Trust, Obedience, and Commitment

[Rhoni]

This week a friend and I discussed the inability to commit to anything at this point in our lives. I have thought about it and for me it is a number of things but primarily a trust issue.

There was a time in my life that every decision I made, every action I took was about how it would benefit the kingdom. I suppose my inability to commit may be because the things I trusted in not only let me down, but my perception was that it/they wanted to destroy me.

My inability to trust is stemmed from this. FEAR: False Evidence Appearring Real. The hurt is so deep that it reappears just at the time I think it is gone/healed. Abandonment and rejection issues often sabotogue current relationships with Pastors, churches, friends, and family because of the TRUST issue.

But it is deeper yet than that: I don't trust God. If He is in charge of everything and everything is always falling apart then just what is He saying to me? Does He really love me? Will He truly never leave me? Does He really have my best interest at heart?

Opinions welcome

Blessings,
Rhoni

[Apprehended]

I learned from my mother that the answer is not outside of me.

Once I was going through a severe trial. Financially, I was about to lose all. I felt that I my wife didn't love me. I felt rejected. I felt rejected by the church where I attended at the time because the Pastor seemed to want to destroy me. It appeared that I was at the end of my rope.

My mother had been praying and fasting for me. Then she gave me the answer that God had spoke to her: "The answer is within him." It seemed that the light went on. I had a ephiphany. I had an awakening. Instantly. Pow!

Of course THAT is the answer. God lives in me. All that God is and has for me is within me. I looked in the mirror and it seemed that I had been born again, again. Almost immediately, I began to snap out of it.

Hope this means something to you Rhoni. You are a sweet lady whom I have grown to love and appreciate. You are special to me and many other people too. You are more than you give yourself credit for.

Set your eyes on the PRIZE. Set your eyes on the end of your journey. See yourself getting there victoriously. I have learned the power of renewing the MIND. It must be renewed.

Anyway, I am here for you...as you know.

[RandyWayne]

But it is deeper yet than that: I don't trust God. If He is in charge of everything and everything is always falling apart then just what is He saying to me? Does He really love me? Will He truly never leave me? Does He really have my best interest at heart?

I have been hurt a whole lot myself but I have to say that the only one I DO trust IS God. The problem comes only being able to see God through the filter of those around me. So many think THEY know what God wants. A man may say "It is Gods Will that you follow ME!". Another (or the same guy) will use the "Obey them that have the rule over you" phrase to indicate that Gods will is whatever he (small 'h') says.

So my problem isn't trusting God, it is trying to divine God's Will from mans.

[nahkoe]

Originally Posted by RandyWayne

I have been hurt a whole lot myself but I have to say that the only one I DO trust IS God. The problem comes only being able to see God through the filter of those around me. So many think THEY know what God wants. A man may say "It is Gods Will that you follow ME!". Another (or the same guy) will use the "Obey them that have the rule over you" phrase to indicate that Gods will is whatever he (small 'h') says.

So my problem isn't trusting God, it is trying to divine God's Will from mans.

Mine has been trusting God Himself. The people..eh, there are issues there too. But I have been wrestling with trusting God for a year and a half.

[Cindy]

Originally Posted by Rhoni

This week a friend and I discussed the inability to commit to anything at this point in our lives. I have thought about it and for me it is a number of things but primarily a trust issue.

There was a time in my life that every decision I made, every action I took was about how it would benefit the kingdom. I suppose my inability to commit may be because the things I trusted in not only let me down, but my perception was that it/they wanted to destroy me.

My inability to trust is stemmed from this. FEAR: False Evidence Appearring Real. The hurt is so deep that it reappears just at the time I think it is gone/healed. Abandonment and rejection issues often sabotogue current relationships with Pastors, churches, friends, and family because of the TRUST issue.

But it is deeper yet than that: I don't trust God. If He is in charge of everything and everything is always falling apart then just what is He saying to me? Does He really love me? Will He truly never leave me? Does He really have my best interest at heart?

