Feb 5
-
charlesp30 added a text contribution Utmost Feb 5thI want God to be so real to me that the circumstances in my life, good or bad, are evidence that He is in control and not my "discreet affinities" or addictions. Read more » -
charlesp30 added a text contribution Utmost Feb 4thI think that because of the nature of my relationship with Sara, somehow I am going to be "good enough" for her to take me back. (ie. Have enough money, lose enough weight, give the right gift, etc.) I need to realize that my best chance at attracting Sara to me, in a way that could create a marriage that would be long-lasting, is to be as close to my identity in Christ I can be. I don't want Sara's flesh or mind to be attracted to me. I want the Holy Spirit inside of her to… Read more »
Feb 4
-
charlesp30 added a text contribution Utmost Feb 3rdI think that this can be a very divisive issue. I have seen people try to be filthy, in an attempt to appear more righteous. I think that I struggle to find the balance on this issue. I spend so much time finding "discreet affinities" and being disappointed by them, then finding variations on them. I struggle to look at my true filthiness. Again, I want to live in reality, not fantasy. Read more »
Feb 2
-
charlesp30 added a text contribution Utmost Jan 28thWhy do I take a joy in the fact that my sins are becoming "Grown-up" sins? I believe the devil is tricking me to think that "putting off childish things" means that I should move on to adult sin. My heart is so hurt right now, and I don't know who to lash out at. Soon there will be no one but strangers left. I will become like Ebeneezer Scrooge yelling at passers-by. Lord please help me to be meek and lowly of heart, when it is appropriate. Read more »
-
charlesp30 added a text contribution Utmost Jan 29thActs 26:15 Who are you, Lord? "...There is no escape when Our Lord speaks, He always comes with an arrestment of the understanding. (Has the voice of God come to you directly?)..." "...God has to destroy our determined confidence in our own convictions... in a way that overwhelms us by revealing the depths of our ignorance..." "...If I feel I have done my duty and yet have hurt Him in doing it, I may be sure it was not my duty, because it has not fostered the meek and… Read more »
-
charlesp30 added a text contribution Utmost Jan 30th1 Listen to God in the circumstances 2 Begin to say, "Speak Lord" 3 Make time to listen God must be speaking to me, because in the history of my life, my circumstances are as extremely different than they ever have been. I am afraid to say, "Speak Lord" for a couple reasons: 1 What if He tells me to do something I don't want to do? 2 What if I misinterpret, again? I usually ask "advice" for people for one of three reasons: 1 Admiration 2 Approval 3 Arrogance… Read more »
-
charlesp30 added a text contribution Utmost Jan 31stThe gospel is the "Abiding reality." When I am confused in the "Matirx-sense", the one thing that is true is the gospel and the redemption it brings. Holiness is an effect, not a cause. When I am "good" it is the result of my blessing & redemption received by God. Being good is not the cause of God blessing me. As I begin again to polish the mirror that reflects God to others, my focus can not be on my own progress, but on the Lord God Himself, and on others th… Read more »
-
charlesp30 added a text contribution Utmost Feb 1stThe highest call of God is to preach the gospel. Specifically the redemption of Christ. (Not that Jesus can make your life better, or ways to please God or men) This flies in the face of a lot of modern preaching. Jesus didn't die and resurrect to make me good. He did so to redeem the world... with blemish, weakness and sin. He then placed it uninhibited and rehabilitated before the throne. Would I be willing to welcome poverty after having wealth stay as a guest for a couple months? Read more »
-
charlesp30 added a text contribution Utmost Feb 2nd"Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!" 1 Cor 9:16 I want to be a mirror of Christ to my manager at work, to my kids, and to my wife. I want to be successful with integrity, and I want to suffer the consequences of life before my new job- because that is reality. I do not want to continue to author a fantasy world in which I have no history before my new job. A big part of that is to stop living my life as a single young man with my time and money. Read more »