Hello from Down Under! :)

[leapoffaith]

Hi everyone,

I'm looking for some Christian fellowship particularly with more mature Christians grounded in God that could help mentor me to grow in the faith...and also Christians who only knew God later in life...

I'm a 34yo asian female who did not grow up knowing God...however when I was very sick in 2010, Jesus came and revealed himself to me in a dream and touched me and just before I woke up I heard a voice say "I am the way I am the truth I am the life" and when I was in waking consciousness I still felt that touch! (PRAISE GOD that he reaches out to those who wouldn't have found him otherwise!)

So anyway I had no church or christian background...In that instant my eyes were opened and I suddenly understood things that I would later read in the bible. Fast forward to now I did manage to attend a mature church for about 2+years and do some BSF studies and recently I did finally read the bible front to back and have been learning his word better slowly but surely, however I still feel very disorientated having grown up in the secular world and been surrounded by only secular people for the longest time...I find I no longer can relate to secular people to be close and understood as before, neither can I fully relate to people who have only been socialized with church upbringing since young...I'm only feeling the full brunt of realizing that to truly walk as a disciple and be a saint is incredibly difficult "in the world" especially in this current day and age and also at my age most people are preoccupied with anything but faith and spiritual matters! I feel myself stretched out of my comfort zone massively right now as God is calling me to a major leap of faith so I was really hoping to find some christian buddies for fellowship on here...currently my circumstances and location prevent me from being able to attend a church not that there are many christians in these parts anyway

Anyway please get in touch if this spoke to you in any way.

Thanks and God Bless! ♥
Zoe

 

[Eugene]

.
Welcome to our Christian fellowship in Christ Jesus dear Sister Zoe. Your's is a beautiful testimony I will undoubtedly share with others over the coming years.

Your testimony brought the following scripture to mind.
1Ki 19:11 And he (Angel of the LORD) said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake:
1Ki 19:12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.
1Ki 19:14 And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
1Ki 19:17 And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay.
1Ki 19:18 Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.

Sister Zoe, our Father knew you before the foundation of the world, and because He knew and saw you in Christ He called you even in sleep. Like Elijah, you feel alone, but you will find the elect all around you even though they may not be professing it for fear.

Our Father reaches the seemingly impossible to reach such as the young man a past preacher told of at the following URL link I hope you enjoy.
http://christianforums.net/Fellowsh...unbelieving-children.53229/page-9#post-924177
Blessings in Christ Jesus.

 

[leapoffaith]

Thanks Eugene
I confess I am not that familiar with that scripture! but I went and read it over a few times with my study bible lol these animated emoticons are seriously cute... now I'm even more glad I joined this forum!:woot

 

[electricaluser]

Hi everyone,

I'm looking for some Christian fellowship particularly with more mature Christians grounded in God that could help mentor me to grow in the faith...and also Christians who only knew God later in life...

I'm a 34yo asian female who did not grow up knowing God...however when I was very sick in 2010, Jesus came and revealed himself to me in a dream and touched me and just before I woke up I heard a voice say "I am the way I am the truth I am the life" and when I was in waking consciousness I still felt that touch! (PRAISE GOD that he reaches out to those who wouldn't have found him otherwise!)

So anyway I had no church or christian background...In that instant my eyes were opened and I suddenly understood things that I would later read in the bible. Fast forward to now I did manage to attend a mature church for about 2+years and do some BSF studies and recently I did finally read the bible front to back and have been learning his word better slowly but surely, however I still feel very disorientated having grown up in the secular world and been surrounded by only secular people for the longest time...I find I no longer can relate to secular people to be close and understood as before, neither can I fully relate to people who have only been socialized with church upbringing since young...I'm only feeling the full brunt of realizing that to truly walk as a disciple and be a saint is incredibly difficult "in the world" especially in this current day and age and also at my age most people are preoccupied with anything but faith and spiritual matters! I feel myself stretched out of my comfort zone massively right now as God is calling me to a major leap of faith so I was really hoping to find some christian buddies for fellowship on here...currently my circumstances and location prevent me from being able to attend a church not that there are many christians in these parts anyway

Anyway please get in touch if this spoke to you in any way.

Thanks and God Bless! ♥
Zoe

That's a pretty awesome testimony, that Jesus touched you in a dream/vision or something. I had also had a rebirth about a few months ago and the bible just opened up, all that I thought the bible was is now different to me.

