The happy thread

[Dave L]

When I first met God, I had this experience where I physically felt Him. It was like these waves washing over me and in me and it caused the hair on my arms to stand up. Others describe different things, more like a sense of great peace and well-being. But for me, I would be filled with great joy and would also have a physical reaction.

This went on for some time. It wasn't continual but He would sneak up on me and it was almost like He was hugging me. I wouldn't even be thinking about Him. I'd be doing something like taking out the trash or driving my car and bang! He would just wash over me.

One day, I guess I realized He hadn't been doing that for a while. So I began to fear I'd offended Him in some way. I began doing everything I could think to do to make Him return to my senses. But He didn't. It was a distressful time for me. No one could help me. A lot of people tried. Some said, you can't go on your feelings. You have to go on faith (trust). But I didn't understand what they were saying because from the day I'd met God, it came with this feeling, this physical sensation. I knew this was God.

Then He eventually came back to my senses. But He would come and then disappear so quickly and I wanted Him back. It got to the point where I was always wandering around hoping for Him to return, even though it was very dissatisfying because it was so fleeting. It's like I wanted, but also saw I wanted something more. More...permanent.

Some people told me that this feeling was not God but was instead satan, but thankfully, they didn't convince me of that because I had lived over 42 years and in that 42 years, I had experienced every feeling and emotion common to men. I had experienced anger, happiness, cold, hot, pain, muscle aches, spasms, etc. But they were saying this new experience that I'd never had in all those years that filled me with such joy that it always brought tears to my eyes as being a feeling sent from satan, and I just knew it wasn't true.

I was told to just reject the feeling by some but I could not. I knew this was God. I didn't know any other thing, but I knew it was Him.

After some time, living in this distress, except when He would be present to my senses again for a brief moment and I would have joy again, to be replaced by distress again moments later when He disappeared again - He placed a book in my hand that finally helped me some. The author explained that I was being weaned. He likened it to a human child being weaned rather than being answered with milk and warm caresses every time they cried.

He further described my physical sensations/feelings as a still very sensual and base way of experiencing God rather than a mature way of walking not by sight/feeling, but by trust. This was why God kept disappearing to my human senses - He wanted to lead me by a purer way, not mixed up in carnality and pleasures to my flesh.

The author described my experience as "the dark night of the senses." He explained that God was doing good by me and that all experience it to some degree, this weaning.

It brought me relief. I still craved it, but I was able to go along without so much distress.

There is a second part to the book that describes another stage, but for now, that's all I wanted to share.

I could be wrong and your experience can in no way relate to mine, but I had some anger in places, that God was being mean to me that I had to admit to. It sounds like you are angry as I was, throwing a wailing fit because the breast has been withheld from you when you cried for it.

So...if any of it rings for you, take it. If all of it sounds like insanity, discard it. It certainly won't offend me if you can't relate at all.

My experience was similar to yours. I experienced Jesus before I believed in him. (I share this in the Testimony Forum). My wife's experience was more subtle. And I learned God draws people to Christ in various ways. If any unbelievers are hanging out on this forum, there's a good chance he is drawing them to Christ or they wouldn't be here. Many say "you must choose to believe", but I say choosing to believe is the first step of faith for many. They wouldn't choose if they didn't already believe.

 

[djstav]

However ~ Some things we do know;

1)
The Carnal Mind is naturally born Against God.

Why?

A) Mankind born from a mans seed and is in the likeness of "that" seed.
B) Adam was Only hearing Good things from God.
C) Adam was Given the Tree of Life from which to eat.
D) In Adams midst was One Tree; the Tree of Good "and Evil", and Adam was given a prohibition to Look at or Eat from that tree.
E) whoops, bummer for all men born of a mans seed; their likeness is now, they also are naturally born in mans likeness; having to weigh; choose good or choose evil.

2)
Mankind being in the likeness of mankinds seed, presents mankind with a dilemma.

Why?

A) Mankind in his own flesh, Is flesh, strives to preserve his flesh, and often the cost to preserve his own flesh, the man, will do most anything he perceives at a threat to his own preservation.

B) Bummer ~ all flesh is sentenced to death.
Money, Fame, Philosophers, Drugs, Surgeries, Cheating, Lying, Stealing, Big screen TV's, Guns, Governments, Created spirits, Created men....EVEN God Himself...CAN NOT preserve the Flesh and (Blood Life) of mankind.
Since it was God Himself who pronounced the Blood Life of All flesh, shall die.

3)
Bummer. What is the Point of mankind to continue being naturally born, if No flesh and blood life can be preserved and remain alive?

4)
But, but, but...Wait a minute.
Listen, hear, tell... the Good News Revealed...
Dispite a man from a natural mans seed, having been MADE Subject To Death...

trust, believe, agree.....the Lord God Himself has OFFERED mankind a WAY to be MADE forgiven, saved, born again, adopted, and HAVE forever life WITH THEE Lord God Himself.....AND OVERCOME evil, wickedness, corruption...even his own Natural Carnal Mind.

5)
Listen, hear, tell, trust, believe, agree....By and Through Gods Offering and a mans Acceptance....IS the ONLY WAY for a man to willingly give his natural flesh and blood life...
In exchange for Gods Offering of Eternal Life with Him.

