I am putting away my pride.

[happyharold4]

Hi Cookie---This is an excellent thread---thank you for starting it---Pride is such a bondage----In my own journey I quickly got to the place that I believed I was a sinner and that there was a creative God who required holiness----But my problem was my human pride---I told God that I didn't need any man like myself to die for my sins, ( Jesus ), and that I would do whatever was necessary to make retribution for my own sins and justification before Him---That stubborn attitude lasted for 3 years and you would never believe what I went through as I tried to perfect myself to be acceptable to Him---I read the Word only to be able to mock Christians---But as I read it, it seemed to keep comung back to Jesus saying, "I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man cometh unto the father but by me"---And it just outraged me and I would scream toward heaven and at the Lord Jesus, "Maybe you are for those feeble minded people who call themselves Christians, but not for me, I'll die for my own sins"---After 3 years I completely ran out of energy and became very discouraged and despondent and decided to just end my life as there seemed to be no hope at all for me-----On March 13th, 1973 at 9:30 at night I began to force a knife into my own chest---As I did though I began shaking and then crying, (I had never remembered crying in my life before as we were brought up hard)---So there I was shaking and crying with a knife in my hand and blood on my shirt----And I found myself doing what I had vowed I would never do and that was surrendering my pride and crying out to Jesus---My prayer---Lord Jesus I can't live in this world and I can't even kill myself out of it, if you are real please come into my heart and save my soul---March 13th, 1973 at 9:30pm, I was wonderfully and marvelously born again---Even to this day I still marvel at the stubborn pride I was capable of manifesting-----Jesus is real Cookie and He loves you so much more than you could ever fathom---My prayers are with you.

Happy

 

[SpiritLedEd]

It is hard for me because some of the things in the Bible are just hard for me to accept. I feel like some things are against my better judgement, I am convinced that everything about God is not real. But I remember the faith and awe my mom had, and I wonder, how can THAT be fake?

There are things about God that humans cannot hope to figure out because God is absolutely perfect in every way while we are not.

"' For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways' declares the Lord. 'As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.'" (Is 55:8-9 NIV)

SLE

 

[Friend]

I thought the unforgivable sin was to blaspheme the Holy Spirit, not to blaspheme Jesus. In my experience I have found a lot of people who rejected what they thought was "Jesus" when what they were really rejecting was hypocrisy in Christians around them. Your mother sounds like a nice person, but I'm sure even she had faults and your relationship was probably also affected by feelings of your need to develop independence from her.

Everyone has regrets in how they treated their parents. (I also believe all parents have regrets about how they treated their children!) The fact that you feel regret is a sign of your goodness and desire to do better from now on. That's a beautiful thing in itself. Please allow those regrets to help you become a better person in the way you feel God is leading you, rather than making you feel like giving up.

What I would like to suggest is that you find out who Jesus really was and what He represented by doing a serious study of the four gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) and instead of following the imperfect Christians around you, you focus on what Jesus taught you to do. It can be a renewing experience.

Love and Peace.

 

[CookieRaider]

Thank you everyone.
I went to a local church that my mother attended, and they welcomed me in and even knew who I was just by my last name. They made me feel at home, and told me they had been praying for me. I felt so high above the world, I didn't even know people who didn't know me were praying for me! The sermon happened to be about having faith and how hard it can be when your life is rough. I feel this isn't a coincidence. It cant be, because the guy was filling in for the pastor who was in the hospital. They were teaching something different than they would have that night, if the pastor were there. At the end of the service, the replacement pastor told us all to pray, and asked if anyone has been yearning for a relationship with Jesus, and to have faith, to pray and ask for forgiveness, to let Jesus into our hearts.

