Want to help me pick a new religion?

[Amanah]

Originally Posted by Timmy

Here are some promises for you:

Peace

Joy

A sound mind

Healing

All truth

If you don't actually receive some of these, I guess you're not doing something right. I must not have been, either.

hugs for you Timmy, and dog kisses also

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by RandyWayne

I am a little curious.... How did God tell you to stay? And did He confirm it in anyways?

I believe that each of us know or should know His voice in our personal relationship with Him. What He has told my husband and I through the years, in various situations, circumstances and our questioning Him, were confirmed through many avenues. Because the things He said would happen came to pass, I would have to say that we did correctly hear his voice.

[Truthseeker]

someone comment on my post so I dont feel left out.

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by Titus2woman

REALLY?? I would love to hear some honest sharing about how you arrived in your current fellowship and how it meets the needs of you personally, your family, your friends who are not churched. How it helps you to fullfil the great comission, helps you meet your obligation to feed the poor, clothe the naked, visit the sick and the prisoner because we don't really have that going on.

I'm not going to discuss my church on an anti-UPC forum.

I am not sure why you would assume that I have not sought God about my situation but if it makes you feel better I have indeed.

I am a firm believer that sometimes God uses PEOPLE to help us find our way... plus I just loved the oportuntiy to interact with you all, you are such a lively, opinionated, and diverse bunch.

If you were trying to avoid being rude, I'd say you narrowly escaped it, so good for you. But if you were trying to avoid comming across as self righteous you missed

I'm sure you did take that as coming across as self-righteous because I viewed your post in another manner. You appeared to be coming across as what you wanted out of a church and I simply believe that we won't find a Eutopia as Acts 14:22 bears out, and so I seek to be in His will, wherever he places me. I have experienced being moved from a place and experienced leadership being moved. God takes care of us - He knows the very number of the hair on our heads. It's that simplistic to me.

[Aquila]

I had to make my home and family my headquarters and place of primary worship. I had to cease people pleasing. I fellowship three different churches: Apostolic (UPCI), Southern Baptist, and Non-Denominational (beholden to none). I advocate house churching and organic simple church. I've preached, but now seek to avoid pulpits. I respect traditional pastors, but choose not to be beholden to any as Lord. I like to volunteer time at missions, witnessing, and street preach. I also try to honor the seventh day Sabbath at home, the Baptist church I like has services Saturday nights and Sundays. My standards are the Ten Commandments.

[Titus2woman]

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

I'm not going to discuss my church on an anti-UPC forum.


I'm sure you did take that as coming across as self-righteous because I viewed your post in another manner. You appeared to be coming across as what you wanted out of a church and I simply believe that we won't find a Eutopia as Acts 14:22 bears out, and so I seek to be in His will, wherever he places me. I have experienced being moved from a place and experienced leadership being moved. God takes care of us - He knows the very number of the hair on our heads. It's that simplistic to me.

NOT looking for Utopia... just normal screwed up would suit me fine.

This is an ANTI- UPC forum??? Woza... I thought it was a UPC forum... I'm such a dodo. LOL!

[Titus2woman]

Originally Posted by Truthseeker

Many are discontent with their church/orgs. Not sure what the answer is, but do think the system breeds it to some degree.

Well sign me up with the discontent and the ones who have no idea what the answer is.

[Truthseeker]

Originally Posted by Titus2woman

NOT looking for Utopia... just normal screwed up would suit me fine.

This is an ANTI- UPC forum??? Woza... I thought it was a UPC forum... I'm such a dodo. LOL!

Not a UPC forum, there's a anitupc resentment crowd here. That's probably what PO was refering to.

[Truthseeker]

Originally Posted by Titus2woman

Well sign me up with the discontent and the ones who have no idea what the answer is.

Your not alone, many are. Very few places where their voice will be heard.

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by Titus2woman

And I think that we get enough tribulation from the world and don't have to seek to withstand it from within the church, which should be a refuge.

If you feel somehow sanctified for having stayed in a horrible situation, more power to you. All I feel is tired, hungry, ineffective, frustrated, disgusted, and maybe a little angry. I long for that peace and joy that the bible does promise but that some people love to snatch away even as I look. No rose garden, why not? I do not presume that hell on earth is the norm, do you?

You won't be able to get around Acts 14:22 no matter how hard you try or wish for it.

In HIS presence is fullness of joy. That is where we find our peace in this life - in His presence - in the secret place of the most high. We can endure anything if we can get alone and spend time in the secret place. (Psalm 91:1)

Does that mean we won't ever find joy and peace in our service to Him from day to day, certainly not. But, we should be wise enough to know, "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable." (I Corinthians 15:19); "For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come."(Hebrews 13:14)

You wanted a discussion and I gave you my view. If we don't agree, that is fine. We don't have to agree. I have been through many things in my years serving God. Someone once said, "More than some and fewer than others. When it is yours, it's more than some."

I could talk about a time when I became discouraged and weak. I was so discouraged that I wasn't praying or reading His Word like I should have. It was through that time, and I won't go into detail, but He came to me with dreams, scriptures, songs, messages through the preaching, etc., telling me, "Don't go that way. It's not what you want. I love you". He loved me more than I loved myself.

It was while being a Christian that I saw how much He loved me. It was a very different realization than when I first came to repentance and started my walk with Him. It was years down the road that I discovered His very deep love and His watchful eye. That made the biggest impact on my life. I wish I could feel the liberty to go into details, but I can't.

Forgive me if I came across as too direct. I don't think I could have avoided it. Praying you find His will. I know He won't walk away from you.