever mattered.
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I've realized something: this world sucks. Seriously. Everyone is hurting in some fashion or another. I know it's true for me, and it's probably true for everyone else in this world. Sometimes it feels weird because my kind of hurting pales in comparison to what others go through. I've heard stories of abusive households, depression, loss of friends and family, mental disorders, so on and so on. We are utterly broken.
I've also come to realize what the function of the church is: a place where people can go for not only the emotional healing, but the deeper spiritual healing which transcends anything that happens in this world. This is hard for me to remember as an avid apologetics buff, who likes to reason through things, but the main purpose of the church is not to reason them into the kingdom. Rather it's to be the place they can go to confide their deepest hurts and receive help. I don't want this to be a personal responsibility but if I am to call myself a Christian, I have no choice but to be part of this church I speak of. So that responsibility falls on me. Suddenly it's not theoretical anymore; it's really my task to, instead of going into philosophical arguments, just be someone who they can talk to then, at the right time, suggest Jesus. The church, the body of Christ with all the people in it, is meant to be something people can go to and not receive judgment, but some kind of help. When people see the kindness and usefulness of true Christian faith, they will naturally be interested in it. I guess that's where I might diverge from such people. For me, some new concept or belief would require good solid reason behind it before I accept it. For others it's simpler. "They did good for me and they say it's because of Jesus. I believe it." There's nothing wrong with that. I guess maybe that's just something I need to fix with myself? I don't know but whatever, this post is not about me.
I've also come to realize what the function of the church is: a place where people can go for not only the emotional healing, but the deeper spiritual healing which transcends anything that happens in this world. This is hard for me to remember as an avid apologetics buff, who likes to reason through things, but the main purpose of the church is not to reason them into the kingdom. Rather it's to be the place they can go to confide their deepest hurts and receive help. I don't want this to be a personal responsibility but if I am to call myself a Christian, I have no choice but to be part of this church I speak of. So that responsibility falls on me. Suddenly it's not theoretical anymore; it's really my task to, instead of going into philosophical arguments, just be someone who they can talk to then, at the right time, suggest Jesus. The church, the body of Christ with all the people in it, is meant to be something people can go to and not receive judgment, but some kind of help. When people see the kindness and usefulness of true Christian faith, they will naturally be interested in it. I guess that's where I might diverge from such people. For me, some new concept or belief would require good solid reason behind it before I accept it. For others it's simpler. "They did good for me and they say it's because of Jesus. I believe it." There's nothing wrong with that. I guess maybe that's just something I need to fix with myself? I don't know but whatever, this post is not about me.
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GreenNnice
Guest
Be of good cheer littleChristone, in this world, you will have trials and tribulations, but I have overcome the world.
So, keep on doing what you are doing for Him, worry not about what others think of what you're doing, what they're assuming, if it's taking you from Him, for your prize is Christ Jesus--seeing Him, one day--and, in these times and days now keep seeking Him more an more because more and more is happening to want us to become frustrated and uncaring and not even caring what we are doing because no one cares. But He cares, cast all your cares on Him, your thoughts, your actions even (what you propose to do), because He cares for little ole you, littleChristone. Strum-strum, keep letting others see what you are doing is serving Jesus, bringing sweet 'accoustical' music to His ears. The Lord leads ,all the time, keep up, and, don't worry, when you feel you can't go on, His Love will overshadow you, even carry you when you think its you walking 'all by myself,' milady
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There is nothing more assuring for myself than letting God move me, He is the movement of my life, who, in perfect cadence, in perfect beat, in perfect rhythm, in perfect steps gets me where I need to go, like the inside of a watch with all its gears and intricate parts, moving something so small so perfectly.
I must be off, I've watched your posts all as much as I can . LittleChristone, let's you know she loves you all on here, I say that too, but I don't do it in an 'edit' comment like her
God bless you, miChristones. Let His Love rule all that you do, for when we Love others, as Christ first loved us, we are doing His work, being His workmanship, and, we are giving Love to God which is truly what we want to do for that peace and comfort and care-free life that He wants to give us, abundantly
So, keep on doing what you are doing for Him, worry not about what others think of what you're doing, what they're assuming, if it's taking you from Him, for your prize is Christ Jesus--seeing Him, one day--and, in these times and days now keep seeking Him more an more because more and more is happening to want us to become frustrated and uncaring and not even caring what we are doing because no one cares. But He cares, cast all your cares on Him, your thoughts, your actions even (what you propose to do), because He cares for little ole you, littleChristone. Strum-strum, keep letting others see what you are doing is serving Jesus, bringing sweet 'accoustical' music to His ears. The Lord leads ,all the time, keep up, and, don't worry, when you feel you can't go on, His Love will overshadow you, even carry you when you think its you walking 'all by myself,' milady
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There is nothing more assuring for myself than letting God move me, He is the movement of my life, who, in perfect cadence, in perfect beat, in perfect rhythm, in perfect steps gets me where I need to go, like the inside of a watch with all its gears and intricate parts, moving something so small so perfectly.
