Life Lessons (What Has God Been Teaching You?)

Just got back from vacation in Port Orchard, Washington. I knew that God wanted to set me outside my fast paced, friend filled, constantly busy Californian lifestyle long enough to speak to my heart.On Memorial Day weekend I went out on my grandpa's boat to go see the orcas (killer whales) migrate off the San Juan Islands (picture from trip above). I didn't have access to the Internet and my cell phone battery died, but that ended up being good because God wanted my undivided attention. I think what I learned the most was being reminded of one of the Chrisitan basics; to be still and know that He is God. To take some time out to just sit, listen, pray, meditate, be calm and patient. And though there are many amazing people in my life and God has blessed me so much with great friends, He needs to be my best friend of all.In a couple weeks I'm going to be involved in a 2 week summer camp for street kids in the Ukraine. I know that I'll learn so much more seeing the world through another culture's eyes, and most of all through God's eyes. I can't wait to experience what all else God has in store.Please feel free to post what God has been teaching each one of you recently. I really would like to know! :-)

I once caught a fish THHHIIIIIIIIISSSS BIG!!!!So, God showed you there were times you needed to sit still...What did He say to you when you were sitting still?

So, God showed you there were times you needed to sit still...Yeah. California is just so fast paced, zero patience, constant fun and entertainment, etc. I got on the boat and we're like chugging at 9 miles an hour under gloomy, rainy clouds! It was so depressing! But finally after a few days, on a sunnier day (was an answer to prayer!), I just sat on the top of the boat watching the tree covered islands slowly pass, enjoying the breeze, admiring the big, white puffy clouds and I just started pouring out my heart to God. I mean, I pray regularly and have devotions every morning, but this was different. This was like good quality time, not in a hurry to do something else, you know? I ended up being up there for hours. Just sharing my fears, my doubts, my weaknesses, the longings of my heart, etc.What did He say to you when you were sitting still?To let go of things, people, and trust Him that He has His best plans in mind for me. I was really missing my friends and feeling really lonely, so I just felt God ministering to me. I needed to give Him full control of every area of my life, especially the parts and the people who meant the most to me. It's kind of hard to explain in general terms without getting all personal on here in public. I guess basically, and specifically, there's a certain guy that I needed to let go of, emotionally speaking. That day on the top of the boat just ended up opening up the door for me to hear from Him in the days following.There's this book that I knew was going to be good, but I was just struggling to get started. There was always something else to do, you know? But when I got back from my boat trip, I read it, and it's exactly what I needed! Ever here of "When Dreams Come True" by Eric & Leslie Ludy? It's their sequel to "When God Writes Your Love Story". Man, every chapter they each wrote just brought tears to my eyes and softened my heart to God's love for me. That's when I was encouraged to make Him my best friend. One of my friends back home wrote me a really sweet poem too that encouraged me to not focus on the guy I would one day marry, but for God to be the love of my life. And then someday, in His time, I could trust that He'd bring that right, godly guy.So... God was speaking to me specifically concerning my recent struggles and battles with being lonely and trusting for His best. I know that I will only get to know Him even better and love Him in a new and different way when I go to the Ukraine. There's just something that happens when God gets you away from everything normal and familiar to you. You know, when it's just you and Him.Answer your question, Matthew 2323?

So, uh... you guys all miss the question about me wanting to know what God's doing in your guys' lives? There's like 60 views but no replies. No comments or anything?I did receive an email from a Julianne about my last post. I don't have her permission to post what she wrote me, so I won't, but it was an encouragement to know that God is teaching others the same thing. We truly are not alone when we sometimes think we are.

Hi Yolanda,I have been sick but have read your posts. How wonderful for you to learn to love being with Him alone in a new fresh way. Too few of us make sure we have this time with our First Love. So cool to hear of your experiences lately.If you want to know what life lessons I've been learning just go to the thread about my daughter (Arielle) and Koo. Just swimming in a sea of humility lately. :)Hidden in Him, chanin

So, uh... you guys all miss the question about me wanting to know what God's doing in your guys' lives? There's like 60 views but no replies. No comments or anything?Hi Yodi, the Lord bless your heart.Sometimes it just takes time to see replies and sometimes they just get burried under the shear number of other discussions. But it does seem odd that either nothing is going on or...maybe everybody is praying! :-) But have been following what's going on with your posts and love to hear the things the Lord is doing in other lives. Had actually thought of posting this as a reply to your post (being related), but for what it's worth here is a rambling discourse for ya:A Year To The Day!

