The Tree of Life
The Tree Of Knowledge.
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I am just a guy that read a book and talks to GOD.
That doesn't mean I claim to understand that book. It has a lot to say. There's a lot to think about.
Also, outside of that Book I am not claiming GOD talks to me. I do not hear voices in my head. Nor do I see sacred signs everywhere.
I do see examples of GOD at work daily. In a sunrise. A birds song. The food I eat. My child's smile. The love I have for others. The love others give me.
That's the only divine revelation I have to speak of.
It is not my place to judge you or condemn you.
I can only offer my thoughts.
We choose who we are in each moment.
We choose what we are in each moment.
We choose who/what we serve in each moment.
In my experience, when I acted to serve myself, without compassion for others, I was not serving good.
Defining good as, GODs will.
I was serving my will.
Whenever we make a choice we trigger a chain of events. Cause and effect. Consequences. Consequences are the wages of sin. Consequences Are Not GODs judgement or curse upon you. They are the results of your choice.
If you pick up a two by four and smack your self in the head. GOD did not do that, you did. GOD did not cause the damage you did.
GOD, is GOD. Only GOD can use something evil and turn it to good.
We Are Not GOD. Nor are we Gods.
Trying to be GOD or a God, is to serve our will, Not GOD.
That Book I Read.
As I understand it tells me to trust GOD.
To Believe in GOD and Obey HIM even at the cost of my life.
There's no compromise there.
That Book tells me that GOD demands the exact level of trust, commitment, and compassion as GOD Himself demonstrated for us to see. GOD calls us to follow His Example. YESHUA showed us how and how much to trust, love, forgive and give.
In a word, EVERYTHING.
GOD, tells us to Choose Love, to Choose Compassion, to choose Mercy.
GOD gave us Ten rules. Ten Laws.
YESHUA, GOD manifest in the flesh said that those rules can be broken down into TWO Rules.
(1) Believe GOD, Love GOD by free Choice with All of your heart and mind.
(2) Love others like you love yourself.
Ask yourself, being completely uncomfortably honest with yourself,
Are you Choosing Good, GOD, Love, or are you Choosing your will, your desire.
Then, Talk to GOD about it. Honest, straight forward. Tell HIM, who and what You choose to be.
Ask GOD for compassion and mercy.
Read HIS book, HIS words are there for You.
Struggle to serve GOD instead of yourself.
That's how I understand it.
You can choose.
Only you choose, not your environment, not your circumstances, you and you alone.
You and You alone are responsible.
As I said,
I am just a guy , a guy that reads a book, the Bible. A guy that talks to GOD.
“Behold I stand at the door and knock”
Remember, GOD knows All about the Darkness.
HE called light out of the darkness.
Remember HE knows about pain, despair, anger, fear, tears.
He prayed until he wept blood.
He was forsaken.
Beaten,
Tortured,
Mocked
He was crucified.
His tomb, is Empty.
My Favorite Book is JOHN.
A challenge,
Look at a red letter edition BIBLE,
Read ONLY the Words in Red.
Let HIM Speak for HIMSELF.
The first verse of John says, He is the WORD.
So, Read HIS Words in Red.
Then, Talk to HIM.
HE said, “I Call You Not As Servants But As Friends.”
You can't be friends without talking.
I have been trying to find my way to a more intimate relationship with God. I keep feeling like I am just fumbling and bumbling. Not really making the connection I need with God.
I believe your loving and wise words about your relationship with God. How you created that. It's a good spiritual path to follow. I will read your story often to keep me steady on my path.
It's been more than 2 years of pain and suffering for me. I'm a senior and have struggled with my health. Two major surgeries in 7 month and now facing other health conditions that can't be cured. I do know that GOD has looked over me during this time. I'm grateful for that. I just need more in terms of really listening to what he wants from me and then following his work.
God bless you for having your strong spirituality and sharing this important message. I saw this for a reason. Thanks so much.
Two questions that must come to any thinking person; sin and pain. We have to wrestle with them, it's who we are. They are connected. I was moved deeply this morning by Coleman's piece. Part of being made in the image of God is that moral question. No other animal suffers with it. I was trying to formulate some response that wasn't jargon.
Read the Book. Talk to God.