tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638160822379341183.post7294618240245344102..comments2024-02-22T10:19:07.500-05:00Comments on Adventures in La La Land: On Faith and Works and Crazy Love [Part 1]Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638160822379341183.post-38928636475713379822011-04-04T21:46:36.871-04:002011-04-04T21:46:36.871-04:00I truly think that no matter what you do, how you ...I truly think that no matter what you do, how you act, what you where, as long as you love God and have Christ in your heart it doesn't matter. He won't love you any less. Sure, he might be disappointed in you, but he wont love you any less. No one can tell you if you love God, or if you are saved. The only ones who know, are you and God. Personaly, I never think I'm good enough for his love, I KNOW I'm not! But, Christ said I was. He took the cross. He loves me. He loves you and everyone else. You can think you are "lukewarm" but only you and God know your fate. All he wants is love, your love, and for you to spread it. (:Kyleigh Rosilyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08334563891747065924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638160822379341183.post-5470585970796472432011-04-04T20:32:03.182-04:002011-04-04T20:32:03.182-04:00Thanks for your open, honest post! I have this boo...Thanks for your open, honest post! I have this book and have been wanting to read it since it first came out (I've seen Francis speak multiple times), but of course life has gotten in the way... And this year in our GEMS Girls Club at church, our annual theme is based off that Revelation 3:16 verse. I'm with you, I don't have one of those radical testimonies. And I've been feeling dry in my spiritual life lately. Maybe I'll go pick up that book off my shelf right now... Thanks for letting God use you to write this specific post on this specific day so I'd read it - this is the first time I've visited your blog!Carrie Roerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01154618131320126110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638160822379341183.post-43944953810475558242011-04-04T11:03:08.044-04:002011-04-04T11:03:08.044-04:00Also, keep in mind --- that even if you never did...Also, keep in mind --- that even if you never did anything really "bad" to be saved from --- you were still born a sinner. That means you need to be saved as much as the worst sinner you can possibly imagine. I don't have the "saved from a gutter" testimony either, but that gives us the opportunity to be THANKFUL to a loving God who spared us that and gave us loving Christian families who raised us in the church, taught us to love Jesus, and died for us as much as anybody -- not because of what we did or didn't do but because He LOVES us and wants us as His children Think of it this way -- as Lucy's mom, do you want her to be a rebel involved with drugs and all other horrible things so when she grows up she can have a spectacular conversion experience?? OR do you want to raise her, starting now to love Jesus and believe in Him at a young age and be spared the same things you were spared and see her serve God by following her mommy's example??Karen Drexelnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638160822379341183.post-60210711519195819742011-04-04T09:56:19.930-04:002011-04-04T09:56:19.930-04:00First off, I totally get where you're coming f...First off, I totally get where you're coming from, especially about lamenting not having a radical conversion experience. People talk about remembering the exact date and time they were saved, and how much their life changed that moment. I don't have that. So it's hard to see the good in my life because I don't have a "bad" past to compare it to.<br /><br />Let's remember, though, how we are saved. "Whoever believes in Him" receives eternal life. It's not about WHAT we do with our life, because we can never earn our way into heaven. My favorite section of scripture when dealing with salvation is 1 Cor 3:10-15. If we have a foundation of faith in Jesus Christ, we are safe from judgment by his blood no matter what kinds of crap we build with on top of that foundation. So even if you never do a good or kind thing with your life, or if you screw up royally, you are STILL covered by the atoning blood of Jesus.<br /><br />Which brings us to "faith without works is dead." Nathan helped me understand this a little better recently. It's not so much about doing a certain number of service projects in order to secure your salvation. It's more about having the desire to please God with your life because of your faith in Him. THAT is why you may swear less, drink less, try to be a morally "better" person. It's because we know that God IS and want to please him.<br /><br />...also, having a fear of Hell is totally normal and healthy. Not fearing Hell is ignorant.<br /><br />Finally, I want to mention that NOBODY gives up EVERYTHING for God. I don't care if you sell all your stuff and go live in a cave... we still have control of our own minds and bodies, and with those we WILL sin. <br /><br />I've already written a novel here, so I'll leave it at that, but I hope that helps a little bit! I DO think being excited about doing things to please God is an awesome thing, but I don't think those of us who don't live in a cave in Africa need to feel such guilt. God loves you and you love Him and are so thankful for what He did for you through Jesus... and I think that's enough. <3Rachelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15938278742353217344noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2638160822379341183.post-58779498477433612592011-04-04T08:31:14.530-04:002011-04-04T08:31:14.530-04:00I guess I would start by saying that I don't t...I guess I would start by saying that I don't think our love for God -- or, more importantly, His love for us, is about "how much". I think it is about "how". I heard a sermon onetime that dealt with John 3:16 and the pastor paraphrased the verse to say that God loved the world "in such a way" that He sent His son Jesus to die for us. I think one of the modern translations says God love the world "so much" -- and those 2 phrases mean 2 different things. Think about those 2 statement and send me a message or post if you are interested in hearing more. Also, be sure to go back to scripture itself and rely on that -- not just what an author says (even if they are good -- they are still interpreting things for you and God can talk to you too!!)Karen Drexelnoreply@blogger.com