I must be off, I've watched your posts all as much as I can . LittleChristone, let's you know she loves you all on here, I say that too, but I don't do it in an 'edit' comment like her
God bless you, miChristones. Let His Love rule all that you do, for when we Love others, as Christ first loved us, we are doing His work, being His workmanship, and, we are giving Love to God which is truly what we want to do for that peace and comfort and care-free life that He wants to give us, abundantly
P
Powemm
Guest
In the middle of all of it . Two words bring a million chimes ..cast out a million demons , cast out a million wandering thoughts ..
BUT GOD
He makes my heart so very happy
BUT GOD
He makes my heart so very happy
Sometimes life, and love, being the gifts of God and the most wondrous of things; seem so fragile and fleeting. The solidification of one's mind and the application of one's values seem only to create the greatest joy, both inwardly and outwardly, when they are coupled with the reciprocation of such things; otherwise all degenerates into abysmally contradicting actions.
Is it impossible for life, on the most-part, not to be only a reactive game of cause and effect?
Is it impossible for life, on the most-part, not to be only a reactive game of cause and effect?
Why is it that happiness is so often sought after in relationships as an inward condition, fueled by the gifts of others and the love we are shown, yet the mind, when it reflects on oneself, realizes that the taking of love is a mathematical subtraction from the person who one is gleaning it from, leaving them lessened and perturbed in our conscience? I suppose it is not abnormal, but the real crime is when we have no desire to return them to their former wholeness.
Does nobody else realize that only giving can cure the sickness of longing to be loved?
Does nobody else realize that only giving can cure the sickness of longing to be loved?
Is it intrinsically flawed to perceive the world from an outside perspective? Looking inward and knowing emotions and reactions inside out but never quite being able to explore them in myself because of their complexity and intoxicating form? Perhaps I fear being tainted. Perhaps I feel them too much and shut them out. Perhaps my nature is that of the watcher, the learner, the silent surveillance stirring a pot of ingredients under the right conditions; forming my perspective from everything that is outside me so that when I finally become ready to engage the world I do so with all the fairness and kindness that I so often see lacking in the lives of others.
Or maybe I'm just detached.
Or maybe I'm just detached.
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iTOREtheSKY
Guest
C
Catlynn
Guest
S is amazing. Her cancer treatment isn't going well, yet she came to choir rehearsal because that is how she praises God. Last week a few of us prayed with her and for her. We didn't lay hands on her, as it is painful to her to be touched.It doesnt look like she will last the year -- she has been fighting this for over a decade. She wants to go out praising. My own problems seem so small right now. I am humbled.
After reading one of the threads, I have learned much more about horses.
Horses may appear to just be standing in the field just eating the grass, but they are secretly watching everything around them devising a plan and waiting for the right time to approach. A lion attacks without thought and provocation, but a horses attack is well-planned.
Horses may appear to just be standing in the field just eating the grass, but they are secretly watching everything around them devising a plan and waiting for the right time to approach. A lion attacks without thought and provocation, but a horses attack is well-planned.
Well, this is part of the world we live in, my friend. I regularly think, struggle, deal with and in these kinds of things, but from a different perspective and extent.
You see, one of the things we study in business is the 'art' or 'science' of making money, and there is one...in fact, there are a great many. Those who work in FOREX Investments/Money Markets, for instance, work in something called 'units'. My memory is a little hazy, but I believe 1 unit = $100mil. They deal with hundreds to thousands of units on the market 24 hours a day...
Or, another example, which again is a little hazy, so don't hold hard and fast to the figures... On average over the past few years, the US spends something like $60 Billion + on Christmas gifts alone...
From what I've heard, it would only take a fraction of that (say...$10 Billion) to give the entire world clean drinking water. We also have people with enough wealth individually to sway a country's currency...happened with Norway and a couple others, too.
Not all of them are dirty, or crooked, or etc...but they are ambitious, driven, and very focused on money/self interest. Usually, on top of that, they are either really good with people....or really good with something people want...
I realize this was a challenge and may have felt like a failure, but buck up kiddo! You'll get the chance to be in a similar situation again! ^_~
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arwen83
Guest
I was paid a high compliment today by another INFP that 'it seems that you have a true talent with the written word'. I guess it's meaningful to me because I don't know the person so i know that they aren't just saying that to be nice, also because I doubt my ability and INFPs read and write a lot. For someone to say that is most encouraging to keep going.
