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Post by sawdy on Dec 9, 2017 10:15:22 GMT -6
While I was praying this morning, this song came to mind. I hadn't listened to it in over 20 years. Perhaps the lyrics will speak to you this morning as well.
Lost the Plot by the Newsboys
When You come back again Would You bring me something from the fridge? Heard a rumor that the end is near But I just got comfortable here.
Sigh. Let's be blunt. I'm a little distracted. What do You want? Headaches and bad faith Are all that I've got. First I misplaced the ending Then I lost the plot.
Out among free-range sheep While the big birds sharpen their claws. For a time we stuck with the Shepherd But You wouldn't play Santa Claus
Sigh. Let's be blunt. We're a little distracted. What do You want? Once we could follow, Now we cannot. You would not fit our image, So we lost the plot
Once we could hear You. Now our senses are shot. We've forgotten our first love. We have lost the plot.
When I saw You for the first time You were hanging with a thief. And I knew my hands were dirty, And I dropped my gaze. Then You said I was forgiven And You welcomed me with laughter. I was happy ever after. I was counting the days When You'd come back again. We'll be waiting for You. When You comin' back again? We'll be ready for You. Maybe we'll wake up when... Maybe we'll wake up when You come back again.
Lies. Let's be blunt. We're a little unfaithful. What do You want? Are You still listening? 'Cause we're obviously not. We've forgotten our first love. We have lost the plot. And why are You still calling? You forgave, we forgot. We're such experts at stalling That we lost the plot. Lost the plot. When You come back again Would You bring me something from the fridge? Heard a rumor that the end is near But I just got comfortable here.
Songwriters: PETER FURLER, STEVE TAYLOR © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP, BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
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Post by sawdy on Dec 9, 2017 10:21:57 GMT -6
So as I was praying about my personal struggle at being a witness for Christ, (I haven't posted anything to my Facebook or have tried to have a conversation with anyone in quite awhile, this song title came to mind for me.
It does a good job of speaking about Apostasy and the state that I was in prior to rededicating my life to the Lord. But it is also speaking to me as to the lie of being comfortable not actually putting my faith out there. I am definitely going to be thinking (and praying) about this more later today. Right now, my daughters hockey game is next up, followed by gymnastics for both kids, so I have definitely lost what my focus should actually be about. Lol but serious, I really shouldn't be joking about that.
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lisa
New Member
Posts: 29
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Post by lisa on Dec 9, 2017 11:23:47 GMT -6
I have the same issue. I'm really shy and it's hard to talk to anyone. Even typing this message is hard for me. The other day I had an opportunity to mention bible prophecy as I was walking into work. A woman at work was talking about some podcast and asked me if I listened to them on the way to work and I said no and mentioned listening to youtube but I was in such a hurry to get to my office and because I didn't know her well, I was really anxious to say much of anything. It wasn't until I walked away that I thought I could have said something about the type of youtube videos I watch. I don't know that it would do anything though. Any time I've mentioned the bible or what's going on, I've done such a bad job of explaining that I don't know that I'm helping. I'm so close to deleting this message so I'm going to hit reply now.
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Post by thetimeoftheend on Dec 9, 2017 12:12:25 GMT -6
I have the same issue. I'm really shy and it's hard to talk to anyone. Even typing this message is hard for me. The other day I had an opportunity to mention bible prophecy as I was walking into work. A woman at work was talking about some podcast and asked me if I listened to them on the way to work and I said no and mentioned listening to youtube but I was in such a hurry to get to my office and because I didn't know her well, I was really anxious to say much of anything. It wasn't until I walked away that I thought I could have said something about the type of youtube videos I watch. I don't know that it would do anything though. Any time I've mentioned the bible or what's going on, I've done such a bad job of explaining that I don't know that I'm helping. I'm so close to deleting this message so I'm going to hit reply now. I'm glad you didn't delete your post! There is no need to be shy here, you are among brothers and sisters. I too struggle sometimes with this. I try to talk with my friends and I can see their eyes glaze over. It's like they accept my faith and my belief in prophecy and this eccentricity in an otherwise normal guy. So I definitely understand what you and sawdy are saying. I need to be much better about it as well. Let us all pray for one another that we are strengthened in this area as this age comes to a close. But let us also be thankful that we have a place where we can fellowship and discuss our faith and the end times with our brothers and sisters. You are welcome here!
