Moving forward...

AtomicSnowflake

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So, we often profess to want "the heart of Christ". But do we really realize what that truly means? I believe many people do not. How often do we hear people question God. We often wonder "why does God allow good and innocent people to suffer", "why does God allow children to be abused or harmed", "why doesn't God, (fill in this blank with whatever)?
Well, you've heard the saying "it takes one to know one"... I have come to realize that this kind of suffering often leads to an "understanding", or "empathy", that many people never get to experience. When we listen to satan, and question, complain, and blame God, we entirely miss the blessing.
What I mean by this, is when you are the person who has been that "victim", and have gone through that experience, you have a choice... you either grow from it, or die by it. You can dwell on the past trauma of the events, or you can choose God, and rise above it.
In putting us through these It is through these extreme trials, God is, in a sense, sort of confiding in us. He is sharing with us, as a close and dear friend would tell you something very personal, important, and rare. He is allowing you the first-hand ability to share in what He feels. When His children suffer, are abused, tossed aside, murdered, etc. His heart hurts for them. He feels their pain. He longs to help them, rescue them, teach them. When we are the ones who have suffered, and turned to Him to deliver us, and are able to fully trust Him, then He lifts us above and through those horrible times.
Then we are no longer the same person. We have a permanent experience inside our hearts that unites, and binds us together, in feeling empathy for, and sharing in the pain that others feel. It is so powerful that it will make us care, mourn, and pray for total strangers... Except that through our experience, we are not really strangers anymore.
We become truly blessed with having received the "heart of Christ". But to receive it in this way, there is a price that has been paid... in pain, suffering, feeling alone, and hopeless. But if we do not give up, then we will receive.
I don't write this from my head, or random thoughts. I have lived it. And survived it. At first I believed the answer to the question of "why" was to enable us the understanding that will allow us to help others who go through those same things. And that is true. Once we have traveled on that path ourselves, we are then able to help others get through the path also... but that's not the only reason. I have come to believe that these are the occasions when God has open His heart up to us... He has trusted us. He has shared something directly with us. That is very special. A true gift. The heart of Jesus.
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(NOTE: This was not meant as a scripture study, or anything like that... it is a testimony of survival, and the realization of God choosing to reveal Himself in a very real, permanent, and special way.)
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Anyone dealing with traumatic past experiences, believe me, learn to allow God to teach you how to "let go" so you can heal. You will then be able to "change the past". Instead of being tormented, haunted, and held back by it... you can get beyond it, grow, and heal. You will be able to be in the present, and view the past in a whole different way. God will teach you that it was all just as stepping stones, or steps, leading you closer to Him. Instead of it having control of your present life, you will be able to beat it, control it, conquer it, and use it. You will realize and know that you have been blessed. After all, the past is over and gone! Don't keep living in it.
[Jhn 3:16-17 KJV]
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
 
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We often wonder "why does God allow good and innocent people to suffer", "why does God allow children to be abused or harmed", "why doesn't God, (fill in this blank with whatever)?
Well, you've heard the saying "it takes one to know one"... I have come to realize that this kind of suffering often leads to an "understanding", or "empathy", that many people never get to experience. When we listen to satan, and question, complain, and blame God, we entirely miss the blessing.

There is No Blessing in this.
God has no choice at this time but to let the evil and suffering happen.

Psalm 115:16
The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD'S: but the earth hath he given to the children of men.

There is coming a time soon when God will take complete control of this place again.
For now the world is full of evil from the curse.

Yes we can choose to either crumble or rise above it but God did not place the evil in one's life.

In putting us through these extreme trials, God is, in a sense, sort of confiding in us.

Tragedy hits and destroys .
How many times have you heard a believer then quote Roman 8:28 as if God did this to work something good in their lives?

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

3 Key things
1 must love God
2. Called according to His purpose
3. Allow Him to which means doing things His way.

John 10:10
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Is it stealing or killing or destroying?
Then it's of the devil and not God.

God can turn things around and yes work good into a bad situation BUT God did not put this evil on someone to test them or anything else.

People act as if God sits at a desk and an evil event is placed on His desk and He then decides who He will allow it to go too.

No!
Evil is rampant in this earth and this earth is under man's control.

God gave authority and dominion to Adam
Adam gave it to satan
Jesus defeated satan and took the power of death away from him.

Jesus then has given us power and authority over the devil but we have to exercise this authority.

Bad things happen to good people because good people make bad choices.
Many tragedies could have been avoided by a believer if they would have learned how to be Spirit Led and listened to the Holy Spirit.

Blessings
 
Most of us have been through some pretty horrific things... but we are the victims of people saved or unsaved making the choice to follow the enemies leading and not Fathers.

