Can fear be productive when approaching God?

[Dondi]

Originally Posted by Cage

I'm a solitary man, and not good in real world situations. Church is hard for me to attend, so I must rely on message boards like this for my social, and religeous activities. I have an illness that prohibits me from being comfortable around people. social anxiety, and bi-polor...I could never learn a thing in church as I'm too focused on the anxiety it causes. I have been contemplating on all of scripture, though. Only, I haven't been reading lately. At the moment I'm completely relying on God's Love (Spirit) for my personal guidence, but I look to you guys for further input from scripture.

It appears that you have dealt with enough fear as it is.

I'm kinda a social moron myself. However, a dynamic things happens to me when I've began praying for people in my church. I find that my focus is no longer on me, that the Love that God has put in my heart has enabled me to see people through the eyes of Christ, rather than my own eyes. In other words, I don't care what people think of me, nor what I perceive that they think of me. Instead, I find that I can talk openly to people and seek their interests and concerns. This is something I want to build on and maintain. And I know I can't do it alone, for it is so easy to drop back into my box.

I know what it's like to be deathly afraid of people you don't know very well. But I'm telling you that if you would give God the chance to Love through you, you will see some amazing things happen. His Love is to be shared.

[Quahom1]

Originally Posted by China Cat Sunflower

Frued said something about killing your father in your mind in order to become your own man.

Chris

Frued was an idiot. He always got things backwards. I am become like my father, because that is what I aspired to. I never wanted to take his place, just be something close to like him. Hope my children will exceed me...

We hope to approach our parents' stature, and pray our children exceed ours...

Same thing with God, we hope to come close to Him, and pray our children come closer still...

That is a healthy attitude for healthy families.

v/r

Joshua

[Dondi]

Originally Posted by Quahom1

Frued was an idiot. He always got things backwards. I am become like my father, because that is what I aspired to. I never wanted to take his place, just be something close to like him. Hope my children will exceed me...

We hope to approach our parents' stature, and pray our children exceed ours...

Same thing with God, we hope to come close to Him, and pray our children come closer still...

That is a healthy attitude for healthy families.

v/r

Joshua

Not everyone has fathers that aspire them.

[Quahom1]

Originally Posted by Dondi

Not everyone has fathers that aspire them.

Surely there are "father figures"...

[China Cat Sunflower]

Originally Posted by Quahom1

Frued was an idiot. He always got things backwards. I am become like my father, because that is what I aspired to. I never wanted to take his place, just be something close to like him. Hope my children will exceed me...

We hope to approach our parents' stature, and pray our children exceed ours...

Same thing with God, we hope to come close to Him, and pray our children come closer still...

That is a healthy attitude for healthy families.

v/r

Joshua

I love my dad. There are things about him that I admire and aspire to, and the longer I'm married with children the more I understand him. But...his corporal disciplinarian style was part of the religious programing I had to endure as a child, and it screwed up my view of God. It took me years to unwind all that crap, and I did have to kill him in my mind to break free of it.

Chris

[Cage]

[seattlegal] what is God's mercy, then? There are so many differing views, and that his mercy is for only a few. I'd like to disagree and suggest that it is for all. I sometimes wonder if hell is a real place, ya know? I have trouble believing that God would allow an eternal torment for those who reject his Love/will. I could see where an internal torment could be the case, but even then, I think we all unwittingly embrace such things in our lives.

For instance, I am tormented by anxiety at times, but only in social circumstances, and perhaps this keeps me from God's complete mercy as well. What is the lesson here, seattlegal? Surely there is something to be learned from this kind of fear.

[Dondi] I do deal with a type of fear, but it is not the frightful kind. My blood pressure rises, my heart speeds up, I get hot all over, and I get paronoid, but it's not like fearing God. Fearing God for me is simply being wrong about how I approach and view him. Then again, no one can be completely right, can they? I've read that all truths are but half truths, but how accurate this is I don't know, lol!