Here's what God has been teaching me...be HUMBLE. He has teaching me broknesses, and that I am alwasy right *hehehe* that He tends to know what is best. I have learned a lot lately about myself, and the majority of which is that I am too focused on my self and not on the glorious praise and honor God deserves.

I really don't know what to say. You wrote A LOT concerning how you've been blessed by this site. That's awesome!I like what you wrote about prayer and how lack of prayer because of unbelief leads to more unbelief and so on. Thanks for the encouragement on prayer. My thing is trying to take the time to pray for ALL the things and people that need prayer. Your list can get pretty long and sometimes overwhelming! But like you said, talking to God all day every day should be a way of life for the Christian. I mean, how much do we talk to people on the Internet, on the phone, etc.? We should be talking to God even more and just as naturally as you would with a dear friend.And I agree about praying for and supporting this site. I've realized the more time I've spent on here and the more I get encouraged, it's been put on my heart not just to log on here, but to pray and support as well. I know so many more people are being blessed by this ministry!

Yes, humbleness... a very good lesson to learn. I would have to say it was a big lesson I learned this past year. I was bent on not making any mistakes in my spiritual walk since the day I was born again, and though I believe my motive was to please the Lord, a lot of spiritual pride grew out of my "perfect" Christian walk. I think God allowed me to make many mistakes this past year. I knew a lot of things in my head, and the knowledge in my head puffed me up higher than others. And who wants to be around that? What's that verse, "Take heed when you think you stand, lest you fall"?It's hard not to be focused on yourself. It's a daily discipline because to be selfish is natural; part of our sin nature. I think the lesson in pride right now that I'm trying to learn is to trust God with my future. You know, I'll get tired of being patient and think that I've waited long enough for His best, but I also gotta trust in His timing, not mine. Plus, when I get my eyes off myself altogether, patience doesn't even become an issue anymore because I'm so focused on Him.Well, thanks for sharing. May God continue the work in You that He started.

Sis Diehl you posted,((( Please feel free to post what God has been teaching each one of you recently. I really would like to know! )))Wow Sis ... Over 200 views but very few replies ... Makes me even more convinced of what I've come to believe today, that God's not getting thru to a lot of us Christian's ... I know for a fact (personally) that He's talking to us all the time, but many of us have either just shut our ears because He's not talking what we want to hear, or we genuinely don't hear Him because we're to busy talking over Him with our prayers of needs, wants and desires ... I'm guilty on both counts, but I thank Him that He continues to "strive" with me, and every once in a while He gets His point across.About 13 years ago, when my earthly father died (whom I loved dearly and was my best friend), He taught me what thus far has been my most important lesson ... It was about 3 months later after my Dad's death that I was sitting home alone, crying my eyes out, when suddenly I just screamed out (like a 12 year old), "I don't have a father anymore"! ... And instantly, like a bolt of lightning hitting my brain, I heard Him say, "Yes you do, the same Father you had before you had him" ... This blew my mind, not only for the loudness of clarity of His voice in my spirit, but most especially this phrase " the same Father you had BEFORE you had him" ... Think of this ... God was our Father, even before any of us we're born ... This experience brought forth two realizations ... #1 - That I had both loved and esteemed my earthly father higher than my heavenly Father ... In essence I unwittingly had made my earthly father a god/idol before my heavenly one ... I repented of that instantly, and am now very attentive to "not having any other gods before" Him ... And #2 no one can have a better parent/ best friend (anywhere) than God ...What He's teaching me now is the same lesson He's been teaching me for the past 20 years, and that's "patience" ... My favorite question to Him is always "when"? ... I hated "patience" in my BC days, and I'm still not to fond of it now (but I have to admit that I'm much, much better with waiting than I used to be) ... Hmmmmm, perhaps I'm about ready for Him to mount me up on eagles wings ... '0) ... All blessings to you ... Amen

Hey YodiSince I moved away from home (Africa), God has been teaching me to worship him. It is a hard lesson for me, and one that I am still struggling with. A few verses have been thrown at me, which I would like to share with everyone.Isaiah29: 13Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men: 14Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid. 15Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the LORD, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us?Samuel 15: 22And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.John 4:23But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: FOR THE FATHER SEEKETH SUCH TO WORSHIP HIM.James

