Comments on: What Does God Use to Open Our Hearts? http://www.beenthinking.org/2008/08/22/what-does-god-use-to-open-our-hearts/ with Mart De Haan and Friends Tue, 16 Mar 2010 21:37:38 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Gena http://www.beenthinking.org/2008/08/22/what-does-god-use-to-open-our-hearts/#comment-2473 Gena Wed, 10 Sep 2008 06:03:30 +0000 http://www.beenthinking.org/?p=389#comment-2473 God found a way to reconcile Himself to me many years ago by way of a dream which at the time did not make sense to me. Only years later after becoming saved did I realize it was He who had touched my heart. It was by reading the Word that I made the connection when reading the book of Revelation that I saw a semblance. To this day I still marvel at God's determination and creativity to reach out to me. He can do the same for anybody and if you find yourself pondering the mystery of God ~ follow your heart in your search for God will reveal Himself. In doing so, you will find yourself home. God found a way to reconcile Himself to me many years ago by way of a dream which at the time did not make sense to me. Only years later after becoming saved did I realize it was He who had touched my heart. It was by reading the Word that I made the connection when reading the book of Revelation that I saw a semblance. To this day I still marvel at God’s determination and creativity to reach out to me. He can do the same for anybody and if you find yourself pondering the mystery of God ~ follow your heart in your search for God will reveal Himself. In doing so, you will find yourself home.

]]> By: mrdiaz http://www.beenthinking.org/2008/08/22/what-does-god-use-to-open-our-hearts/#comment-2433 mrdiaz Sun, 07 Sep 2008 06:22:19 +0000 http://www.beenthinking.org/?p=389#comment-2433 Hi Mart, It need such a strenght to see suffering as a way of God's love. Though we've read it in the scriptures, if you personally experience such, you'll feel like God has abandoned you. I did! I blamed Him for all the pain and suffering I had, and questioned what have I done to deserve these... each time, no other answer came from Him except - "I love you", and I would cry unceasingly! After all the struggles, I learned that this life is just a passage for us to be ready for heaven. It is like a purification process-just as gold is purified and put in extreme heat to take a wonderful form. God gives us trials to strengthen us. He will never give you anything you can't handle. Other fails because they do not trust God hard enough or maybe they think God is too busy to help them. God wants us to submit to His power - to trust Him with all our hearts. We do the work, but He makes the way. Paul was so blessed to have seen God's power at work. He has seen the problems and sufferings as part of God's blessings, and in all of them, he never failed to pray and submit to God almighty. In today's world, it takes so much courage to entrust your life (and your future) to someone you can't see with your eyes nor hear with your ears. But faith is at work with those who does - just as Paul and the other faithfuls did! God bless! Hi Mart,

It need such a strenght to see suffering as a way of God’s love. Though we’ve read it in the scriptures, if you personally experience such, you’ll feel like God has abandoned you. I did! I blamed Him for all the pain and suffering I had, and questioned what have I done to deserve these… each time, no other answer came from Him except – “I love you”, and I would cry unceasingly!

After all the struggles, I learned that this life is just a passage for us to be ready for heaven. It is like a purification process-just as gold is purified and put in extreme heat to take a wonderful form. God gives us trials to strengthen us. He will never give you anything you can’t handle. Other fails because they do not trust God hard enough or maybe they think God is too busy to help them. God wants us to submit to His power – to trust Him with all our hearts. We do the work, but He makes the way.

Paul was so blessed to have seen God’s power at work. He has seen the problems and sufferings as part of God’s blessings, and in all of them, he never failed to pray and submit to God almighty.

In today’s world, it takes so much courage to entrust your life (and your future) to someone you can’t see with your eyes nor hear with your ears. But faith is at work with those who does – just as Paul and the other faithfuls did!

God bless!