Opinions welcome

Blessings,
Rhoni

And yet, here you are. Still searching, still hoping, and still wondering. He is the only one that is always faithful. It is so hard to completely trust God. You can't see Him, you can't touch Him. Sometimes we literally have to go somewhere and just be still. And just be in His presence until He becomes real.
No family, no friend, no pastor can take the place of Him.
I pray that God grants you peace and safety.
Much love to you, and you are in my prayers.

[Scott Hutchinson]

Recently I was hurt by a Christian person I was told somethings that cut me to the quick.
Of course it wasn't pleasant but I can either decide to get better or bitter.
Here is the thing God is a healer,Sister Rhoni give God time to do His healing work.
Sometimes in our Christian experience we get hurt,but we must go on or we can give out,and let the devil have the victory.

Give it all to Jesus.

[scotty]

First glance at thread title and author and I thought AFF had started its own singles service and Rhoni was laying down her expectations.

All fun aside. It just so happens I am sitting here posting my pastors latest blog to the website. If you have a minute I will share it with you.


The writer of Hebrews wrote it so beautifully when he quotes Psalm 102.
10 "You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands.
11 They will perish, but You remain; And they will all grow old like a garment;
12 Like a cloak You will fold them up, And they will be changed. But You are the same, And Your years will not fail."
Hebrews 1:10-12 NKJV
We can be sure that when everything fits according to God’s design and pattern, our lives will not come to failure. Our understanding of success or failure is not the way God views it, because our focus is on the present and God views the future.
His ways are not our ways neither is His thoughts like our thoughts.
We see only the moment, but God sees the end to the beginning and knows the ways that we take.

Whatever God has placed in order cannot be moved unless He chooses to move it. The writer John said, “All things were created by Him and without Him was not anything made that was made.” 1 John 1:3
God not only created the universe; He controls it!
Not only does God control the universe; He controls our lives. That is why when we do not understand our circumstances, we must look toward heaven to find hope.
In times of frustration and disappointment, our faith will be the pivotal point in our lives, turning us either towards the purpose of God or away from His will.
In the Old Testament Absalom rebelled against his father King David, intending to take the throne away from his father. Refusing to fight his own son, David leaves the throne.
Not only were David’s enemies against him, but his servants and the mighty men of his army and even those in his household rose up against him.
David became extremely ill and experienced great suffering.
During these times David reminded God in Psalm 31:15 “My times are in thy hand.”
R.K. Harrison’s translation from the Hebrew says, “My destiny is under your control.”
So, I ask you, are you disappointed with God? Why?
How often do you have to change your plans?
How many times have you counted on something that seemed sure to happen, but did not?
How about those situations when you prayed and waited on God, and gained an inner witness?
You were sure that He would work to bring everything about and then suddenly everything switched.
Disappointments come in many forms and strengths. It is in these times that it is good to remember that the word disappointment is one letter away from His appointment.
One thing is certain; no one is exempt from the normal diversities of life.
Most of us realize that the landscape of our life is designed by God, complete with hills and valleys – the highs and the lows of life.
Most of us will have at least one experience or situation that just does not seem to fit into the righteous scheme of things. At those times, when trouble seems to come from out of nowhere, we ask: “Why me?” “Why this?” “Why now?”
Could it be God has actually sanctioned a season of disappointment for the greater good of our lives or possibly even to be the catalyst for a miracle?

The popular view is that life should be fun all the time. And, since it is not, we must surely carry a personal design flaw or we have missed the will of God.
However, the experience of many proves that setbacks and disappointments are just as guided as the fulfillment of dreams. They provide unique opportunities for growth and make room for a marvelous display of the hand of God.
While no one welcomes hard times, we should at least ask God when we are disappointed, “is this a divine disappointment?” And, then we must remember that He is a faithful God.
When disappointments come remember God is with you!
No one in scripture examples this principal better than Joseph.
The Bible spells out the dreams, the misunderstandings, separation from family, betrayal by family disappointments, and then promotion of Joseph. (Read Genesis 37-41)
When Joseph shares his God given dreams, he is met with resentment, jealousy, and a plot to even kill him. He is sold as a slave by his family and taken to another country and basically forgotten.
But several times along Joseph’s pathway to fulfillment of his dreams (which included further betrayal, temporary promotion, false accusations, isolation, and imprisonment), these words were stated about Joseph’s life, “But the God was with Joseph.”

