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I would like to let everyone know that I will now be blogging on my own myspace site. I feel as though what I have to say would reach more people in that arena. I don't know if I will continue to post here, but feel free to visit my site:
www.myspace.com/gmaria0811
Blessings to you all!!!
Gina
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Quite often in our Christian circles, we hear the term, 'converted'. Most of the time we take that to mean someone was saved. I found something different in the scriptures and it really caused me to sit up and take notice.
When I was very ill, I read my Bible, morning, noon and night seeking answers as to why I was not experiencing healing. I came across this scripture that puzzled me and yet challenged me;
Luke 22:32 - But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
This verse was Christ talking to Simon Peter. At this point, the deciples had already left all to follow after Christ. So what did it mean, 'converted'? As I prayed about this, it seemed to me that there is something else that happens once a person gets 'saved'. We can ask Jesus to save us all day long, but if we don't experience the 'conversion', we're missing something.
I believe there is something that happens in the heart of a man that either causes him to follow diligently after the Lord or causes him to fall away - I think there are Christians that claim to be followers but their hearts are far from God. Then there is the true worshipper that John Chapter 4 talks about. I'm in no way intending to accuse because we all have our spiritual battles. But what you do in the battle is what determines the your spiritual success....are you going to keep getting up and going forward or are you going to throw in the towel and say, 'oh well, this is just the way I am" The choice is ours.
So I'm continually challenged by this statement regarding conversion and try to look at myself spiritually on a regular basis and determine whether or not my lips are praising God, but my heart is far from him? Or I'm following hard after him.
So, have you been, converted?
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It seems whenever there is a natural disaster like a flood or an earthquake, insurance companies call it an 'Act of God' - I find that very interesting. But did it ever occur to anyone that it might have been the 'other guy' that did it? Why does God always get the bad rap? I never could understand that. I've yet to hear that it was an 'act of the devil'.
Just a thought! ;)
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Wow!! I can't believe it's been almost a year since I've been on here. I think it's time to get back to my blogging!! I confess, I've been on somewhat of a hiatus, dealing with lots of personal issues, but I'm back ;)
When I was younger I always loved that song, "I Will Survive", by Gloria Gainer. When ever I broke up with someone, that became my anthem. Since growing up a bit spiritually, I can honestly say, that's no longer the case. In some ways that song is full of anger and bitterness. I don't feel any love or forgiveness going on in that song, sorry Gloria! lol.....
But I do have a testimony on how to survive a heartache, which I recently had to do. Over the past year, I met someone who became very special to me. He was absolutely wonderful. We would talk for hours and never run out of things to say-we definately kept Verizon in business! We laughed so easily and we seemed to deeply understand each other. That to me was powerful-I never experienced a connection like that before. The two of us could probably sit in total silence and never have to speak a word, knowing all the while, we were completely in tuned. But issues arose and things didn't work out the way we both had hoped. For the most part I thought it was over. But there were some signals and maybe mixed messages and I guess I thought maybe there was a change of heart. But as of late, I had dinner with a mutual friend and was basically told it was not the case. I'll leave out all the gory details....but it hurt, nonetheless. He was also back with his ex-girlfriend, so that basically signaled the end of the road for me.
So I started dating other people and quickly found out my heart wasn't in this. I realized I was dating just to date, hoping to make a connection but honestly, it was me looking to distract myself from what was really going on. I knew in my heart I had to stop- I did not want to hurt another human being because of my own selfishness and/or loneliness - this was something I was going to have to face and get on with it.
I had to forgive and let go. Letting go meant not looking back. That was hard. I think I'm still working on that part. But I prayed and asked the Lord, "what am I doing wrong, why does this have to feel like this? I don't think it's fair." Once again, the creation is trying to tell the Creator what to do and how to do it..lol....I felt it come to me like this, "remember, there are no guarantees in love. You give your heart and let what will be, be." I remembered in Corinthians about what love was; love suffers long, and is kind, envieth not, vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil: rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Love never fails:.....
A resolve seemed to settle into my heart that I know came from the Lord. I purposed in my heart to not give into despair or bitterness, and to genuinely wish him well. When I did this, all the temptation to go 'power-dating' or go into avoidance and/or denial, seemed to leave. I can honestly say I have a peace in my heart that surpasses all understanding. I'm totally content to sit still and wait on love, whomever, wherever, whenever - just let it be. I rejoice in the fact that I've risen above the the circumstance and not given myself over to hurtful behaviours. Do I still feel sad and miss this person? Absolutely, but I have peace with the knowledge that I gave my best, my heart, asking nothing in return, loving as God would have me to love, letting go as God Himself would let go, trusting God as a child trusts, knowing my Father has my best interest at heart. He wouldn't have me settle for less, so when my, Prince finally arrives, I'll be ready.
This is how I learned to 'Survive' - God's way.
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The below message is something I wrote to a brother on one of his blogs. I felt very strongly led to post this as an individual blog of my own. A brother here in MyChurch, was very horribly wounded by a family member in some terrible way. He was writing about the experience and how he felt about it. I responded by the following: I know a little bit about what you are talking about. When I was five, I was sexually abused by a family friend. It literally stole my innocense. I trusted no man after that. Even in my adulthood, I struggled to trust men.
Thanks be to God, I've been healed in my heart and spirit of what transpired. I've forgiven the person that did this to me, and I no longer suffer with fear, self-pity, bitterness toward that person or self-hatred toward myself. Yes, the memory is still there, but the PAIN of the memory, is forever gone....Just like our Christ...He still has the wounds that He received, 'in the house of His friends', but they don't hurt Him...because He forgave them and released them. He knew this was the power of sin working through them, not necessarily the people themselves, thus He spoke, "Forgive them Father for they know not what they do".
This should be our prayer for those who have harmed and wounded us....I admit, it could be a difficult path to go down, but so very worth the reward of spiritual and emotional healing. May we choose love, life, forgiveness and blessing. It's rewards are unsearchable Gina
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