Rahman wrote:Over 200 views but very few replies ... Makes me even more convinced of what I've come to believe today, that God's not getting thru to a lot of us Christian's ... I know for a fact (personally) that He's talking to us all the time, but many of us have either just shut our ears because He's not talking what we want to hear, or we genuinely don't hear Him because we're to busy talking over Him with our prayers of needs, wants and desires ... Don't be discouraged by a lack of response, God is working, sometimes we can't always respond, but we are thankful to read others sharing. (there are many hypocritical Christians who aren't learning much about God or spending time with Him, I meet them all the time, but there are true Christians, watching and learning from others quietly)God is teaching me so much that writing just a few notes doesn't do justice. I am listening to God all the time, in Bible study and from people, the environment, good Christian books and shows. I am continually in the Bible, and I am always learning, all the time. It's so much, I share what I can (like the free stuff I just found to help others evangelize), but God is so awesome, if you give Him your all, your everything, His presence is just too awesome to explain sometimes (and sometimes controversial, I like to keep some of His revelations to myself for the sake of peace, when appropriate-sometimes we must be honest, which can be controversial, but not always-need wisdom about that kind of thing). For me anyway, my gift is communicating through painting and drawing, art, more than oral and written. One day maybe God will lead me into building a website-don't have time or knowledge into doing that yet- so other Christians can see some of the work He's allowed me to make for His glory.

Wow, Jimm. Those are really great verses. They really speak to me too. Kind of the same thing that He's been teaching me. My relationship with Him is so shallow right now. I have all this head knowledge from years of being saved, but my progression is so slow. I just need to obey what He's telling me to do. Actually be a life living for Christ. I keep saying that I want to be more on fire, but don't really put to much effort into it. I just need to start being faithful in the little things He tells me to do.

no one can have a better parent/ best friend (anywhere) than God ...Amen! I'm currently learning to cling to God as my best friend. My heart seems to be pulled back and forth at times, between being attached to people and being attached to my Father, but hopefully someday I will learn to keep Him always number one, despite any future relationships that may "tie me down".

Jennifer "DelightedInU" beat me to it. I agree with what she said concerning those being good verses you posted Jimm. Samuel 15:22 really has spoken to me in the past. I think obedience is what I'm still learning about worship, as far as the singing aspect is concerned in a church service. There's times where you just don't feel like doing things. Sometimes I don't feel like singing out loud during worship because the emotion isn't there, but God deserves my praises, and love, true godly love, is not always based on how we feel. Some times we have to love God out of obedience.Another cool thing about worhsip is that it's not just the music. It's a lifestyle. It's our daily devotion to Him.Hey, thanks for sharing! And Jennifer, I'll keep keeping you in my prayers. :-)

Thanks for sharing "Rocklife". but God is so awesome, if you give Him your all, your everything,May we all desire that, and then follow through with our actions. May He continually reveal to us what those hindrances and weights are in our lives. May we keep an eternal perspective and remember what the most important things in life are.Hey, I'm going to take a one day class at a local University this Saturday to learn how to do websites! It's supposed to help train me to do our church's website (it needs a lot of work!). If I get good enough, maybe... well, I can help you. [laughs] That seems impossible right now because I don't now anything, but, who knows, maybe I'll end up being gifted in it. I would like to see your work though. Let us know if it ever becomes available to view.

I am hung up on this, meaning God is making a point I have not yet come to fully understand. I know He is working, I have yet to realize the understanding."The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonder, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they may be saved." 2 Thess. 2:9-10The love of the truth is our only weapon against deception. I know that I have tasted the goodness of the word. I also know that the Word will cause me to walk in opposition to the ways of this world. The world is being crucified from me, yet I know there is much work left for God to do in terms of the worldliness that remains in me. My soul quivers at His judgements yet I know it is for my good. The love of the truth, the love of my Savior will set me free. I just have this overwhelming sense that I am going to learn more deeply the significance of what "the love of the truth," will change me. "For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world- our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?" 1 John 5:4-5In ChristJeff

How wonderful - to look forward to what God is going to teach you! I feel that way myself, as I look forward to the humbling, stretching, and teaching I know He's going to do when I go to the Ukraine next weekend for a summer camp for street kids. My flesh is kind of hesitant, afraid of how I might be changed, but my Spirit rejoices, longing to get closer to the Lord!May you find the love of truth that you're looking for. God has placed that desire in your heart, and He will be faithful to fufill it. :-)