]]> By: JayeBird http://www.beenthinking.org/2008/08/22/what-does-god-use-to-open-our-hearts/#comment-2289 JayeBird Wed, 27 Aug 2008 21:20:37 +0000 http://www.beenthinking.org/?p=389#comment-2289 Micki-b, That is a very heavy load to carry! Jesus tells us that his yoke is easy and his burden is light. He offers us rest for our souls, not guilt! Our heavenly Father, sovereign those he is, could never orchestrate evil events for any reason. But he does take the mess that sin makes of lives and lovingly uses it to draw us closer to him. (Please know I am not saying your friends' sinned and brought trouble upon themselves. Not at all!) A group of my friends are studying the parables of Jesus and last night we met on the parable of the sower and the soils (Mark 4:3-20). For the seed to grow, the soil has to be ready. You said that people sometimes don't come to God until something tragic happens in their lives. Sin can make the soil of our heart hard, but through the results of that sin our heart's soil can become broken and open, ready to receive the seed. Pray, micki-b, pray earnestly and fervently to God and he can and will give you peace and help you understand that he hurts more than all of us do when his people (that's all of humankind, remember!) suffer and he wants to comfort us. But first, we must learn to lean in to him so that we can receive that comfort. Micki-b, That is a very heavy load to carry! Jesus tells us that his yoke is easy and his burden is light. He offers us rest for our souls, not guilt! Our heavenly Father, sovereign those he is, could never orchestrate evil events for any reason. But he does take the mess that sin makes of lives and lovingly uses it to draw us closer to him. (Please know I am not saying your friends’ sinned and brought trouble upon themselves. Not at all!) A group of my friends are studying the parables of Jesus and last night we met on the parable of the sower and the soils (Mark 4:3-20). For the seed to grow, the soil has to be ready. You said that people sometimes don’t come to God until something tragic happens in their lives. Sin can make the soil of our heart hard, but through the results of that sin our heart’s soil can become broken and open, ready to receive the seed. Pray, micki-b, pray earnestly and fervently to God and he can and will give you peace and help you understand that he hurts more than all of us do when his people (that’s all of humankind, remember!) suffer and he wants to comfort us. But first, we must learn to lean in to him so that we can receive that comfort.

]]> By: micki-b http://www.beenthinking.org/2008/08/22/what-does-god-use-to-open-our-hearts/#comment-2268 micki-b Tue, 26 Aug 2008 22:59:35 +0000 http://www.beenthinking.org/?p=389#comment-2268 One of the things I have been struggling with this summer is what happens if you are the one that God is trying to make a lesson to when a really bad thing happens to someone else? Does that make it your fault since we serve a sovereign GOD? I know the answer to that (sort of) but still am troubled by the events of this summer in my life and the lives of my dearest friends. What if I am the cause of the destruction because I needed to learn a lesson about GOD and who He is? I know that sometimes people don't come to GOD until something really tragic happens in their lives so how does that all play into it? (Yes, I KNOW rom 8:28 but I also know that the words "those who LOVE GOD and are the called according to His purpose" don't always apply to the people for whom the lesson is being displayed.) This is just one of the many things that keep me awake at night. One of the things I have been struggling with this summer is what happens if you are the one that God is trying to make a lesson to when a really bad thing happens to someone else? Does that make it your fault since we serve a sovereign GOD? I know the answer to that (sort of) but still am troubled by the events of this summer in my life and the lives of my dearest friends. What if I am the cause of the destruction because I needed to learn a lesson about GOD and who He is? I know that sometimes people don’t come to GOD until something really tragic happens in their lives so how does that all play into it? (Yes, I KNOW rom 8:28 but I also know that the words “those who LOVE GOD and are the called according to His purpose” don’t always apply to the people for whom the lesson is being displayed.) This is just one of the many things that keep me awake at night.

]]> By: Mart De Haan http://www.beenthinking.org/2008/08/22/what-does-god-use-to-open-our-hearts/#comment-2244 Mart De Haan Mon, 25 Aug 2008 23:15:03 +0000 http://www.beenthinking.org/?p=389#comment-2244 daisymarygoldr, I hear you. Thank you. daisymarygoldr, I hear you. Thank you.