If people followed and lived by Jesus example and ways... the enemy wouldn't have gained any foothold to wreak havoc in any of our lives. We would have never become the victim.

Our biggest hope now is to yes allow Father to help us to heal, by walking in love and forgiveness towards those who have hurt us, make the choice to follow after the apostle Paul's footsteps as directed by the Holy Spirit... this one thing I do is forget about the past and strive towards the future... And rub the devil's nose in it by helping others to get free from his grip and harassing torture, by taking the burden removing, yoke destroying anointing to them.

You are so right AtomicSnowflake that many people have blamed Father for what they think is His role in what has happened.. even if it's just to say why didn't you stop it. But so many dont realize that He couldnt because unless we give Him the authority to work in our lives... He has no option but to stand back and cry or have a hurting heart, because of what He could not do.

A lot (99%) of the times we open the door for the devil to harass us, and bring about his stealing, killing or destroying, and we don't realize it. But like you and him said we can allow healing to come by trusting in our Saviors ways.. And to take the comfort we have received and use it to bring another healing life and peace.

This earth is full of evil, and people submitting to that evil.. the only way to escape is to be in heaven. We will have troubles as Jesus said.. but if we are truly, consistently connected to the vine with His Words reigning in us... the wicked one touches us not. Why? Because we know who we are in Christ, what our God given armour and authority is.. And we walk in love at all times.

Drawing near to the Father during a storm is crucial to being surrounded (dwelling) and covered by the shadow of the almighty ... and the Blessings we receive are being used to help Father rescue His little ones from the enemy's grip, or prison. Even if its the perpetrator or abuser, for that one may have been the victim themselves at one time... And Father loves them also, and sent His Son to die for their sins to.

Huggs and thank You for sharing your heartfelt words
Blessings
 
I do not blame God... and if I came across that way, it was not my intention. We cannot control the circumstances we are born into, or the parents we have.. but we can trust God. That is our choice.
My wording may be confusing, and I sincerely apologise if that's the case. I did the best I could to try to explain what i meant. Again, I do not blame God... I thank Him for every moment... He rescued me from sin, death, hell... and also rescued me from the circumstances I had no control of. He is awesome, wonderful, and loving. I don't ever want anyone to take anything I say to mean anything negative toward God.

Bad things happen to good people because good people make bad choices.
Not always. Many times it's because of situations and circumstances we have no control over.
Jesus then has given us power and authority over the devil but we have to exercise this authority.
How does a 5 year old child do this?
 
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Most of us have been through some pretty horrific things... but we are the victims of people saved or unsaved making the choice to follow the enemies leading and not Fathers.

If people followed and lived by Jesus example and ways... the enemy wouldn't have gained any foothold to wreak havoc in any of our lives. We would have never become the victim.

Our biggest hope now is to yes allow Father to help us to heal, by walking in love and forgiveness towards those who have hurt us, make the choice to follow after the apostle Paul's footsteps as directed by the Holy Spirit... this one thing I do is forget about the past and strive towards the future... And rub the devil's nose in it by helping others to get free from his grip and harassing torture, by taking the burden removing, yoke destroying anointing to them.

You are so right AtomicSnowflake that many people have blamed Father for what they think is His role in what has happened.. even if it's just to say why didn't you stop it. But so many dont realize that He couldnt because unless we give Him the authority to work in our lives... He has no option but to stand back and cry or have a hurting heart, because of what He could not do.

A lot (99%) of the times we open the door for the devil to harass us, and bring about his stealing, killing or destroying, and we don't realize it. But like you and him said we can allow healing to come by trusting in our Saviors ways.. And to take the comfort we have received and use it to bring another healing life and peace.

This earth is full of evil, and people submitting to that evil.. the only way to escape is to be in heaven. We will have troubles as Jesus said.. but if we are truly, consistently connected to the vine with His Words reigning in us... the wicked one touches us not. Why? Because we know who we are in Christ, what our God given armour and authority is.. And we walk in love at all times.

Drawing near to the Father during a storm is crucial to being surrounded (dwelling) and covered by the shadow of the almighty ... and the Blessings we receive are being used to help Father rescue His little ones from the enemy's grip, or prison. Even if its the perpetrator or abuser, for that one may have been the victim themselves at one time... And Father loves them also, and sent His Son to die for their sins to.

Huggs and thank You for sharing your heartfelt words
Blessings
Thank you. You "got" what I was trying to say.

I was not "blaming" God.
 
I had a lady in my bible study who was new and she was asking these sorts of questions such as bad things happening to 'good people' and why were the people who didnt know Jesus not going to be saved? She was going down this road of why if God is good, did people suffer.