There IS alot we do not know about a mans Carnal Mind....However it is what we do know, through the Word of God, that by and through His internal Power, the man can have the fruit of that Tree of Life, without the continuance of gobbling up from the Tree of Good "AND EVIL".

Praise and Glory to Our Great God,
Taken

You sound like a poor deluded fool, and you even had me join in on your deluded ways. The God of the Bible is not this retarded image you Christian's make it out to be, and it's not this soft mushy idea you peddle to children.

 

[Dave L]

You sound like a poor deluded fool, and you even had me join in on your deluded ways. The God of the Bible is not this retarded image you Christian's make it out to be, and it's not this soft mushy idea you peddle to children.

What "other faith" are you?

 

[Taken]

Nah, I've decided to follow Satan.

All praise to diablo!

So you have chosen to follow and praise a spirit.

What has that spirit you have chosen...
sacrificed for you or offered to you for your allegiance?

Glory to God,
Taken

 

[stunnedbygrace]

Wow. Fleeing the thread. Sorry if I dragged anyone else in here. Prayer is in order.

 

[Dave L]

Nah, I've decided to follow Satan.

All praise to diablo!

“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” (John 3:36)

 

[Taken]

You sound like a poor deluded fool,

Natural Carnal Minds are limited in what sounds they can hear....thus it is expected for people to believe it is foolish, when another can hear, what they cannot.

and you even had me join in on your deluded ways.

Nah, you are not joined with me.

The God of the Bible is not this retarded image

No ONE said He is.

you Christian's make it out to be,

Comprehension problem?
Retard is to Turn Backwards.
Clearly you overlooked the Good News of God Revealing More....which is NOT a backward direction!

and it's not this soft mushy idea you peddle to children.

AGAIN you are confused.
Soft and mushy pertains to mankinds natural IDEA of Love.
Gods Love pertains to Righteousness.

Not surprised it sounds foolish to you.
It's supposed to.

Glory to God,
Taken

 

[Helen]

Nah, I've decided to follow Satan.

All praise to diablo!

Usually you are funny , when you are funny....but that is not even slightly funny. You must still be hanging on tight to all your hurts.

 

[Enoch111]

Nah, I've decided to follow Satan.All praise to diablo!

You are playing with fire. But if that is true, you should not even be on any Christian forum. This is not funny.

 

[Helen]

You are playing with fire. But if that is true, you should not even be on any Christian forum. This is not funny.

He is hurting so much I don't think he knows what he is saying...ie not meaning it.

He is not 'fully' on this Site...he only has access to a few boards...not the "Christian Only " boards. He has been honest in choosing "Other Faith"..it limits his postings.

@Dave L a back slidden Christian...a prodigal...God loves him even though he stinketh.

 

[bbyrd009]

Nah, I've decided to follow Satan.

All praise to diablo!

"pleased to meet you; hope you guessed my name"

 

[djstav]

"pleased to meet you; hope you guessed my name"

Funny thing is that I'm joking about praising Satan, but they are serious about praising Jesus.

I never said I was returning to Jesus, God maybe, but not Jesus.

 

[Helen]

I believe that God understands you much more than you understand yourself! I really do.

 

[djstav]

Wow. Fleeing the thread. Sorry if I dragged anyone else in here. Prayer is in order.

You should have fled the thread way before this all started. Well at least I'm not commutating with the dead, but the living.

 

[djstav]

I believe that God understands you much more than you understand yourself! I really do.

Well that's a given, but your idea of God is not my idea. You have a interpersonal God who interacts with it's creation & intervenes. He's the kind of God who'll slaughter children to justify his means, no problem there.

 

[djstav]

He is hurting so much I don't think he knows what he is saying...ie not meaning it.

He is not 'fully' on this Site...he only has access to a few boards...not the "Christian Only " boards. He has been honest in choosing "Other Faith"..it limits his postings.

@Dave L a back slidden Christian...a prodigal...God loves him even though he stinketh.

You know you're right, but most of the pain I've endured has been due to your religion.

 

[Helen]

Well that's a given, but your idea of God is not my idea. You have a interpersonal God who interacts with it's creation & intervenes. He's the kind of God who'll slaughter children to justify his means, no problem there.

See, my friend...if you read other parts of this forum you would know that I am STRONGLY against those who say that God is a God of judgement. He poured out all Judgement for sin upon Jesus.

I also believe that none of those who were 'judged' and died in the OT "went to hell"...what was lost was their natural life.

So you see...you have no idea what I believe or don't believe....
I do NOT believe the 'party line'...I believe what I see in the heart of the Father.

 

[djstav]

"pleased to meet you; hope you guessed my name"

Josh?

 

[Helen]

Josh?

His real name is Mark. :)

 

[djstav]

See, my friend...if you read other parts of this forum you would know that I am STRONGLY against those who say that God is a God of judgement. He poured out all Judgement for sin upon Jesus.

I also believe that none of those who were 'judged' and died in the OT "went to hell"...what was lost was their natural life.

So you see...you have no idea what I believe or don't believe....
I do NOT believe the 'party line'...I believe what I see in the heart of the Father.

Did those children believe in Jesus? No? But they deserve to go to heaven.

If children go to heaven without knowing & believing in Jesus then there is a loophole in salvation by faith only.
It proves that your God can save a person without them believing in him. So does your requirement for salvation still stand.