I tried to break out of my shell tonight, and it didn't turn out too good. I got extremely anxious, and had to leave the social gathering. It's quite a burden for me, and I have been dealing with it for yeas now. Maybe someday, God will give me the grace, or knowledge to overcome, but until then, I'm afraid I'll simply seek escape when it comes crashing in on me. Perhaps, I am too self conscious, or maybe have low self esteem? I don't know for sure...All I know is that I am happy when I am away from worldly things, and strangers, save nature... I absolutely Love nature and its beauty!

I agree that God's Love is to be shared, but at the moment, the only way I can share it is among faceless people on-line whom I've never really met, and family members who already know me. But, I do Love those I meet in life, only I don't stick around long enough to get to know them very well. Baby steps, I guess...


Love,

[seattlegal]

Originally Posted by Cage

[seattlegal] what is God's mercy, then?

Forgiveness and teaching a better way comes to mind...

There are so many differing views, and that his mercy is for only a few. I'd like to disagree and suggest that it is for all. I sometimes wonder if hell is a real place, ya know? I have trouble believing that God would allow an eternal torment for those who reject his Love/will. I could see where an internal torment could be the case, but even then, I think we all unwittingly embrace such things in our lives.
For instance, I am tormented by anxiety at times, but only in social circumstances, and perhaps this keeps me from God's complete mercy as well. What is the lesson here, seattlegal? Surely there is something to be learned from this kind of fear.

I never said that God's mercy is only for a few. However, what's left for those who willfully reject it, and for those who do not practice mercy?

[Cage]

Originally Posted by seattlegal

However, what's left for those who willfully reject it, and for those who do not practice mercy?

Darkness, perhaps? Inner torment? Lack of peace, Love, etc... Everything we all experience at some point in our lives. I guess teaching forgiveness, and a better way would help some, while it would infuriate others./shrug

I wish things were more simple, but how beneficial would that be? I think we all need to go through such trials in order to grow in understanding. I just want to be compassionate enough to not offend, but at the same time make a positive impact, ya know? We all have our personal demons to deal with, and that is what makes life worth living. It's a process of growth, I think...


[seattlegal] I've read many of your posts, and I value your thoughts.


Love,

[seattlegal]

Originally Posted by cage

Darkness, perhaps? Inner torment? Lack of peace, Love, etc... Everything we all experience at some point in our lives. I guess teaching forgiveness, and a better way would help some, while it would infuriate others./shrug

Being blinded by anger, perhaps? {It gives a whole new dimension of blind guides, does it not?}

Originally Posted by cage

I wish things were more simple, but how beneficial would that be? I think we all need to go through such trials in order to grow in understanding. I just want to be compassionate enough to not offend, but at the same time make a positive impact, ya know? We all have our personal demons to deal with, and that is what makes life worth living. It's a process of growth, I think...

Becoming child-like again....
Matt 24 (specifically verse 10) describes how taking offense leads to an increase of hate...

[seattlegal] I've read many of your posts, and I value your thoughts.


Love,

Thank you, cage. You ask great questions.

[Dor]

Cage can I ask you one question without offending you.

What is the purpose of the cross? Why did Jesus die on the cross?

[Dondi]

Originally Posted by Cage

I tried to break out of my shell tonight, and it didn't turn out too good. I got extremely anxious, and had to leave the social gathering. It's quite a burden for me, and I have been dealing with it for yeas now. Maybe someday, God will give me the grace, or knowledge to overcome, but until then, I'm afraid I'll simply seek escape when it comes crashing in on me. Perhaps, I am too self conscious, or maybe have low self esteem? I don't know for sure...All I know is that I am happy when I am away from worldly things, and strangers, save nature... I absolutely Love nature and its beauty!

I agree that God's Love is to be shared, but at the moment, the only way I can share it is among faceless people on-line whom I've never really met, and family members who already know me. But, I do Love those I meet in life, only I don't stick around long enough to get to know them very well. Baby steps, I guess...