One thing that stood out to me that I learned from my walk is that, if you are ignorant of the enemy, then you might try to ascribe blame for all the bad things happening to God. But if you know what the enemy is about and he is always trying to oppose God then you will be patient to see God come through. Nobody gets through life with no trial or tribulations to test their faith. Even Jesus was tested. Job was tested. Peter and Paul were persecuted and opposed and put in jail. We live in a fallen world. We dont come out alive, we need to die first to enter heaven.

Another thing is people generally say this if they come from a comfortable lifestyle, maybe they have not ever known real suffering. They are going to have a huge wake up call one day. If we look to Jesus do they think the christian life is easy? He did not have it easy, he wasnt blessed every minute of the day! He had enemies trying to kill him! It was the Pharisees that were greeted, offered respect, took the best seats in the syngagoge and ate the best food. But Jesus said woe to them!
 
I do not blame God... and if I came across that way, it was not my intention. We cannot control the circumstances we are born into, or the parents we have.. but we can trust God. That is our choice.
My wording may be confusing, and I sincerely apologise if that's the case. I did the best I could to try to explain what i meant. Again, I do not blame God... I thank Him for every moment... He rescued me from sin, death, hell... and also rescued me from the circumstances I had no control of. He is awesome, wonderful, and loving. I don't ever want anyone to take anything I say to mean anything negative toward God.


Not always. Many times it's because of situations and circumstances we have no control over.
How does a 5 year old child do this?

I completely understood what you are saying.
 
Most of us have been through some pretty horrific things... but we are the victims of people saved or unsaved making the choice to follow the enemies leading and not Fathers.

If people followed and lived by Jesus example and ways... the enemy wouldn't have gained any foothold to wreak havoc in any of our lives. We would have never become the victim.

When a child dies from cancer did the parents sin or child sin to bring such horror into this family? The family (we - all people) is the victim of the hate that the enemy has toward God. The enemy of this world hates God and we are caught in this battle until Jesus returns. I guess we are all victims of the sin that is in the world since we were all born into sin. But I don't think we are always the victim of other people. Sometimes, yes we are, but other times no I don't think we are. Sometimes God's glory is being displayed.

John 9 talks about the man born blind. Who sinned, the parents or the blind man?
1As He passed by, He saw a man blind from birth. 2And His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?” 3Jesus answered, “It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4“We must work the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming when no one can work.5“While I am in the world, I am the Light of the world.”

I completely understood what AtomicSnowFlake was saying because I struggled with this myself when I was younger. I am the youngest of 5 kids. My dad died when I was 3. I never knew him, but my siblings did because they are all several years older than me. My childhood ushered me towards God. I accepted Christ as a younger child because even at 7 I would talk to God and question him about my dad and his death. His death affected every part of our lives and changed our future. I chose God and I chose to trust Him and not be a victim to anyone or anything. But this took years because I carried a lot of hurt.

I do believe that tragedies tenderize our hearts. We can allow these things to display God's glory and we can be a witness for him in our tragedies. That's often easier said than done, but it can be done. AtomicSF shared some great insite
 
Lanolin I hope your friend found the answers she was seeking... many people never do.

CoffeeDrinker Thank you for being open with us and trusting us with sharing your personal experience and insights. I'm sorry you had to go through that.
My childhood pushed me toward salvation at a young age. I am very thankful for that.
We dont always understand why things happen, but we can trust that God does know and we can relax in Him and trust Him.
I have zero issues / concerns with my childhood. God is good always even in heartache and pain. His ways are much better than our ways.
Like you said we can grab a hold of God and become a better person and not fall victim to the enemy and his lies. God is literally good all the time and in all situations His glory can be found.
 
Hello AtomicSnowflake;

While I was reading Moving forward... your testimony gave me some thoughts that I want to share with everyone.

Many times in my life my sufferings - struggles, failures, mistakes, sins, sampling the world as a young adult, uncontrollable circumstances, etc...were all there while I was a growing up as a Christian adult, even while others in the Christian community were encouraging my growth in Christ.

My sufferings were still there, and still are today.

When I experienced a problem from the past I didn't know where my faith and trust was at that moment in Christ, whereas today I experience sufferings but have learned more where my faith and trust is in Christ, and will not be moved.

There were many "hard knock lessons" that made me realize, God was there the whole time. He allowed me to experience the thick of my challenges, was building me up, but still loved me, and never foresook me.

I read FC Jim's post and feel we have a common ground as brothers in Christ. In a nutshell, the trials are going to happen. It is what it is. Roll with the punches.

Forward thinking, this is why its so vital to stay in the Word, pray and apply our discipleship. This is a basic fundamental teaching in the Bible.