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Post by witness1 on Dec 9, 2017 13:53:46 GMT -6
I have the same issue. I'm really shy and it's hard to talk to anyone. Even typing this message is hard for me. The other day I had an opportunity to mention bible prophecy as I was walking into work. A woman at work was talking about some podcast and asked me if I listened to them on the way to work and I said no and mentioned listening to youtube but I was in such a hurry to get to my office and because I didn't know her well, I was really anxious to say much of anything. It wasn't until I walked away that I thought I could have said something about the type of youtube videos I watch. I don't know that it would do anything though. Any time I've mentioned the bible or what's going on, I've done such a bad job of explaining that I don't know that I'm helping. I'm so close to deleting this message so I'm going to hit reply now. Yes Lisa! Welcome! Thank you for sharing this. Hopefully we can encourage one another as we see the day approaching. I struggle too. Maybe we can share times when we have been able to share something, even if it's small, for the purpose of encouraging others. I just got home from a birthday party across the street. The Lord blessed us with neighbors who are in our homeschool coop, and the husband is the pastor of a local church. They have been a great encouragement to my family and my husband's ministry. Anyway, another neighbor was at the party whom I have been trying to get to know for years, and I was able to ask her today about her Christmas religious traditions growing up. I never see them go to church Sunday mornings, and she said it's hard with toddlers going to Catholic mass. She said she hopes to one day be able to give her kids a religious foundation and likes to offer a prayer of gratitude at Thanksgiving. We weren't able to talk much after that, but I am glad I was able to discuss the topic at least a little and am praying for another opportunity to talk to her about it again. Does anyone have an encouraging witnessing opportunity to share? Let us pray for one another!
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Post by barbiosheepgirl on Dec 9, 2017 19:28:44 GMT -6
witness1 , thetimeoftheend, lisa , and my dearest sawdy (especially since I read your Merry Christmas note), although he is still in the some critical parts of his thread and it is SUPER long, I would highly encourage all of you to consider what @silentknight is writing in his Restoration of all things thread unsealed.boards.net/thread/1174/restoration-allI have struggled and struggled and recited and memorized the Gospel message so as to share the Good News to others. I have yet to do it after 30 years... Then the revelation contained in this thread has caused me to find one major piece (peace) to the puzzle, God's Puzzle (mystery) if you will. I dont know how to describe the clarity of the Gospel message that has been made to me, but it pretty intense just in the past 3 or 4 days. I know if you try to explain to someone what you are reading from SK they will raise some eyebrows at you. But the scriptures DO come ALIVE when you consider this possibility of what is to come, in the next Age and thereafter. If this does not give you hope for those that you know are lost right now, I dont know what will. And your confidence in God's Plan (what He has done and What Will be done yet) will get you opening your mouths to those whom you otherwise couldn't. Just saying. Praise His Holy Name, Jesus!
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Post by witness1 on Dec 10, 2017 14:01:30 GMT -6
I have poked into the thread here and there but feel so far behind that I can't catch up. It certainly does look encouraging. From reading the introduction, it sounds like silent knight is offering a reason to believe what I somehow have already come to believe but didn't know how to justify. I hope to be able to look deeper into it soon.
And I wanted to clarify about my story above... I didn't mean to sound like, "look at me! Look at what I did!" The point was that the Lord has laid this woman on my heart for YEARS and yesterday gave me the tiniest little crack in the door. It took years before I was able to do this. I meant to glorify God for giving me the opportunity, and I hope it came across that way.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 10, 2017 14:13:16 GMT -6
From reading the introduction, it sounds like silent knight is offering a reason to believe what I somehow have already come to believe but didn't know how to justify. I hope to be able to look deeper into it soon. I believe this may be common among many that are being called out. I strongly encourage you to start from the beginning of the thread because so much builds upon previous posts.