 

[leapoffaith]

That's a pretty awesome testimony, that Jesus touched you in a dream/vision or something. I had also had a rebirth about a few months ago and the bible just opened up, all that I thought the bible was is now different to me.

'
'
yeah what I found when I met alot of people grown up in church as kids...you don't necessarily always know Him until you KNOW Him! ;)

I also found that you can read the bible many times and get more/new understanding each time. I find it particularly helpful to ask the Holy Spirit to help you understand the scriptures and to lead you to passages that are relevant and speak to your circumstances at the time. If you just read the bible in your own routine effort you can often just be sitting at the surface and looking to your study bible to make sense of it...

 

[electricaluser]

'
'
yeah what I found when I met alot of people grown up in church as kids...you don't necessarily always know Him until you KNOW Him! ;)

I guess not.

 

[Defiance]

Jesus came and revealed himself to me

Why do you think a god revealed it/himself to you? What about the countless other religions where Jesus never visits?

I woke up I heard a voice say "I am the way I am the truth I am the life" and when I was in waking consciousness I still felt that touch!

How do we know you're not making this up? It sounds awfully like you were very emotional and disoriented.

I suddenly understood things that I would later read in the bible.

Like: 1st Peter 3:3, Matthew 5:29, Matthew 5:30? Or Matthew 5:34?

I still feel very disorientated having grown up in the secular world

Why?

most people are preoccupied with anything but faith and spiritual matters!

Well, we do have responsibilities like looking for a job, feeding kids, maturing, and surviving. After all, it was god who made it this way.

attend a church

No need. Matthew 6:6.

Genuinely curious,

Defiance.

 

[Blake]

Beautiful testimony. So glad you're here. We are all trying to figure things out too, but there are a couple of things to be sure of here: there are good folks here who love God and want to learn, there are disagreements from time to time but no shortage of love. God bless you.

 

[Defiance]

Blake, I would like to add:

In addition to believers, this site welcomes atheists, under the assumption they'll abide by the rules. I am one of those atheists. Although I do not believe in god(s), I am here to learn perspectives, and clear contradictory or confusing ideas.

 

[Obadiah]

...How do we know you're not making this up?...

Because she told you so and you have shown no evidence that she is making it up.

 

[Defiance]

Because she told you so and you have shown no evidence that she is making it up.

Respectfully,

Einstein didn't go to the science convention, and the say "Bam! Prove it ain't real!"

The matter is that if I told you I have a cheetah-unicorn-dragon in my attic, you don't just believe it because "you have shown no evidence that" I am making it up.

You are implying everything should be taken as true until proven false, correct?

 

[Obadiah]

Respectfully,

Einstein didn't go to the science convention, and the say "Bam! Prove it ain't real!"

The matter is that if I told you I have a cheetah-unicorn-dragon in my attic, you don't just believe it because "you have shown no evidence that" I am making it up.

You are implying everything should be taken as true until proven false, correct?

I didn't mean to just imply anything. I'll make it more clear. You essentially called her a liar without any proof of that. This is a violation of the ToS and will not do you well. You said you were here to ask questions and learn. It would have been far better to have asked her how she knew this was real rather than an illusion (a genuine and legitimate question) than to ask how we know she's not making this up, which is an insinuation she is making it up (lying).

 

[Free]

Respectfully,

Einstein didn't go to the science convention, and the say "Bam! Prove it ain't real!"

The matter is that if I told you I have a cheetah-unicorn-dragon in my attic, you don't just believe it because "you have shown no evidence that" I am making it up.

You are implying everything should be taken as true until proven false, correct?

That is not what is being implied. What is being implied is that someone's personal experience needs to be respected. Although it may not be able to be proven, that does not mean it's false, whereas we know unicorns and dragons don't exist, so a cheetah-unicorn-dragon certainly does not exist.

What is interesting though, is that a lot of Muslims that have become Christians have done so because Jesus appeared to them in a dream or a vision.

 

[Ph8th]

Why do you think a god revealed it/himself to you? What about the countless other religions where Jesus never visits?
God drew me to Jesus because He desires all come to Him matt 22:14. If you listen to testimony of people of all religions that have converted you will understand it is God who draws people to Him. Brother this should make you think........... Why are you here? Are you answering an invitation from God?



