Being versus Doing
I know some human doings, consumed with activities instead of their inner qualities driving their behavior. The bible says to test everything. Here we are in a new online forum. I had to ask God if He was going to use this new 'activity' or not. I went right into His presence and wanted to know HIS intentions. After all, it's possible to spend a lot of time DOING this activity. If there was a polling feature, I'd use it. [Do you perceive God's presence here.. Yes/No ]
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Juline Bruck on -
This weekend has been blessed and even so more to find all of these wonderful insights here!
Desiree, I love how you always weave in scripture into your posts. And such appropriate ones too! The Light is real. The darkness is merely an absence of light.. it doesn't not exist inself the same way the light does. Our doing flows from our being.. and that is much the same way as our light. Our goodness is available to others as we are aviailable to God. It's clear to me that you are available to God often!
Donna, when I was writing about being.. it's because our identity and substance are really our permanent qualities. It's those things that we are going to take with us into eternity. That's what God is really putting my attention on.. is this focus, however urgent, geting in the way of permanence? Thanks for sharing!
Juline
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Permalink Reply by Lisa G on -
Good question! I do perceive God's presence here. In my own life, I'm friendly but ~ shy about groups. It's hard for me to be a joiner. I'd prayed for God's help in finding a way to become more active in a Christian community and to help me grow in my walk with Him. Shortly afterwards, I was led here. I took the plunge and am glad I did. Since joining, I've been involved in a number of discussions that made me think & helped me grow; be more active as a Christian in my work & home life; and to general be part of a group of Christians that support each other and to reach out to others. I'll echo Haelie (2/1) & others re: moderation. I've also taken some time just to be still & listen and also not to let the computer (even great communities like this) replace other quality time with family and God.
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Permalink Reply by Juline Bruck on
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Lisa,
Welcome to this discussion! If you were shy about anything, it certainly does not show in your writing. You write well. I'm not sure where this discussion will go. For me, one of the moments when I knew God was using this online community was when I was reading Nathan's discussion question and realized I could go one step further. I could talk to the person, Nathan, rather than just read great Christian material. Here was this godly man who lived across the ocean, and I could specifically ask him my specific to me burning question. How much better was that than paging through texts and reference material hoping to find someone who had tackled the very same question I had!!! Very, very cool!
And even more wonderful have been the answers that were pertinent to questions that I didn't even know I had. Answers that came before the issues that 'popped' into my life within 24 hours. That's God being the awesome, majestic, all-knowing, all -seeing, Loving, Just, Righteous King of Kings. Amen!
When I wrote this discussion in February, I had not had all of these experiences yet. Now, I think if I wrote another discussion question it would be somewhat different!
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Permalink Reply by Lisa G on
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Juline,
You captured my feelings as well. (once again). It's strange but wonderful (!) how I feel like I've gained friends that I've never seen and are so far away. Friends that both discuss some very deep ideas/questions about faith yet apply it to every day life.(By the way, it can be easier to write than face a large group setting. But I do OK one-on-one. Although this may reach a large group, it feels more like a meeting of friends. I feel blessed :) Lisa G
Juline Bruck said:Lisa,
Welcome to this discussion! If you were shy about anything, it certainly does not show in your writing. You write well. I'm not sure where this discussion will go. For me, one of the moments when I knew God was using this online community was when I was reading Nathan's discussion question and realized I could go one step further. I could talk to the person, Nathan, rather than just read great Christian material. Here was this godly man who lived across the ocean, and I could specifically ask him my specific to me burning question. How much better was that than paging through texts and reference material hoping to find someone who had tackled the very same question I had!!! Very, very cool!
And even more wonderful have been the answers that were pertinent to questions that I didn't even know I had. Answers that came before the issues that 'popped' into my life within 24 hours. That's God being the awesome, majestic, all-knowing, all -seeing, Loving, Just, Righteous King of Kings. Amen!
When I wrote this discussion in February, I had not had all of these experiences yet. Now, I think if I wrote another discussion question it would be somewhat different!
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Permalink Reply by Juline Bruck on
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*Nods* Lisa, the truth is that this community has many aspects of the great meeting of believers that will be in Heaven. We're all under construction. We all have the dust and mess of God's remodeling underway. At the same time, there are the areas of our lives that have been revamped. In that sense, when we share from our best, we are doing some of Heaven's activities now. That is what makes this place so very exciting.
I hope you will continue to be brave and invest in discussions that build your faith. Even the ones where you shake your head and say "I don't agree" adds to your understanding. Hopefully more people will read your post and think "I could do that." We are all the richer as more and more people contribute. I was completely surprised when I saw that my comments were becoming commonplace. I thought I was just talking a 'normal' amount. Granted, I enjoy communication. Just ask my kids. I've never met a stranger.
The Apostles Creed talks about the "Communion of Saints". If you've prayed this.. you say you believe in stuff like this community. SURPRISE!
Lisa, it might be fun to mention some of our surprises here. You mentioned feeling like you are among friends who you've never met. For me, it was being noticed. I certainly have escaped notice in 'real life'.
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