Christ_empowered
Member
I ask that you pray for my growth, and the growth of others here at CFnet.
Before I could actually come to my senses and I was just playing at being a Christian (but I didn't realize it...odd situation, maybe not all that uncommon), Christianity seemed easy. Read this, say this, believe that and BOOM! You're done! Never mind that adding belief in Christ without repentance and saving faith in Christ, and without the power of the Holy Spirit to subtract serious sin from my life, results in net growth of about 0.
Anyway, its been about 1 year for me since I either came to my senses or was called to repentance (I may never really know which, I suppose). I crave growth. I'm coming to see how sinful and wretched I was, pre-repentance, and how still in need of growth and development I am now, 1 year later. Its exciting, and I think its something I share in common with other Born Again Christians. When Christ grabs a hold of you, saves you, sets you free, you take a moment to glance the in the rear view and you shudder to think: that was me?!?!
My growth is making an impact on my parents, too, which is something else I'd appreciate prayer for. My parents have loved me, supported me, all that, even when they could have easily cut me off and I would have ended up dead or locked up in a mental hospital (if I was lucky...) or jail, another "statistic," another casualty of "mental illness" and "poor life choices."
They were both raised Christian and my mother was an elder briefly, but they fell away :-( Happens. I think seeing God at work in my life, right here in their house, is making a huge difference for them in how they perceive Christ and Christians. I hope so, anyway.
So, for me personally, growth is important, because all Christians need to grow. I think growth is part of remaining "in the vine," closely connected to our source of Life and Hope. My growth is also important because it could very well be that my parents will see my continued growth--flaws and all, back steps and all--and come to repentance themselves. I know that The Holy Spirit will deal with them on His own time, but I want to a good nudge forward.
I'm rambling...basically, please pray for growth for all of us here and for my parents and their eventual repentance and salvation. Thanks.
Before I could actually come to my senses and I was just playing at being a Christian (but I didn't realize it...odd situation, maybe not all that uncommon), Christianity seemed easy. Read this, say this, believe that and BOOM! You're done! Never mind that adding belief in Christ without repentance and saving faith in Christ, and without the power of the Holy Spirit to subtract serious sin from my life, results in net growth of about 0.
Anyway, its been about 1 year for me since I either came to my senses or was called to repentance (I may never really know which, I suppose). I crave growth. I'm coming to see how sinful and wretched I was, pre-repentance, and how still in need of growth and development I am now, 1 year later. Its exciting, and I think its something I share in common with other Born Again Christians. When Christ grabs a hold of you, saves you, sets you free, you take a moment to glance the in the rear view and you shudder to think: that was me?!?!
My growth is making an impact on my parents, too, which is something else I'd appreciate prayer for. My parents have loved me, supported me, all that, even when they could have easily cut me off and I would have ended up dead or locked up in a mental hospital (if I was lucky...) or jail, another "statistic," another casualty of "mental illness" and "poor life choices."
They were both raised Christian and my mother was an elder briefly, but they fell away :-( Happens. I think seeing God at work in my life, right here in their house, is making a huge difference for them in how they perceive Christ and Christians. I hope so, anyway.
So, for me personally, growth is important, because all Christians need to grow. I think growth is part of remaining "in the vine," closely connected to our source of Life and Hope. My growth is also important because it could very well be that my parents will see my continued growth--flaws and all, back steps and all--and come to repentance themselves. I know that The Holy Spirit will deal with them on His own time, but I want to a good nudge forward.
I'm rambling...basically, please pray for growth for all of us here and for my parents and their eventual repentance and salvation. Thanks.
