Come in and fellowship with me in the Upper Room! #2 -- FPC's Journal -- Fur Affinity [dot] net

Come in and fellowship with me in the Upper Room! #2

15 years ago General

I am

has asked me to be a monitor of here because for the past 2 days I've been giving Daily Devotionals on my journal from The Upper Room{link) and they are very insperational most of the time and make you think what it truly means to be a Christian...
So, here's today's devotional, for yesterday's you can go read it on my page or go to the Upper Room website with the link up top.
The devotionals will be coss-posted on my site....

And please note me there and not here....I don't want to over step my job here....

Spiritual Joy

Read Psalm 19{link)

The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.
-Psalm 126:3 (NIV)

AFTER a day of rain, a rainbow appeared. A glorious rainbow spanned several miles of Atlantic coastline. I took several pictures. However, the magnificent rainbow looked like only pale crayon lines in my photographs. I might as well have tried to capture the ocean in a bottle.

Photographs and paintings give us only a hint of the real thing. We fully appreciate the majesty of creation and the emotion it evokes only when we experience it. We come to appreciate God more fully only when we know our Creator firsthand, too. Is that really possible, to know God personally? For many years, I did not think so. I felt disconnected from God. The Bible seemed like ancient history, not God's word.

Fortunately, my family and friends already had personal relationships with God. I listened to their stories of God's blessings in their lives, and I wanted to know God too -- to feel God with me every day. I disciplined myself to read my Bible daily. I took several Bible study classes to understand God's laws, lessons, and miracles. I explored my many questions about God. Gradually, God became real to me. I confessed my sins, and God blessed me with forgiveness. Then God brought me into a joyful, loving relationship that continues to grow as I continue to study, pray, and serve others in Christ's name.

Deanna Himelick (Florida, USA)

Prayer
Dear Father, thank you for your love and for bringing us into relationship with you as we seek you through praying, reading scripture, and serving others. Amen.

Thought for the Day
What am I doing to build a relationship with God?

Prayer Focus
Those searching for God

17 Comments

BigPuppy_Stuart ~bigpuppystuart

Watcher, Amature writer.

15 years ago

Your Upper room link is malformed. I think you meant. http://www.theupperroom.org/

A pretty story though i can not fallow it's example because, no greater personal hate has been levied against me than that by those people who have called themselves christian.
I think it will be safer if i remain alone in my search.

FPC ~fpc

Watcher

15 years ago

Excuse me, Big puppy (This is Clyde Cross), but don't you think it may be beneficial to have other Christians with you to give you encouragement, prayer, and words of advice as you seek to work this Christian life?

BigPuppy_Stuart ~bigpuppystuart

Watcher, Amature writer.

15 years ago

No. No i do not. Because i don't like the quiet smug hatred i see and hear should i ask the wrong question. I do not like hearing the gleefully mean-spirited i hear bandied about, and i really don't need the " I would kill you if i could get away with it " comments, and being told not to think, that my feelings are wrong unless i check them with congregation and they approve.

It is rare that i meet the compassionate forgiving kind of person that exemplifies Christ's teachings, i usually get quiet judgment and veiled disdain.

I would love to find a church nearby that represents me but i have not.

BigPuppy_Stuart ~bigpuppystuart

Watcher, Amature writer.

15 years ago

That came off a little more hostile then intended.

Scithe ~scithe

Writer

15 years ago

I agree that one who calls themselves a Christian should not treat another as such and someone that has done that to you is in the wrong. But, like you said there are the compassionate Believers that will truly try to form a friendship with you. I do know that you can't judge everyone in a stereotype manner. So many Christians have it wrong on how to act to others sometimes. I do not know if you are saved or not, so I cannot go into more detail, but I do know is that you definitely should find the right church. I attend a church that makes me feel like I belong and everyone there truly has the right heart. It's a small church. If you want to get close to some fellow Believers(Given that you are one) then I suggest a small church, where you can learn about the people around you and be in a closer setting. I cannot dismiss people that do not include another when it is truly the right thing to do. That in itself is wrong. It's like being left out of a sport and left sitting on the bench while everyone else plays. It can be hurtful, but remember, not everyone is like that. There are many good examples of Christians in the world, you just have to find them. Try not to be discouraged, and if you're saved, ask God to lead and direct you to the right church and get you through your hard times. I hope I helped in some way.

