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NightSpirit · 09-13-2008, 07:23 AM

Pianoperformer,

Sorry it is taking me so long to respond to some of your questions. You and my daughter are really making me study and search the Bible for references. I don't know if you read what I posted here a while back about what she has been through Does god exist? but if God never answers another prayer of mine, the answer to that one will keep me as long as I live. For her to go from the pit she was in to where she is now, from coming to my house at midnight all beaten up and bitten from being on the streets to calling me at midnight, like she did yesterday, while studying the Bible with her husband and asking me about something in there....that is more than I could have ever hoped would happen. She has been saved about 6 months now and she is trying to make up for lost time and wants to draw everything I know of God out of me as fast as possible.

What she called to ask about was the reference to what I told her about, the faith of the three Hebrews that were thrown in the furnace for not bowing to an idol. What they said, that "our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up" is similar to what Job said in "though he slay me, yet will I trust Him."

God did deliver Job and did walk with those men in the fire and delivered them but it was their faith that came out like gold, faith that God is good and will do what is right, even though we may not yet understand or must die rather than deny Him. The story is in Daniel 3 in case you haven't read it and that fourth man in the fire is Jesus. Most kids hear it in Sunday school but when my daughter was young, church was the furtherest thing from my mind, and that is one of my biggest regrets.

I thought these verses might also apply to you since you expressed some doubts about what the end of the world might mean to your plans. I understand the feeling and felt it too, the first time I tried to go to church at 18. The kind of faith we need to follow Jesus is the kind they had, where our trust in His goodness overrides our doubts about the future.

God loves us and is good. He said He will never leave us even until the ends of the earth and that He will deliver us. But if deliverance doesn't happen in the way we expect, He is still God and we know if we submit to Him, whatever happens will be right and He will reward our faith and restore our losses.

This verse is used a lot but tells us of the nature of God (Jeremiah 29:11) For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Other versions are translated as 'I know the plans I have for you....to give you a future and a hope.' God takes pleasure in the prosperity of His servants (Psalm 35:27) so we know God wants us to be happy and prosperous. That is His expected end for you and He always gets what He expects.

I know by outward appearances that it doesn't always seem that way and there are some, as the Bible says, that perversely only see 'gain as godliness'. But when a person can reach this state, as Paul said in Philippians 4:12-13, that whatever circumstances we find ourselves to be content then there is a peace in that.

I lost that feeling, that I might miss something or that God's will for me would be hard to accept when I came to God again at around 28. Once I got a vision of the kingdom of heaven and a knowledge that I am privileged that heaven begins now for me because He is with me, that the God of all creation and the universe is here and loves me and wants to guide me, then everything else that I could do without Him seemed unimportant and everything I did with Him seemed like laying up treasure in heaven to enjoy later.

Do what you love and let God use those talents and abilities He has placed in you to accomplish His purposes and He promises you will be blessed. Something will grow in you as you experience more of Him that will make you yearn to be with Him (He calls us His bride). One day, when you think of the end times, it won't be with fear ot dread but you will begin to feel in your spirit, Maranatha, "Come quickly, Lord Jesus." because you want more of what already know of Him and less of what this world can offer.

09-13-2008, 07:23 AM	#309 (permalink)
NightSpirit Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 380	Pianoperformer, Sorry it is taking me so long to respond to some of your questions. You and my daughter are really making me study and search the Bible for references. I don't know if you read what I posted here a while back about what she has been through Does god exist? but if God never answers another prayer of mine, the answer to that one will keep me as long as I live. For her to go from the pit she was in to where she is now, from coming to my house at midnight all beaten up and bitten from being on the streets to calling me at midnight, like she did yesterday, while studying the Bible with her husband and asking me about something in there....that is more than I could have ever hoped would happen. She has been saved about 6 months now and she is trying to make up for lost time and wants to draw everything I know of God out of me as fast as possible. What she called to ask about was the reference to what I told her about, the faith of the three Hebrews that were thrown in the furnace for not bowing to an idol. What they said, that "our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up" is similar to what Job said in "though he slay me, yet will I trust Him." God did deliver Job and did walk with those men in the fire and delivered them but it was their faith that came out like gold, faith that God is good and will do what is right, even though we may not yet understand or must die rather than deny Him. The story is in Daniel 3 in case you haven't read it and that fourth man in the fire is Jesus. Most kids hear it in Sunday school but when my daughter was young, church was the furtherest thing from my mind, and that is one of my biggest regrets. I thought these verses might also apply to you since you expressed some doubts about what the end of the world might mean to your plans. I understand the feeling and felt it too, the first time I tried to go to church at 18. The kind of faith we need to follow Jesus is the kind they had, where our trust in His goodness overrides our doubts about the future. God loves us and is good. He said He will never leave us even until the ends of the earth and that He will deliver us. But if deliverance doesn't happen in the way we expect, He is still God and we know if we submit to Him, whatever happens will be right and He will reward our faith and restore our losses. This verse is used a lot but tells us of the nature of God (Jeremiah 29:11) For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Other versions are translated as 'I know the plans I have for you....to give you a future and a hope.' God takes pleasure in the prosperity of His servants (Psalm 35:27) so we know God wants us to be happy and prosperous. That is His expected end for you and He always gets what He expects. I know by outward appearances that it doesn't always seem that way and there are some, as the Bible says, that perversely only see 'gain as godliness'. But when a person can reach this state, as Paul said in Philippians 4:12-13, that whatever circumstances we find ourselves to be content then there is a peace in that. I lost that feeling, that I might miss something or that God's will for me would be hard to accept when I came to God again at around 28. Once I got a vision of the kingdom of heaven and a knowledge that I am privileged that heaven begins now for me because He is with me, that the God of all creation and the universe is here and loves me and wants to guide me, then everything else that I could do without Him seemed unimportant and everything I did with Him seemed like laying up treasure in heaven to enjoy later. Do what you love and let God use those talents and abilities He has placed in you to accomplish His purposes and He promises you will be blessed. Something will grow in you as you experience more of Him that will make you yearn to be with Him (He calls us His bride). One day, when you think of the end times, it won't be with fear ot dread but you will begin to feel in your spirit, Maranatha, "Come quickly, Lord Jesus." because you want more of what already know of Him and less of what this world can offer. Last edited by NightSpirit; 09-13-2008 at 07:42 AM.