1 Peter 5:10, 10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.

Because if we don't, then all the suffering that is written in Moving forward... will defeat the purpose and we'll be like running in circles, chasing after the wind.

In our lifetime, our walk with Christ, there will be challenges and heartbreaks. But Let the LOVE of God's Word be the meat for our Spirits, and allow our prayers to quench our thirst.

God bless you, AtomicSnowflake, and your family.
 
Well Jesus said dont look back like Lots wife.
I mean wasnt that crazy, God was raining down fire and brimstone on Sodom and Gomorrah, had sent His angels to rescue Lot, basically commanding him to leave right now and run to the hills, and he still wanted to argue about where he was going, and his wife just wanted to rubberneck the destruction!
 
Well Jesus said dont look back like Lots wife.
I mean wasnt that crazy, God was raining down fire and brimstone on Sodom and Gomorrah, had sent His angels to rescue Lot, basically commanding him to leave right now and run to the hills, and he still wanted to argue about where he was going, and his wife just wanted to rubberneck the destruction!
Yep, looking back in that case is like when we allow our enemy to keep us in bondage of torment by us living in the past. It's impossible to move forward, if we are facing the wrong direction.
 
When a child dies from cancer did the parents sin or child sin to bring such horror into this family?

I apologize for not answering sooner....


There are so many factors to consider... a huge one is the fact that we live in this cursed world, and the curse tries to affect us all.

The other things that i have gathered from everything Father has been teaching me, is that the enemy has been working on man's speech and removing the importance of words since he talked to Eve in the garden. And now in this day and age most people are so blinded to what they are saying is actually death words and words that carry a death sentence in them.. words have lost their meaning and validity. And most people don't believe that each of us will have what we say (Matthew 12:34a-37). Along with that belief is proof, because if their words were pure... they would see that they could have everything spoken in the Word. Instead they have things of the curse, and things of the Word don't come quickly because of the contamination of the world.

Another thing I have learned is that if one is not a believer, or does not understand their authority and God given dominion over sickness and disease... many dont know how to fight when the attacks come. And if they are not a believer they are not covered by Father's promises. That doesn't mean though that He can't work a miracle in their behalf if they ask and believe... but many dont even know to ask or trust that He will listen to them.. some don't even want His intervention because they blame Him for its manifestation, or they just despise Him for other reasons.

We never know what's truly in a person's heart. What secret sins they may be hiding, or what doubt they hold or the list could be endless. But in all reality somehow the enemy was allowed in to manifest his curse filled death into someone's life. Even reading the beginning of job, 1 peter 5:8 and 1 John 5:18 will show us that someone born of Adonai, and following in His ways.. has a hedge of protection around them... unless they somehow let the enemy in. And if we know our authority, if sickness and disease try to lay claim to us... we can (and should) resist it, not allowing it to remain. Standing on the Word and our trust in the fact that Father can, desires to and doesn't lie.. want us to walk in divine health.

As for a child... until the age of reconing... they are under their parents covering and at the mercy of their parents beliefs and understanding of the WORD, as well as their actions and attitudes or even unrepentant heart.
 
I have been meditating on the tragedy in Florida and this thread for a few days.

I am not sure why, but I would like to share a tragedy that occurred a couple of weeks before the recent Florida events. I guess that I am still coming to terms with this. I know this is a different kind of tragedy, but I feel the need to post here.

A young boy in kindergarten or first grade was extremely upset at having priveledges taken away and wanted mommy and daddy to know just how mad he was. He went into is fathers dresser, loaded his fathers' pistol, and shot himself in the head. He was still living when found by his mother but died a short time later.

He was the playmate of a young member of my extended family. I did not know the young boy, but I know the little girl. She is a precious young girl, the Grand-daughter of my wife's sister. She has visited in my home and stayed over in my home. I can see the sadness and fear in her little eyes.

I am far enough away from the persons directly involved that gives me some emotional distance, but several family members have talked about this, particularly my wife and her sister, but others also. I try to be an empathetic ear for them to let their feelings out.

There is nothing that can bring us to understand happenings like this.

The young boy is in the Lords care. My prayers have been for the parents of the little boy, and for my little niece, I am still having trouble getting around this myself.
 
Thats terrible. Also guns and pistols are dangerous. I dont know how the boy knew to get a pistol from his dads dresser and how to shoot himself but he must have learned from somewhere. Methinks tv or movies, because Lord knows they show violence all the time there as a way to solve problems.

The parents must be devastated. I mean you always keep hazardous chemicals out of reach of children or locked away just in case they do something silly like drink it, and things like knives and matches.
 
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