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Post by witness1 on Dec 10, 2017 14:30:44 GMT -6
Yes! I like to read from the beginning... I am on page 2!
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Post by barbiosheepgirl on Dec 10, 2017 18:09:08 GMT -6
witness1, if you can, copy it in sections and paste in a document on your computer. Then, print it out. then you can sit without the computer on, and read. take notes, make comments. It has helped me and I was able to take said ream of paper to my mom so she can read, and take notes... Aside from challenging possible traditional thinking, the scripture compilations are a wonderful read in and of themselves!
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Post by witness1 on Dec 10, 2017 21:04:22 GMT -6
What a great idea! My family is sick of me being in front of the computer so much. My Bible and laptop are both always open these days while the dishes and laundry pile up and the floor gets even dirtier. It's funny how reading a real book or piece of paper is so much less offensive to those around us than reading on the computer!
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Post by cwood85 on Dec 13, 2017 20:03:24 GMT -6
witness1 , thetimeoftheend, lisa , and my dearest sawdy (especially since I read your Merry Christmas note), although he is still in the some critical parts of his thread and it is SUPER long, I would highly encourage all of you to consider what @silentknight is writing in his Restoration of all things thread unsealed.boards.net/thread/1174/restoration-allI have struggled and struggled and recited and memorized the Gospel message so as to share the Good News to others. I have yet to do it after 30 years... Then the revelation contained in this thread has caused me to find one major piece (peace) to the puzzle, God's Puzzle (mystery) if you will. I dont know how to describe the clarity of the Gospel message that has been made to me, but it pretty intense just in the past 3 or 4 days. I know if you try to explain to someone what you are reading from SK they will raise some eyebrows at you. But the scriptures DO come ALIVE when you consider this possibility of what is to come, in the next Age and thereafter. If this does not give you hope for those that you know are lost right now, I dont know what will. And your confidence in God's Plan (what He has done and What Will be done yet) will get you opening your mouths to those whom you otherwise couldn't. Just saying. Praise His Holy Name, Jesus! Yes yes yes!! ☺️ barbiosheepgirl SK's thread has given me confidence AND peace with sharing the gospel ❤️ The Lord gifted me with a big mouth and it took me years to develop a filter and control what comes out of this mouth of mine... I do not mind talking to people or in front of an audience. I loved doing speeches in school in front of a class. Not sure how much bigger Incould go then that though. However get me to talk to someone about the gospel annnnnddd big mouth goes buh bye. I was too afraid of hard questions and rejection. I have beaten myself up over this so many times in the last few months on missed opportunities. I am currently 10+ comments deep in conversation on YouTube with a Muslim that is going surprisingly well. Not going into too much detail with the individual, but the focus is Love ❤️ I pray constantly before commenting to them and ask for guidance from the Holy Spirit. Not saying this to glorify me, because now that I am getting a better understanding of our Lord, his glory is shining and doing the work.
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Post by barb84 on Dec 13, 2017 20:55:46 GMT -6
I decided this year to design my own Christmas card that focuses on the second advent more than the first. A friend with a printing business printed the text for me and I added artwork with rubber stamps and glitter. They would not win any awards, but the message is clear. I am hoping they get the attention of lost friends and family.
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Post by sawdy on Dec 13, 2017 21:05:58 GMT -6
I decided this year to design my own Christmas card that focuses on the second advent more than the first. A friend with a printing business printed the text for me and I added artwork with rubber stamps and glitter. They would not win any awards, but the message is clear. I am hoping they get the attention of lost friends and family. I have set a tiny Christmas budget and have told the kids not to expect much for presents. I have yet to start decorating for Christmas and have only just begun shopping. I just am not in the mood to shop at all. It is all just stuff anyways. It definitely doesn't glitter in comparison to the real gift. I have been throwing around the idea of celebrating Ukrainian Christmas as it is in Jan and then I can procrastinate on decorating and shopping even longer. I still need to formulate a good reply when people ask me if I am ready for Christmas yet. I am ready for the rapture and to see Jesus. I can hardly think of anything else right now.
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