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Post by shiloh on Mar 23, 2015 3:38:26 GMT
I remember really knowing the Lord sometime in high school. Different people in different ways were trying to pull me in different directions, from astrology, New Age, you name it. I felt lonely, but not in the sense of no one being around me. There more than plenty of people around me. It was more of an"emptiness" that I felt. I was going through a lot at that time. The last straw was when there was an elderly woman who would come into the restaurant where I worked after school. She was sitting alone in the dining room an she called me over. I was hostessing then. I thought she needed something, so I went over to where she was sitting. She said to me, Do you know what the Lord's name is? "I said Jesus, the Great I AM." She got really upset with me and said, "NO! It's Jehovah!" Don't ask me what the heck I was thinking, but I gave her my address (my parents both worked second shift, so they were never home) and she would come over and she brought, "Paradise Lost, Paradise Gained" with her. I had no clue at first she was a Jehovah's Witness. I didn't know that much about them. I still felt empty. One night, I started crying while laying in bed and prayed, "Lord, if you are real, PLEASE show me the way. I feel confused." Two days later, that woman came to our front door and said, "I'm sorry, I can't come back anymore, I have to move to Florida." Shortly after that was when I met my husband to be (also a Christian). He would come in the restaurant all the time. Then, the Lord put very seasoned Christians in my path who taught me much and got me to start reading the Bible. One of them was who I called my "spiritual mother" and the Lord gave me a real hunger for His Word. I new very little because being raised Catholic, we were discouraged from reading the Bible. So, the Lord revealed Himself to me and it never stopped from there. Maybe this account sounds mundane, but for me, it was miraculous and amazing. I skipped over a lot of things in order to , make this as short as possible.
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Post by Benjamin on Mar 23, 2015 7:52:04 GMT
This is what makes our testimonies special.
They might seem like they're mundane to us - and I've no doubt some will seem incredible - but in every single case, you can see that the Lord has moved mountains to bring us to Himself.
For some of us, that mountain might be something that the world recognises as a horrific thing, and for others, it might be something far simpler. In your case, the Lord overcame that confusion, and the lack of good Christian role models, and provided someone who could point you in the right direction.
That's amazing.
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Post by Leeza on Mar 23, 2015 7:58:17 GMT
Oh, Shiloh, I think that's so beautiful. I love the way that the Lord just orchestrated your life by wooing you unto Himself, and leading you to find your husband. I do believe that there is a "God Vacuumed" place into our heart that only He can fill. He put that lonely, empty feeling inside of you so you could seek Him. That is so incredible. Thanks so much for sharing your testimony, sis.
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Post by Gr8tful on Mar 26, 2015 21:55:20 GMT
Shiloh I forgot to comment on this, sorry! I love the way the Lord led you to Him and tho you were from religion, the next one that came along wasn't the answer either....He kept watch over you and led you on a path to finding Him! And brought you someone who could mentor you! He really knows our hearts and desires and saw your hunger for Him! I'm sure it took a long time to get past the things you were taught. I know for me I was so surprised every time I came across yet another 'belief' that I had been taught not lining up w/the Word. Even tho I came from a born again believing background, it was so restrictive w/all things you couldn't and shouldn't do...such as sing hymns ONLY, only a piano or organ were allowed as long as the songs were monotone. (Yes, a leader actually said that!) No raising of hands, etc. So I imagine it was a real cleaning out process for you! Were you like me when you'd come across a scripture that your eyes practically bulge out becuz it's so not what you were told? That's why we need to read and study the Word for ourselves and not just take what the pastor, priest whoever teaches. No your testimony is not mundane, it's a wooing and it's really sweet!
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Post by shiloh on Mar 27, 2015 14:13:04 GMT
That's so true, gr8tful. It was so amazing how something would jump off the page (still does) and you'd think, "Wait! That's not what the scriptures say."
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Post by Deleted on Apr 18, 2015 16:17:25 GMT
With that lonely part of you, you could have easily turned to something else but God had his hand upon you and put the people (not the Jehovah witness lady) in your path to help you learn and grow. I have to think God's hand was at worked with the lady having to move to Florida, there is no doubt.
Thanks for sharing Shiloh.
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Post by Leeza on Apr 18, 2015 16:54:34 GMT
Yeah, I loved the fact that when you asked the Lord to show you the way, that the Jehovah Witness lady came over 2 days later to tell you that she was moving to Florida. Talk about a fast answer to prayer! You dodged a bullet there. Then to meet your husband shortly afterwards was a definite answer to prayer. Not only did He show you the way, He showed you the man that He chose for you to marry! Then on top of it, He put seasoned Christians in your path to guide you as a new Christian, including your spiritual mother. He was so gentle with you with His guiding Hand.