Love,

Did you immerse yourself in prayer before you went? Asked God to bless the people you would come into contact with? I'm telling you, when we seek the presence of God, something happens to our ego, when we are bathed in the light of God, there is peace, love, and a sound mind. It passes all understanding.

You are channeling your energies inside yourself instead of outward. Given time, I believe that God will give you the grace to approach people. He will give you His Compassion for people. But you have to really be in the Spirit of God, and that only come through deep meditative prayer and meditation of His Word.

Give it time, my friend. Give God time.

[Cage]

[Dor] I'm not offended by questions at all. I actually like them because they make me think about what I truly believe. I want to refer to John 15 for this one, though.

10. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. 11. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. 12. This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. 13. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. 14. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. 15. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.


He layed down his life to save those who would keep his commandments. [12] If you do this, you abide in the same Love Jesus did [10] The cross simply showed his Love for humanity. He chose a higher path by not resisting such a humiliating, and awful death so we migh see; I think he literaly gave his life to show Love, and not wrath or anger as that higher path, so we 'might' do the same. This is our cross: To Love one another and walk/abide in his Love. By dong this, we lay down our own lives for Love... Leaving behind the old man, and taking on the new in Christ.

I'd say he could have easily wiped out all his persecutors, but he didn't. He chose to rise again and defeat death altogether. If he had resisted the cross, how could he show the power of God's Love being higher? I think he had too, Dor. If he didn't, we would never understand his Love for us, and we too might focus on the wrath he 'could' have pursued instead.


[Dondi] No I didn't, but I might try the next time I go to a social event. I've prayed for such things, but never just before an event. I prayed this once, and I have faith that God will, in time, allow me to overcome and be a light for him. I just have to wait until I'm ready to recieve, I think. I have no other choice but to wait on God to take away my insecurities. Although, I do work on them myself, lol! Christmas dinner is always a challenge for me. I'll see what happens...


Love,

[Dondi]

Originally Posted by Cage

[Dondi] No I didn't, but I might try the next time I go to a social event. I've prayed for such things, but never just before an event. I prayed this once, and I have faith that God will, in time, allow me to overcome and be a light for him. I just have to wait until I'm ready to recieve, I think. I have no other choice but to wait on God to take away my insecurities. Although, I do work on them myself, lol! Christmas dinner is always a challenge for me. I'll see what happens...


Love,

Just a few scriptures I hope will encourage you, Cage.

A prayer of Apostle Paul, to which I am in agreement for you:

"For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God." - Ephesians 3:14-19

And this is what we do after we are filled wth the fulness of God:

"Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.
And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation." - II Corinthians 1:3-7


May God shed His grace and peace upon you as you discover His goodness for your life.

Love and prayers,

Dondi

[Cage]

Thank you Dondi...


Love,

[pattimax]

Originally Posted by Cage

[pattimax] I'm a solitary man, and not good in real world situations. Church is hard for me to attend, so I must rely on message boards like this for my social, and religeous activities. I have an illness that prohibits me from being comfortable around people. social anxiety, and bi-polor...I could never learn a thing in church as I'm too focused on the anxiety it causes. I have been contemplating on all of scripture, though. Only, I haven't been reading lately. At the moment I'm completely relying on God's Love (Spirit) for my personal guidence, but I look to you guys for further input from scripture.


Much Love,

Commentaries on various books of the bible require no social interaction. Then you could bounce ideas you come away with off the people you talk to on C.R.

I love people, but sometimes they just get on my nerves. Have you ever tried listening to Christian radio? I'm not talking about hell and damnation, (although that stuff can be beneficial at times, but not now)I mean things you can really sink your teeth into or just lay back and ponder. there are tons of Christian radio stations on the internet. Just because you don't want to have to deal with people now does not mean you should cut yourself off from growth.

You are getting a lot of good input from folks who really care about you. Sincerely do more than listen. Really hear them. S.G. said you ask a lot good questions, God has the answers, give Him time. (Dondi)

I am really offering my heartfelt prayers for you,
pattimax