God is always working in our lives, as long as we're willing to submit to him.Here are a few things that God has shown me over the last few weeks. Have you ever asked God to show you what your life would be without Jesus? It's a very terrifying thought to me, even as I type this. I doubt that what everyone would see would be the same exact thing, but I know I just couldn't go on in this life. Even though there's many people I love here, I just couldn't go on without Jesus.Another thing is to allow the Holy Spirit to make sure my motives are pure. Do I want to glorify God or am I trying to glorify my flesh? It's a question I ask myself regularly.The final thing I'll say is I'm beginning to understand the realize the enormity of my crimes against God (i.e. my sin). Do you ever wonder what your sin says about the sovereignty of God? I'm not talking about a license to sin, but even those things we do "unconsciously." When you compare our sin versus the grace of God when we come to Him in repentance, I am utterly amazed. How could God pick someone like me? And yet, He offers this gift of repentance. It just blows me away...Ed

Yodi wrote: May He continually reveal to us what those hindrances and weights are in our lives. May we keep an eternal perspective and remember what the most important things in life are.Yes, keep allowing Him to prune and humble and grow in You, keep in His word, even if you have to force Yourself at first, keep praying, keep seeking Him, and especially allow the fire to come and burn the chaff. Remember, clean the inside of the cup, keep in the word every day, do what God commands in His word. Then, the lions den comes and all You know and care about is clinging to God. Not even death will have a grip on you. Obeying God and being humbled by Him, and examining ourselves, repenting quickly and longing for Him only is not easy. It has not been easy for me, I have lost friends who don't believe we should fellowship with God outside of church things, I have lost friends after rebuking in love about the things of God. Following my mom and loving people who are like porcupines, while trusting God knows why we are being so tested and even mocked, persecuted even if it's just emotionally, can be hard. But knowing about hell and the judgment to come keeps the perspective, and we know one day God will wipe all tears and be with us and we won't need the sun because His light will be enough. The trials and tests are to come, God's word says He tests us and disciplines us, so stand firm and PASS the tests!!! We can do it! I just want to encourage others out there the Christian life isn't promised to be a cake walk, look at Christian history, Jesus, the disciples, and millions of Christians have been tortured and killed for because of Jesus' name. Stand firm, that's one great lesson God is continually teaching me. And He is faithful, when all is said and done. God is faithful, allow Him to prune and take away things from your life that isn't glorifying Him and be thankful for all things, even His discipline. We can even be thankful for our suffering, because it produces character and hope (Romans 5:1-5). I just wanted to encourage, keep firm in the faith, keep in the Word!!! So much suffering, death, sin, abuse, in this evil world, praise God for His promise to get rid of all this death and evil. Just reading local news shows how wicked and hard-hearted this generation is. The ungodly will all have to give an account of themselves, just like God's people. How great and terrible will that day be. That thought just makes me cling tighter and be more thankful for Jesus' love and atoning sacrifice for sin on that cross!!! Praise God He made a way to escape the wrath to come and even make us sinners righteous before Him (only through Jesus' blood and God's mercy).

Brother Jeff you posted:((( I am hung up on this, meaning God is making a point I have not yet come to fully understand. I know He is working, I have yet to realize the understanding."The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonder, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they may be saved." 2 Thess. 2:9-10 )))I pray with you that our Lord will continue to reveal why He has you hung up on this scripture in that "the lawless one" is a reference to satan's "man of perdition", the "antichrist" ... I'm praying with you also in this regard in that in the spirit realm there must be multitudes of angels encamped about you if the Lord is preparing you as one of His vessels concerned so profoundly with "TRUTH" ... Christ said "You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free", "And "Whom the Son of God has set free, is free indeed" ... There is nothing more terrifying to the gates of hell than a "truth-liver-sayer-doer" ... It's obvious to me that our Lord has special work for you to do by what you further posted ...((( The love of the truth is our only weapon against deception. I know that I have tasted the goodness of the word. I also know that the Word will cause me to walk in opposition to the ways of this world. The world is being crucified from me, yet I know there is much work left for God to do in terms of the worldliness that remains in me. My soul quivers at His judgements yet I know it is for my good.The love of the truth, the love of my Savior will set me free. I just have this overwhelming sense that I am going to learn more deeply the significance of what "the love of the truth," will change me. )))Ha! ... Ha! ... Brother Jeff take it from someone whose been where you are now (at the beginning) ... You can rest assured that your eyes have not seen, nor your ears heard what the Holy Ghost has in store for you in regards the further truths He's gonna expand you with ... Wait to you come to the realization of this mind freeing truth ... "There is no goodness of the world" ... and then you ended your post with this scripture ...((( "For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world- our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?" 1 John 5:4-5 )))Brother Jeff you are remembered in my prayers for the Lord has His divine hand upon you greatly ... I percieve that you need to become very familiar with your Christian armour ... In fact my suggestion to you is that you sleep in it ... Amen

Thankyou Brother Rahman for your exhortation.In ChristJeff