Re: Practical Athiesm

Hey wait a minute. I sent that to you and you totally stole my next blog...

Re: Practical Athiesm

I was kind of waiting for you to do something with it, but then your whole life got wrapped up around a broken car window. :)

Re: Practical Athiesm

i'll tell you what, i'm really fed up with knowing that i'm a saved christian and not living like it. day after day after day i mess up. i feel as though i'm stuck in a rut doing the same things over and over. i want to live right, i truely do. i pray with all of my heart for to take control of my life because i can't do it in my own strength, but then i screw up again. i've been saved for a long time. i accepted christ, he is my savior, i desire to live for him, i do great for a while , screw up for a while, it's like a rollercoaster and i just want off. i've witnessed to people, lead people to christ, my kids are saved, i see god working in all of these peoples lives, i'm sincere in my heart yet as truely willing as i am god just doesn't seem to be breaking the chains. i don't understand how someone so willing to change can stay so screwed up. i know with all of my heart that God is real, and that is exactly why i am so frusterated. if i was unsure of his existance, then i could understand my struggle.

Re: Practical Athiesm

Hey Who Am I, i think I could've written your post, it's my life for the past ten years!! You'd think I'd be way better by now!! There are 2 passages I continually fall back on to keep me going, 2 Corinthians 12: 7-9 which is the one about the thorn in Paul's flesh, look it up, it's very inspiring. Between that and Paul's past that included severe persecution of Christ followers I take comfort in knowing what good God can do with mega-sinners, He never gives up on us! Also, maybe someone can help me find the passage that refers to God finishing the work He began in us, I can't seem to locate it right now. But I can DEFINITELY relate to your plight, it's like a bitter cycle, really good for a while then really bad for a while. OH, I remembered another, Romans 7: 18-20 "I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do-this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it." AND THIS GUY WROTE MOST OF THE NEW TESTAMENT, ain't that great??? There's hope for us!! Actually, in my own case i suspect i know why I have progressed so little, i don't carve time out each day to read the Bible. I read it very little, actually. I spend my time doing "busy" things that are not eternal, stupid me. But I am confident i'll get there, at least i know where the problem lies. That and i need to surround myself with more practicing Christians, I'm also making concrete steps to do that, like getting more involved in church. Sorry this is so long, but i'm so comforted to know i'm not the only one who feels like a failing Christian!! It gets lonely!!!

Re: Practical Athiesm

thanks, that helped. i'm going to look at those verses when i get home tonight. like you said, at least i'm not alone in this struggle. thanks again.

Re: Practical Athiesm

To Who am i and Weak: I was very encouraged (yes, encouraged) by both your entries. This disease of the soul plagues daily and I wrestle with it almost minute by minute. I too, believe in God and love and accept his Son, Jesus Christ. I think I live daily with the guilt of knowing what I believe and what I do are two different things. Being from a background of Sunday only Christians, I have many years of habits in my life that I have to shake off. I too have prayed, and received some relief, but it doesn't last long. The good news, I think, for all of us is the constant struggle. If God had given up on us, he wouldn't be constantly in our heads encouraging and urging us to try again, try harder, do more, do better. I feel your pain, and I'm so grateful to read that you feel mine. I'll pray for you and I'd appreciate your prayers as well.

Re: Practical Athiesm

thanks ditto,
i'd never thought of it like that before.
you know, pastor lee said once, if anyone is hurting, struggling with an issues in thier life, or has any kind of problem they need help with, they should check out the "life support" group. he closed that statement by saying " i guess that means we should all be there ." i think that it helps me to know, that even someone as devoted to god as pastor lee is, has struggles too.
the part that i still frustrates me though, is that if i decide to do something with my life, i do it. if i get a job, i'm dedicated to that job and my employer, if i decide to go to college to further my education, even though school is a big struggle for me, i still succeed at it. no matter what i set my mind to do, i can do it. but when i set my mind to be faithful to be faithful to god, i fail every time.
i know that if i could just succeed at living the rest of my life for christ, knowing him better and what his purpose is for me, and knowing that he is pleased with me, then i would be truly content and happy.

thanks for praying for me, i'll pray for you also.

Re: Practical Athiesm

Craig Groeschel hit the nail on the head.

Finnally! All this time it seemed like everyone else in the church had it together and was "walking with The King" in a flawless manner all time, and that I was the only one around here living as if God didn't exist.

It is encouraging to hear honesty - reflecting in the mirror of truth.

Sometimes I don't believe in the things I believe in. I Forget God exist. I feel I am like the most important thing in my life. Usually I can't see past my own opinions long enough to even get a glimpse of you guys so how can I ever follow the command, what was it... "Love your neighbor as yourself."

But once in a while...

Thanks!