Continued next post~

[scotty]

We tend to think that the presense of trials are equivalent to the absence of God. Not so. When trouble comes our way, as it did for Joseph, God is most likely at work on a much bigger plan than we can imagine.
Who would have thought that Joseph’s disappointments were God’s chosen route to blessing and prominence for Joseph?
Joseph was able to tell his brothers, “Ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.”
A day came when all the disappointments made sense.
He had trusted God and God had worked a plan for the greater good.
While no one should minimize or belittle the excruciating pain of hurts and disappointments, we must realize that no matter what has happened or comes about; our lives are in God’s hands.
God who is at work on our behalf, left us these reassuring words:
Though the mountains be shaken
and the hills be removed,
yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken
nor my covenant of peace be removed,"
says the Lord, who has compassion on you.
Isaiah 54:10 NIV
So how do we respond to God when disappointments come?
When disappointments comes from not receiving the answer you desire, remember that your prayer may be answered in an unexpected way.
King David felt in his heart that he should build a temple for the Lord. But, God told Nathan the prophet to go tell David, “Thou shall not build me a house to dwell in.”
This is not the response that David expected or wanted.
His intentions were good and he no doubt felt this in his heart, but God said no.
God has three responses to our questions: yes, no, and later.
We accept that we have definitely heard from God when we get a yes. However, when we get a no or a later we wonder if we misunderstood the Lord, or we think God didn’t hear the question.
David no doubt felt in his heart that he should build the temple, he could have told Nathan the prophet that he had missed God, because of what David felt in his heart but David takes God’s answer, God’s no, and responds right.
He does not pout, cry or travail because he is disappointed.
David does not try to bargain with God or blame God.
He instead, lavishly praises God and thanked him for answering him.
He says,
King David went in, took his place before God, and prayed:
Who am I, my Master God, and what is my family, that you have brought me to this place in life? But that's nothing compared to what's coming, for you've also spoken of my family far into the future, given me a glimpse into tomorrow and looked on me, Master God, as a Somebody. What's left for David to say to this — to your honoring your servant, even though you know me, just as I am? O God, out of the goodness of your heart, you've taken your servant to do this great thing and put your great work on display. There's none like you, God, no God but you, nothing to compare with what we've heard with our own ears.
The Message
1 Chronicles 17:16-20
He ends the prayer with “Because you have blessed it God it is really blessed.” (The Message)
When David could not build the temple, he started collecting materials for the next generation to build what he dreamed up.
When disappointment comes out of nowhere, remember that God may have allowed you to be a testimony to the enemy.
To the child of God there is a divine dimension to our disappointments.
Be ready for the possibility of a surprise ending.
Like Joseph, David, and Job, others have learned that it is not over until God says it is over.
Mary, Martha, and Lazarus could testify that the sentence of death was not always certain.
When the future looked bleak, remember that Moses and his followers, with an angry army behind them and a vast body of water in front of them, walked through the Red Sea on dry ground.
Just when the failure seemed too great for grace, David was pardoned.
Remember our finite disappointments should never overshadow God’s infinite hope.
God is in control!
~~Pastor Burl Crabtree
(Some resources from articles in the Pentecostal Herald August 2007.)

[Rhoni]

Originally Posted by Apprehended

I learned from my mother that the answer is not outside of me.

Once I was going through a severe trial. Financially, I was about to lose all. I felt that I my wife didn't love me. I felt rejected. I felt rejected by the church where I attended at the time because the Pastor seemed to want to destroy me. It appeared that I was at the end of my rope.

My mother had been praying and fasting for me. Then she gave me the answer that God had spoke to her: "The answer is within him." It seemed that the light went on. I had a ephiphany. I had an awakening. Instantly. Pow!

Of course THAT is the answer. God lives in me. All that God is and has for me is within me. I looked in the mirror and it seemed that I had been born again, again. Almost immediately, I began to snap out of it.

Hope this means something to you Rhoni. You are a sweet lady whom I have grown to love and appreciate. You are special to me and many other people too. You are more than you give yourself credit for.