How do we know you're not making this up? It sounds awfully like you were very emotional and disoriented.
Not sure about others but I know because I know



Like: 1st Peter 3:3, Matthew 5:29, Matthew 5:30? Or Matthew 5:34?



Why?



Well, we do have responsibilities like looking for a job, feeding kids, maturing, and surviving. After all, it was god who made it this way.
Our #1 obligation is to God. Relationship where He is the foundation stands. I am sure you will point at christidum and point out flaw. The body of believers that I worship with is small 4-40 when we assemble no divorces strong family units...... some trials they come and go


No need. Matthew 6:6. Please address the context of the scripture you posted in no way was it saying not to assemble with others

That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

Heb 10:25 tell us Scripture says not to forsake the assembly

Genuinely curious,
And you should be if I was drawn here for whatever reason you say............ I would open eyes and heart and question the One who drew you
I will begin praying that God revel Himself and fill that place only he can
peter

 

[Defiance]

Edited

Adding the word "respectfully" does not make a rude, divisive, sarcastic post respectable , reba

 

[Free]

Hi everyone,

I'm looking for some Christian fellowship particularly with more mature Christians grounded in God that could help mentor me to grow in the faith...and also Christians who only knew God later in life...

I'm a 34yo asian female who did not grow up knowing God...however when I was very sick in 2010, Jesus came and revealed himself to me in a dream and touched me and just before I woke up I heard a voice say "I am the way I am the truth I am the life" and when I was in waking consciousness I still felt that touch! (PRAISE GOD that he reaches out to those who wouldn't have found him otherwise!)

So anyway I had no church or christian background...In that instant my eyes were opened and I suddenly understood things that I would later read in the bible. Fast forward to now I did manage to attend a mature church for about 2+years and do some BSF studies and recently I did finally read the bible front to back and have been learning his word better slowly but surely, however I still feel very disorientated having grown up in the secular world and been surrounded by only secular people for the longest time...I find I no longer can relate to secular people to be close and understood as before, neither can I fully relate to people who have only been socialized with church upbringing since young...I'm only feeling the full brunt of realizing that to truly walk as a disciple and be a saint is incredibly difficult "in the world" especially in this current day and age and also at my age most people are preoccupied with anything but faith and spiritual matters! I feel myself stretched out of my comfort zone massively right now as God is calling me to a major leap of faith so I was really hoping to find some christian buddies for fellowship on here...currently my circumstances and location prevent me from being able to attend a church not that there are many christians in these parts anyway

Anyway please get in touch if this spoke to you in any way.

Thanks and God Bless! ♥
Zoe

Welcome to the forums, Zoe!

 

[Abigail123]

Welcome to the forum, Zoe, I'm glad you're here. Your testimony was a blessing to read, thanks for sharing it. Looking forward to your posts.

 

[electricaluser]

Edited

Adding the word "respectfully" does not make a rude, divisive, sarcastic post respectable , reba

Hello again Defiance, I not sure of your story but I used to be a Christian and I got pretty hurt by Christians. It got to the point that I wanted to take all their children off them and put them all in padded cells. I hated them more than anyone and I wished that their God was dead, but God reached out to me and showed me how he was real when everyone just believed he was true. He has answered all of my cries and all of my desires, he has giving me hope and purpose and a light to guide my paths.

But I don't call God god as people do, whenever I say God I mean life, whenever I say Jesus i mean desire and whenever I say sin I mean want.

 

[Obadiah]

...But I don't call God god as people do, whenever I say God I mean life, whenever I say Jesus i mean desire and whenever I say sin I mean want.

What are you trying to accomplish by putting your own definitions on common English words? This just makes it impossible for people to know what you are saying when you post or talk. 70% to 90% of the responsibility for a message being understood is on the sender of the message. This is "Communications 101". Literally it is. That was from a college class I took called "Communications 101"! But seriously, if you mean life (for example), why not just say "life" so you can be understood? This kind of code talk could cause you a lot of problems!

 

[electricaluser]

What are you trying to accomplish by putting your own definitions on common English words? This just makes it impossible for people to know what you are saying when you post or talk. 70% to 90% of the responsibility for a message being understood is on the sender of the message. This is "Communications 101". Literally it is. That was from a college class I took called "Communications 101"! But seriously, if you mean life (for example), why not just say "life" so you can be understood? This kind of code talk could cause you a lot of problems!

Problems are caused when people think they know good or evil, not life, desire or want.