]]> By: daisymarygoldr http://www.beenthinking.org/2008/08/22/what-does-god-use-to-open-our-hearts/#comment-2242 daisymarygoldr Mon, 25 Aug 2008 23:12:54 +0000 http://www.beenthinking.org/?p=389#comment-2242 No, it is not confusing and I do see your point. After all these conversations I’m well aware of the noble intentions of your heart in helping the needy and agree that there is nothing wrong to use secular expertise or “multiple counsel” for treating depression as long as the true message of the Gospel stands out loud and clear. Mart, You are primarily noted for your Biblical expertise and the message coming across from you, a man of God is sometimes not that clear and this maybe due to the limitations of written communications on a blog. I’m not commenting on your writing style which by the way is very down to earth and exposes a vulnerability to which all commoners like me can relate to and respond. As you write about practical issues of life it will be greatly reassuring to see you tie things to the Word as this will not only direct us to a solution with an eternal perspective (instead of being left hanging in an uncomfortable state of limbo) but will also give God the due glory He deserves. This is not to advice but to simply voice my humble opinion. Thanks for listening! No, it is not confusing and I do see your point. After all these conversations I’m well aware of the noble intentions of your heart in helping the needy and agree that there is nothing wrong to use secular expertise or “multiple counsel” for treating depression as long as the true message of the Gospel stands out loud and clear.

Mart, You are primarily noted for your Biblical expertise and the message coming across from you, a man of God is sometimes not that clear and this maybe due to the limitations of written communications on a blog. I’m not commenting on your writing style which by the way is very down to earth and exposes a vulnerability to which all commoners like me can relate to and respond.

As you write about practical issues of life it will be greatly reassuring to see you tie things to the Word as this will not only direct us to a solution with an eternal perspective (instead of being left hanging in an uncomfortable state of limbo) but will also give God the due glory He deserves. This is not to advice but to simply voice my humble opinion. Thanks for listening!

]]> By: Mart De Haan http://www.beenthinking.org/2008/08/22/what-does-god-use-to-open-our-hearts/#comment-2238 Mart De Haan Mon, 25 Aug 2008 20:57:09 +0000 http://www.beenthinking.org/?p=389#comment-2238 daisymarygoldr, I absolutely don't want you or anyone else to go silent when you have questions or disagreement. The purpose of this blog is to help us be iron on iron. I deeply appreciate your willingness to test and disagree. Seems to me that we really do agree that there is a difference between physical/temporal and spiritual issues. The problem comes when the two intersect or intermingle. Then I find it important to say to a "i.e. depressed person", if you don't understand why you are feeling this "cloud of sadness" and if it doesn't lift, might be good to see a doctor to see if there's anything medical going on. That doesn't rule out spiritual oppression. But attempting to eliminate options through checking with "multiple counsel" can be a way of prayerfully discerning what is happening. Or looking at your categories of "spiritual journey" vs. "temporal practical living" another way, seems to me that as we trust God (spiritual) to meet our needs (both physical and spiritual) we need to be open to the possibility that he will confirm our spiritual faith through very practical answers that reinforce our dependence upon him. I apologize if I'm further confusing matters... daisymarygoldr, I absolutely don’t want you or anyone else to go silent when you have questions or disagreement. The purpose of this blog is to help us be iron on iron.

I deeply appreciate your willingness to test and disagree.

Seems to me that we really do agree that there is a difference between physical/temporal and spiritual issues. The problem comes when the two intersect or intermingle. Then I find it important to say to a “i.e. depressed person”, if you don’t understand why you are feeling this “cloud of sadness” and if it doesn’t lift, might be good to see a doctor to see if there’s anything medical going on. That doesn’t rule out spiritual oppression. But attempting to eliminate options through checking with “multiple counsel” can be a way of prayerfully discerning what is happening.

Or looking at your categories of “spiritual journey” vs. “temporal practical living” another way, seems to me that as we trust God (spiritual) to meet our needs (both physical and spiritual) we need to be open to the possibility that he will confirm our spiritual faith through very practical answers that reinforce our dependence upon him.