I have some doubts still, but on Friday July 1, 2011, I have accepted Jesus into my heart. I don't know where I am going with this, or what will happen, but I want to find out. Thank you to everyone who was patient and accepting. I can't wait to learn more about Jesus. I can already pray without feeling bitter and doubtful or foolish. And I have felt more joy yesterday night than I have in month since my mother passed. Does this mean I am a new creation? I still don't know the terms and stuff, but I will sooner or later. This stuff.....I can't believe I am saying it....is better than cookies. *gasp* :wink:

 

[dannibear]

Oh cookie I am so excited for you that I am smiling
as I am typing this! God has some weird ways
of reaching to us, but I agree, that is no coincidence.
God has His eyes on you, and always has.
And that is the exciting part of having a relationship
with Christ, you don't know where you will end up!
He has great plans for you cookie, plans far greater
than you could ever give yourself. Having a relationship
with Jesus isn't going to be joyful sometimes. Sometimes
you will get depressed, or feel hopeless, or angry if you
feel He hasn't done something for you like you would
want Him to. But always remember, keep your faith,
and let no one take it away! He is revealing His plans
for you, and though He didn't 'promise smooth sailing,
He did promise a smooth landing.'
God Bless you cookie! I am also going to be praying for you!
:friends:

 

[happyharold4]

Wow---Cookie that is huge---Welcome to the family of God---I rejoice with you and all the angels in heaven.

Happy

 

[Thiscrosshurts]

Does this mean I am a new creation? I still don't know the terms and stuff, but I will sooner or later. This stuff.....I can't believe I am saying it....is better than cookies. *gasp*

Yes,That IS the way the cookie crumbles.You are a new creation and many other very cool things happened.
First the way you did this was to deny self and do the most embarrassing thing an Atheist can do=answer an alter call.I know in my heart and mind that you got heavens attention.

When I made my decision I wanted to prove to God I meant business so I thought the most embarrassing thing I could do was answer an alter call at a baptist church.(I hated baptists with a fervent passion).

Luke 15:7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

The Angels are having your birthday party as we speak.

Here are some other things that JUST happened

Eph. 2:1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,
Eph 2:2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this
world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.
Eph 2:5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions
Col 2:12 Having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.
Eph 2:6 And hath raised [us] up together, and made [us] sit together in heavenly [places] in Christ Jesus
Future event:
2 Thes 1:10 when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed-- for our testimony to you was believed.

This says(to me) the moment you believed you threw a switch that existed in your life that caused you to exist 2000 years ago and you were buried and resurrected with Christ and you are right now,as we speak sitting in Christ in heavenly places.(this is MY interpretation and I'm sure some will disagree.)

1 John 2:27 The anointing you received from God abides in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you this. Instead, because God's anointing teaches you about everything and is true and not a lie, abide in him, as he taught you to do.

This does not mean teachers are not helpful,
it means that God knows you and you are a now a unique tool in his tool box.
Don't sweat it if someone tells you something that doesn't sound right.
Seek the truth yourself and the anointing(Holy Spirit/Comforter) will lead you.

BTW:I saw your profile and your Mom's favorite verse and I have been using it a lot the last few days at home and here.
Proverbs 10:12 Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.
Sweet!!!

 

[CookieRaider]

Thank you friend, all those things I didn't even know were happening!
This is getting me more joyful. I still cry over my mother sometimes, but I feel more carefree, and I know that she would be happy that I were happy.

 

[AudreyNicole]

I have some doubts still, but on Friday July 1, 2011, I have accepted Jesus into my heart. I don't know where I am going with this, or what will happen, but I want to find out. Thank you to everyone who was patient and accepting. I can't wait to learn more about Jesus. I can already pray without feeling bitter and doubtful or foolish. And I have felt more joy yesterday night than I have in month since my mother passed. Does this mean I am a new creation? I still don't know the terms and stuff, but I will sooner or later. This stuff.....I can't believe I am saying it....is better than cookies. *gasp* :wink:

Happy birthday to You! Happy birthday to You! Happy birthday, dear Cookie, happy birthday to You!!

I am so excited for you Praise God!! I prayed about you Thursday night... I asked for God to reach you, and of course, He did!! Your testimony is amazing, don't forget it! It will come in handy at a later date.