BigPuppy_Stuart ~bigpuppystuart

Watcher, Amature writer.

15 years ago

I am still searching. As to being saved, the definition of that varies from denomination to denomination. I am Saved by my definition of the term.

I guess my problem is more i don't into the denominations represented in my area and i admit my view of many established denominational congregations is skewed by the ( no polite way to say it so her we go ) Fundamentalist trash i have run up against in the past.

Another problem is some of the reasons i felt outcast was Political and not religious but the two were too tied together in the minds of the many of the congregations members.

If i really need to go to Church there is one close by that i can "phantom attend."

Scithe ~scithe

Writer

15 years ago

Well, to me, denomination isn't that important because it divides Christians needlessly. "The rapture will be this time. No, it will be this time" It doesn't really matter when the rapture will take place. All it matters is that it will take place. Things like that separate us as a unit and are so trivial. And yes, it's great to go to a church that shares your Biblical views, but it's not absolutely necessary, however it does make you feel more comfortable. Why? Because of the views people have against others for their certain Biblical beliefs that aren't even important. Christianity shouldn't feel like that, and yet it does sometimes. But, the Bible says that to be saved, all you need do is to accept Him into your heart and allow Him to be your Savior. How you know if you have Him in your heart is by the way He influences you in life. If sin bothers you, or if you are more inclined to do right, along with wishing to be closer to God in the things you do, then that is God manifest through you. That is a sign that tells others and yourself that you are saved through God's grace. You have to mean it when you ask Him into your life or else it's null and void. As for politics and religion, I agree. So many people mix them. And it's only because the laws ALWAYS either back up your beliefs or go against them. That is especially true for a religious man or woman. It's so easy to mix them and talk about them together than separately. I'm sorry you felt like an outcast and I have had experience with these feelings also, as many have before me and still do today. I also know about the "phantom attending" that you speak of... It really does degrade your thoughts of going to church.

BigPuppy_Stuart ~bigpuppystuart

Watcher, Amature writer.

15 years ago

by " Phantom attend" I meant go to the church but stay in the background and just listen. How is that degrading?

Scithe ~scithe

Writer

15 years ago

Yes, I know what you had meant. I'm sorry. I could have picked better words. I meant "discourage". It is discouraging when you feel like you have to do that.

BigPuppy_Stuart ~bigpuppystuart

Watcher, Amature writer.

15 years ago

Ok i see what you meant.

FPC ~fpc

Watcher

15 years ago

I'll chime in, just for fun (this is wally bear). I know what you are talking about and I'm dealing with and old buzzard right now because the one e-mail I use is almost the same as her last name....people like that ARE the reason churches like mine are dying, they fear change.
It's up to us to keep the churches going, and fight all that we can to keep our faith alive. To qoute Saint Walker (he's from the Green Lantern serise of comics...) "Hope needs will." We must have the will to change and the hope that (another quote comin) "All will be well." With God's help there's nothing we can't do!

BigPuppy_Stuart ~bigpuppystuart

Watcher, Amature writer.

15 years ago

I do hope things will get better.

FPC ~fpc

Watcher

15 years ago

Read the next one I'm going to post...it'll be more of your 'flavor'.
~Wally Bear

Scithe ~scithe

Writer

15 years ago

As for the devotion, it was great and it was true. Thank you for sharing. I read every bit of it

FPC ~fpc

Watcher

15 years ago

There will be a new one almost everyday (things happen), they'll be here or at my page as well
~Wally Bear

Juniper_Squirrel ~junipersquirrel

Musician

15 years ago

Hear Psalm 19 in song:

http://www.furaffinity.net/view/4198456/

FPC ~fpc

Watcher

15 years ago

Ooo, thank you!
~Wally Bear

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