Keep it up. I'm writing a novel at the minute. It started out as a release, to be able to express the words on a page was soothing, and it turned into a few lines, then a few chapters, and now it's a concept for a book and I've had some feedback from a literary student I know who thinks it's feasible as a novel.
Don't give up and don't stop creating. You never know where it might take you.
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NodMyHeadLikeYeah
Guest
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Catlynn
Guest
I remembered my thought I forgot last night!!
So, sometimes in life...we have something that we really love, or have a passion for, or want to do/dream about...but it always seems like there are people out there that are ready to tell us that we can't, or that we're not, or that we won't...or some other form of critically discouraging/trying to damage whatever that is...
I know I've been guilty of that before...even with what I thought were good intentions...
The thing is, they don't know you any better than you do, and certainly not better than God does. You don't know them like that, and since when was crushing dreams something we decided was 'good for them'?? So maybe they won't make it...so maybe they're not very good...at least let them try and enjoy that love and passion for what time and in what ways they can!
There are multitudes of stories where people weren't good at something, but they loved it and got better with time. Tony Hawk is such a story...and many more names that you will probably recognize. So what I'm saying is...it's not idealism...it's realism. You really don't know whether or not they'll make it any more than anyone else...so just let 'em try, and be supportive as their friend, family member, etc...
No one except God truly knows who you are, and that means no one except God truly knows who you're not.
So, sometimes in life...we have something that we really love, or have a passion for, or want to do/dream about...but it always seems like there are people out there that are ready to tell us that we can't, or that we're not, or that we won't...or some other form of critically discouraging/trying to damage whatever that is...
I know I've been guilty of that before...even with what I thought were good intentions...
The thing is, they don't know you any better than you do, and certainly not better than God does. You don't know them like that, and since when was crushing dreams something we decided was 'good for them'?? So maybe they won't make it...so maybe they're not very good...at least let them try and enjoy that love and passion for what time and in what ways they can!
There are multitudes of stories where people weren't good at something, but they loved it and got better with time. Tony Hawk is such a story...and many more names that you will probably recognize. So what I'm saying is...it's not idealism...it's realism. You really don't know whether or not they'll make it any more than anyone else...so just let 'em try, and be supportive as their friend, family member, etc...
No one except God truly knows who you are, and that means no one except God truly knows who you're not.
M
MissCris
Guest
Following the aforementioned idea that women tend to regret sharing personal things with people...
I'm finding this to be true right now. Just like I've found it to be true in the past. I dunno. I've often found that after I share something, something bad, or something extremely painful, that person tends to...fade away. A couple of times, people have turned around and used that information to hurt me. That should have made me more careful. Maybe it did, because now I pay more attention to the type of person I associate with, and gauge their reactions to lesser info that I give them before feeling safe enough to really throw them for a loop.
I've gotten so many different reactions from people over the same bit of information about myself; shock, pity, anger, disgust, apathy, sympathy, disbelief, preaching, prayer, name-calling, avoidance.
And then I kick myself. Then I'm left wondering why I said anything in the first place. But sometimes, things just come out. Sometimes, keeping things bottled up inside results in spewing forth TMI at some point to the wrong person.
And then...I start wondering what reaction I was hoping for in the first place, tell myself I'm just being stupid and worrying too much about things that don't matter.
That's the problem, though...filtering out what really matters from what doesn't, and it's all jumbled and confused because my emotions get involved and complicate everything.
I wish I were an android like Data. He shares too much information, too, but in a super-cool-android-factual kind of way.
I'm finding this to be true right now. Just like I've found it to be true in the past. I dunno. I've often found that after I share something, something bad, or something extremely painful, that person tends to...fade away. A couple of times, people have turned around and used that information to hurt me. That should have made me more careful. Maybe it did, because now I pay more attention to the type of person I associate with, and gauge their reactions to lesser info that I give them before feeling safe enough to really throw them for a loop.
I've gotten so many different reactions from people over the same bit of information about myself; shock, pity, anger, disgust, apathy, sympathy, disbelief, preaching, prayer, name-calling, avoidance.
And then I kick myself. Then I'm left wondering why I said anything in the first place. But sometimes, things just come out. Sometimes, keeping things bottled up inside results in spewing forth TMI at some point to the wrong person.
And then...I start wondering what reaction I was hoping for in the first place, tell myself I'm just being stupid and worrying too much about things that don't matter.
That's the problem, though...filtering out what really matters from what doesn't, and it's all jumbled and confused because my emotions get involved and complicate everything.
I wish I were an android like Data. He shares too much information, too, but in a super-cool-android-factual kind of way.
I can do all things through him who strengthens me. - Phillippians 4:13
But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. - 2 Corinthians 12:9
being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, - Collossians 1:11
but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. - Isaiah 40:31
I will pray for you, Lil!
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