I apologize if I’m further confusing matters…

]]> By: daisymarygoldr http://www.beenthinking.org/2008/08/22/what-does-god-use-to-open-our-hearts/#comment-2237 daisymarygoldr Mon, 25 Aug 2008 20:14:42 +0000 http://www.beenthinking.org/?p=389#comment-2237 Mart, I also agree that we are talking past each other but that’s because I’m really not sure if “multiple counsels”, “unlimited resources” is being applied to temporal practical living (which is not wrong) or to our spiritual journeys… which are 2 different things right? It will certainly help if you clarify this because I don’t want to give people the impression of being an Amish who is hypocritically using the internet to communicate on this blog. Although I’m not scared, well actually I am… of being jumped on, it will definitely help in not being misunderstood as being discretely different within the family of God …Harmony rather than discord should lace our conversations i.e. if we don’t want to give the enemy a chance to use this to his advantage. The other alternative, which I’ve prayerfully decided is to keep my mouth shut when I’m not in agreement with the topic… Mart, I also agree that we are talking past each other but that’s because I’m really not sure if “multiple counsels”, “unlimited resources” is being applied to temporal practical living (which is not wrong) or to our spiritual journeys… which are 2 different things right? It will certainly help if you clarify this because I don’t want to give people the impression of being an Amish who is hypocritically using the internet to communicate on this blog. Although I’m not scared, well actually I am… of being jumped on, it will definitely help in not being misunderstood as being discretely different within the family of God …Harmony rather than discord should lace our conversations i.e. if we don’t want to give the enemy a chance to use this to his advantage.

The other alternative, which I’ve prayerfully decided is to keep my mouth shut when I’m not in agreement with the topic…

]]> By: daisymarygoldr http://www.beenthinking.org/2008/08/22/what-does-god-use-to-open-our-hearts/#comment-2236 daisymarygoldr Mon, 25 Aug 2008 20:12:41 +0000 http://www.beenthinking.org/?p=389#comment-2236 desert rose, I’m so sorry for the confusion…but thanks for asking. The answer to your question is both yes and no. Yes, I have personally been through times when nothing- (money, medicines, family or friends) could help me…I did not have the strength to read the Bible or even cry out to God in prayer. In times like this it was simply my built ‘trust’ that alone helped me to endure such unexplainable circumstances. And no, this is not my personal situation but a problem that I posed after reading others life stories. It was not done to ridicule them but to point out the fact that all of us will inevitably go through a point in life when nobody- including God will be there for us. My comments are always directed to Mart, and I always tend to forget that others are also reading them. I will be more careful in future…I do acknowledge my poor ability to express the language but sincerely I thought the following line made it clear that this was not something that I was going through: “If for some reason (will know it in heaven) He chooses not to provide me with all His unlimited resources, then I will_____”. Sorry again! desert rose,
I’m so sorry for the confusion…but thanks for asking. The answer to your question is both yes and no. Yes, I have personally been through times when nothing- (money, medicines, family or friends) could help me…I did not have the strength to read the Bible or even cry out to God in prayer. In times like this it was simply my built ‘trust’ that alone helped me to endure such unexplainable circumstances. And no, this is not my personal situation but a problem that I posed after reading others life stories. It was not done to ridicule them but to point out the fact that all of us will inevitably go through a point in life when nobody- including God will be there for us.

My comments are always directed to Mart, and I always tend to forget that others are also reading them. I will be more careful in future…I do acknowledge my poor ability to express the language but sincerely I thought the following line made it clear that this was not something that I was going through:
“If for some reason (will know it in heaven) He chooses not to provide me with all His unlimited resources, then I will_____”. Sorry again!

]]> By: desert rose http://www.beenthinking.org/2008/08/22/what-does-god-use-to-open-our-hearts/#comment-2230 desert rose Mon, 25 Aug 2008 12:08:13 +0000 http://www.beenthinking.org/?p=389#comment-2230 I usually read the blog early in its posting, but not this time and I see we have a discussion going on. I am a little confused, daisymarygoldr, and I hope you come back to this blog. Is the senario you gave real? Do you believe like you wrote? If so, how does that explain the other comments you've been leaving previously and why does it bother you for God to use other means to reach others for Christ other than the Bible? Or wy do you believe God cannot minister to someone in great pain with other resources? I am sure all of us want to help you but we must first understand if the situation you write about is actually how you feel or were you just having a bad day? I usually read the blog early in its posting, but not this time and I see we have a discussion going on. I am a little confused, daisymarygoldr, and I hope you come back to this blog. Is the senario you gave real? Do you believe like you wrote? If so, how does that explain the other comments you’ve been leaving previously and why does it bother you for God to use other means to reach others for Christ other than the Bible? Or wy do you believe God cannot minister to someone in great pain with other resources? I am sure all of us want to help you but we must first understand if the situation you write about is actually how you feel or were you just having a bad day?

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