I just want to also welcome you to the family. We are all brothers and sisters of each other, and of Christ. Jesus Christ is your brother How cool is that! And, you get to partake in all the inheritance of heaven through Him!

A few tips:

~ Being a Christian isn't a religion. It's not about following rules and regulations. It IS about relationships, with God and with people. Its not a religion, its a lifestyle. You probably don't fully understand the "law" yet, but in Christ we are free from the law.

~ There is only one command for us: love God, and love all people. Through doing this all other things are fulfilled.

~ Sometimes our brothers and sisters in the church are like annoying aunt Matilda. She is so annoying and rude, completely obnoxious, but she is your aunt... so you have to put up with her. We wont always agree with what others in the church have to say, and they may even annoy us, but we still have to love them because they are our family.

~ Grab yourself a Bible, and start reading the New Testament. That is the baby food, and the Old Testament is the meat. Once your old enough you can start eating meat, but for now, read and study the NT first (aka the Gospels... Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John)

~ Get involved in your church in groups and bible studies... You'll make a lot of great friends and learn/grow in Christ while you're at it.

~ Keep praying... it brings you closer to God and to Christ

~ Know that the Lord is rejoicing over you as His brand new child! And your mother is smiling down and crying tears of joy with the angels and God's love all around her. The next time it rains where you are, those are tears of happiness coming down from heaven all for you! Now she is just waiting for the day when she will be reunited with you in paradise! Joy!



Cookie Raider I am so happy for you, you will be in my prayers...
Dear Father,
Thank you so much for answering the prayers of all those who have been praying for this lost sheep, Cookie. You are the great shepherd and you say that if you have 100 sheep and 1 wanders of, you will leave the 99 sheep behind to go find that one. Here is that one Lord; here is that one that wandered off and was lost; here is that one, but you went out and saved Him father, and for that we cannot praise you enough. Lord, I pray that this new relationship will only grow stronger each and everyday; that you would bless him with your spirit to guide him and help him every moment. Lord, teach him your ways and convict his spirit of all you are. And Father, fill him with all peace, love, and understanding that through Him you may accomplish your will on this earth. I pray this in the name of Christ your perfect child, Amen.

“What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish. Matthew 18:12-14
​

~ Oh Ya! You have the Holy Spirit now, too! He is the greatest thing since sliced bread (and maybe even cookies)! Like seriously... He's amazing!

 

[Thiscrosshurts]

Audrey that post is so good I read it 3 times.

Cookie The 4 gospels contain the words of Jesus and are center of the Bible(not physically).Get to know him by his words.He is probably not what you expect from the Son of God.
He scolded stuck up religious people and hung out with "the wrong crowd".
Religious people hated him so much they had to kill him to shut him up.(and to fulfill scripture)
He knew they would because he saw in scripture written hundreds of years before what the deliverer had to suffer.He was fully human with all our weaknesses and once even asked God if he could back out of the deal somehow.

He overcame human weakness by allowing the Holy Spirit to completely fill him.Before he died the Holy Spirit left him so that he could take all sin,past,present and future upon himself.He shed his blood for our sin and that blood is still in the earth today.When he died he took all sin with him into grave.When he rose from the dead he left sin in the grave.

He showed himself to people and he was flesh and bone.He shed his blood(no blood) and now his life was supported by the eternal Spirit.
You may hear some people pray "by the blood of Jesus" and that is where that comes from.

Well,I don't want to spoil the ending so read the gospels yourself and ask for the Holy Spirit that led Jesus to help you understand.
Jesus called him/her "The Comforter" and when you meet him/her you will know why.I think your Mom knew but it can't be explained to anyone who hasn't met him/her(the Holy Spirit has no gender just like your new creature but I don't like calling the Comforter "it".)

 

[SpiritLedEd]

This stuff.....I can't believe I am saying it....is better than cookies. *gasp* :wink:

As an old wisecrack says: "You ain't seen nothing yet!"You are a new creation in the same way the mustard plant begins as a tiny seed and grows to become a large plant. (Mk 4:31-32)

Welcome to the family!

SLE