Set your eyes on the PRIZE. Set your eyes on the end of your journey. See yourself getting there victoriously. I have learned the power of renewing the MIND. It must be renewed.

Anyway, I am here for you...as you know.

Thank you for these words of wisdom. I know God is within me but sometimes I wonder if He is really for me. But then I have to stop referring to my feelings and refer to His word which is the truth I live by.

I am asking God to help me trust Him more. I trust to a point but I need to trust Him with all.

Blessings, Rhoni

[Rhoni]

Originally Posted by scotty

First glance at thread title and author and I thought AFF had started its own singles service and Rhoni was laying down her expectations.

All fun aside. It just so happens I am sitting here posting my pastors latest blog to the website. If you have a minute I will share it with you.


The writer of Hebrews wrote it so beautifully when he quotes Psalm 102.
10 "You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands.
11 They will perish, but You remain; And they will all grow old like a garment;
12 Like a cloak You will fold them up, And they will be changed. But You are the same, And Your years will not fail."
Hebrews 1:10-12 NKJV
We can be sure that when everything fits according to God’s design and pattern, our lives will not come to failure. Our understanding of success or failure is not the way God views it, because our focus is on the present and God views the future.
His ways are not our ways neither is His thoughts like our thoughts.
We see only the moment, but God sees the end to the beginning and knows the ways that we take.

Whatever God has placed in order cannot be moved unless He chooses to move it. The writer John said, “All things were created by Him and without Him was not anything made that was made.” 1 John 1:3
God not only created the universe; He controls it!
Not only does God control the universe; He controls our lives. That is why when we do not understand our circumstances, we must look toward heaven to find hope.
In times of frustration and disappointment, our faith will be the pivotal point in our lives, turning us either towards the purpose of God or away from His will.
In the Old Testament Absalom rebelled against his father King David, intending to take the throne away from his father. Refusing to fight his own son, David leaves the throne.
Not only were David’s enemies against him, but his servants and the mighty men of his army and even those in his household rose up against him.
David became extremely ill and experienced great suffering.
During these times David reminded God in Psalm 31:15 “My times are in thy hand.”
R.K. Harrison’s translation from the Hebrew says, “My destiny is under your control.”
So, I ask you, are you disappointed with God? Why?
How often do you have to change your plans?
How many times have you counted on something that seemed sure to happen, but did not?
How about those situations when you prayed and waited on God, and gained an inner witness?
You were sure that He would work to bring everything about and then suddenly everything switched.
Disappointments come in many forms and strengths. It is in these times that it is good to remember that the word disappointment is one letter away from His appointment.
One thing is certain; no one is exempt from the normal diversities of life.
Most of us realize that the landscape of our life is designed by God, complete with hills and valleys – the highs and the lows of life.
Most of us will have at least one experience or situation that just does not seem to fit into the righteous scheme of things. At those times, when trouble seems to come from out of nowhere, we ask: “Why me?” “Why this?” “Why now?”
Could it be God has actually sanctioned a season of disappointment for the greater good of our lives or possibly even to be the catalyst for a miracle?

The popular view is that life should be fun all the time. And, since it is not, we must surely carry a personal design flaw or we have missed the will of God.
However, the experience of many proves that setbacks and disappointments are just as guided as the fulfillment of dreams. They provide unique opportunities for growth and make room for a marvelous display of the hand of God.
While no one welcomes hard times, we should at least ask God when we are disappointed, “is this a divine disappointment?” And, then we must remember that He is a faithful God.
When disappointments come remember God is with you!
No one in scripture examples this principal better than Joseph.
The Bible spells out the dreams, the misunderstandings, separation from family, betrayal by family disappointments, and then promotion of Joseph. (Read Genesis 37-41)
When Joseph shares his God given dreams, he is met with resentment, jealousy, and a plot to even kill him. He is sold as a slave by his family and taken to another country and basically forgotten.
But several times along Joseph’s pathway to fulfillment of his dreams (which included further betrayal, temporary promotion, false accusations, isolation, and imprisonment), these words were stated about Joseph’s life, “But the God was with Joseph.”

Continued next post~

Thank you for these facts. I depend on God's word and Jesus Christ to be everything He promised to me.

Love & Blessings, Rhoni