Wow, I loved this testimony.
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Post by shiloh on Oct 15, 2015 20:18:43 GMT
Oh man! I just lost my whole post and it was long! I was rereading what everyone said and had a bunch of comments on them. They were all so lovely. hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. I could just kick myself for losing that post.
Here's what I wanted to ask and wasn't sure which category to put this under. I was reading Deuteronomy the other day and thinking that the Lord was saying it is impossible to meet His standards and His holiness by imposing the law upon them. He had to come down to earth as a man and pay a heavy price for us. Oh, how he loves us! So, my question is, Would we, as being from the nations understand that either at that time? Were the Israelites supposed to understand what He was saying or teaching them, or were they a stiff-necked people in that sense? I think anyone can be stiff-necked. Would we have understood either? I suppose it all comes down to a matter of having a heart for the Lord. I know that many of us are more than willing to succumb to the Lord. Any thoughts on that? |
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Post by Gr8tful on Oct 16, 2015 3:01:29 GMT
Oh Shiloh, interesting question! I'm getting ready to log off, but will be back in the a.m. to put my 2 cents sense in, if I have it! hahaha I will have to dig deep into my pockets and see if there's anything in there besides lint!  In other words, I'll see if I can respond with something worthwhile! |
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Post by shiloh on Oct 16, 2015 9:42:15 GMT
hahahaha. I hear ya, Teri. I would love to read your input and thoughts about that. Get some restful time. We all need that.
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Post by shiloh on Oct 18, 2015 1:16:42 GMT
Well, apparently no one has any thoughts on that.  I should have stuck this in the Q&A section...but I have this thing where I think no one else can see it but us and forget the whole world can....hahahaha....like it's real private in this section or something. |
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Post by Gr8tful on Oct 18, 2015 3:26:00 GMT
I've come on here a few times over the last few days, but just haven't had the chance to really sit down and answer it. Last few days have been hectic. I was hoping someone would add their 2 cents tho! I'm not too sure what you're question is exactly, can you explain it more? It's probably clear as day but I'm just not 'getting' it!
Does anyone else have any thing they want to add, input, thoughts, ideas.....anything?!
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Post by shiloh on Oct 18, 2015 7:03:43 GMT
hahahahahaa. You're right, Teri. I didn't explain that very well. I guess my questions are, "is it because of the age of grace?" "Would we have understood at that time?" We are all undeserving and we know that. Wait, I think I just answered my own question from reading Scripture. Thanks for hanging in there for me, Teri. I completely hear you on the hectic stuff going on. Hang in there with us, sis. |
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Post by Gr8tful on Oct 19, 2015 3:07:30 GMT
I have tried all day to post on this, but here it is, hours later and still haven't! ugh! I take it your question is if we were around at the time, would we understand any better that we all fall short? That the law was given, showing us that even with the law, rules, regulations we couldn't even keep those?! Or would we be stiff necked/stubborn re: it? Me personally believe we would be the same as they were. I always thought how did they NOT 'get it'?! Man, they would repent and make the Lord their God again and bam! off they go and start adding other gods, AGAIN, doing things that the heathen did, then the blessings would stop and judgment would come and they were back to repenting, again, and repeat the same mistakes again and again! I would think, what part of DON'T do they not understand!! But as I grew in the Lord I saw, it's the same today as it was back then! It's easy to say we would NEVER do that like they did, when we have the benefit of reading about it and able to see the whole picture! In reality, we are doing the same thing, in different ways and have to go 'thru' it over and over before we eventually get it, IF we do! Anyway, no profound words here...and it's probably not even what you were asking...but that's my thoughts. And thanks for encouraging me to hang in there! I'm trying!! |
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Post by shiloh on Oct 19, 2015 4:48:06 GMT
Thanks so much for getting back, Teri. Yeah, you nailed it there. That's a confirmation to me. It's what I thought too.
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Post by Gr8tful on Oct 19, 2015 16:09:34 GMT
Oh good, glad it is a confirmation! I was thinking, 'she's going to read this and say, What the heck is she talking about?!' hahaha Well I guess it's a topic for just us 2 huh?! I wonder too. like you said, if anyone ever notices this section too. It is not an active section but I think the topics are all good ones! Don't know what the answer is re: having it stand out more...all I know is, for the most part I have to remind myself to check this area.
I guess we were trained to read from the top down and anything not on the top is considered older so we don't tend to pay attention as much becuz of that? maybe? hmmmm
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Post by shiloh on Oct 21, 2015 9:09:37 GMT
I think that's very true, Teri. We mostly go to the main part of the board. I usually only scan down to read Benjamin's teachings and the Q&A questions. I even forget to scan down a lot to the instant message thing.
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In other words, I'll see if I can respond with something worthwhile! 