tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6326041191684355559.post2639031148100807843..comments2024-03-09T07:12:24.366-06:00Comments on Emily is Smiling: He is steadfast when I am weak. (Seven Fast)Emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16946530657503312068noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6326041191684355559.post-78495388112042843132023-05-04T15:31:32.150-05:002023-05-04T15:31:32.150-05:00Great posstGreat posstKeto Recipeshttps://www.ketopins.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6326041191684355559.post-42851857275697483722013-09-13T03:31:12.966-05:002013-09-13T03:31:12.966-05:00That's a very interesting thought. I will defi...That's a very interesting thought. I will definitely be pondering what you've written and consider what I would write about this in a blog post.Emilyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16946530657503312068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6326041191684355559.post-5531856492758056942013-09-13T02:35:41.469-05:002013-09-13T02:35:41.469-05:00To post a little bit on topic: Currently, followin...To post a little bit on topic: Currently, following Montignac, I'm abstaining from fiberless carbs, and trying to avoid having carbs and fats in my bloodstream at the same time. I'm trying to imagine resisting my temptations as opening windows to a new life and new horizons.<br /><br />Going off on another tangent: I'm trying to learn to make better use of the Internet, to help spread the knowledge and love of God, and to support and encourage others in the work. Forums and social networks seem to me to be almost completely useless for that, although I haven't given up on them entirely. The best possibilities I see now are in the blogosphere. Even more than the question of where, though, I'm puzzled by the question of how. To help me with that, I'm looking for stories about interpersonal experiences on the Internet that have helped open people's hearts more to God, and attract them to the Kingdom. Along with the stories I'd like people's ideas about what it was in the other person's character and conduct that affected them that way.<br /><br />For example, I remember an experience in an Internet forum that was so wonderful for me that I felt like I was "touched by an angel," just like in the TV series. A woman was looking for help in learning to believe in God. I don't remember much of the details any more. I remember thinking, when I first started reading her posts, "Here we go again, another person who's shopping for a religion the way a person might shop for a car, searching for a religion made to order especially for her." Then the more I read in her posts, the more I was touched and moved, and she kept saying things that looked like intimate personal messages from God to me. Even more amazing, once when I tried to offer her some ideas, I suddenly saw my own words as a personal message from God, to *me*!<br /><br />What was it in her character and conduct that affected me that way? What stands out in my memory is that, as much as she ached to believe in God, she steadfastly resisted the temptation to substitute an imaginary God in His place, as I've seen so many people doing.<br /><br />I'll be thinking about what lessons I can learn from that experience, in learning to make better use of the Internet. I'm hoping that maybe you'll like this idea well enough to post about some interpersonal experiences of your own, on the Internet, that have helped open your heart more to God, and increased your attraction to the Kingdom; and invite others to do the same.Jim Habeggerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09320817826382769445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6326041191684355559.post-39828682958547278982013-09-12T08:17:44.346-05:002013-09-12T08:17:44.346-05:00It makes very good sense. Thanks for clarifying!It makes very good sense. Thanks for clarifying!Jim Habeggerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09320817826382769445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6326041191684355559.post-43897496120238116942013-09-12T07:15:01.739-05:002013-09-12T07:15:01.739-05:00I definitely agree with what you're saying. I ...I definitely agree with what you're saying. I may have used an odd wording when I described it as my daily devotional. I might edit this post and add that in as to not cause confusion to anyone else. I only read a day's Jesus Calling AFTER I spend some time reading the Bible and praying, which was why I called it a devotional, but when I read autobiographies of Christian missionaries, I consider their books as part of my daily devo as well, even though their words are certainly not directly inspired by God either. I suppose I use the term daily devotional a bit loosely. But I wouldn't consider reading Jesus Calling on its own as a real quiet time, nor would I agree with quoting Sarah Young's words as directly quoting the Lord. They are certainly inspiring words that often quote God's promises in the Bible, but they are not Scripture. When I shared them here, I certainly meant it similar to sharing an inspirational quote and not like sharing direct Scripture. I hope this makes sense.Emilyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16946530657503312068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6326041191684355559.post-24348757402889820222013-09-12T04:35:32.504-05:002013-09-12T04:35:32.504-05:00Emily, rather than trying to better understand and...Emily, rather than trying to better understand and explain my objections to using that kind of book as a devotional, I'll just give an example of a way of using it that seems more healthy to me. It seems to me it would be better to regard those sayings not as actual sayings of Jesus, but as daydreams of the author, imagining Jesus talking to her. They may or may not be more or less inspired by God, but certainly not entirely so.<br /><br />I can see a lot of possible value in reading a book like that, but I have some doubts about using it as a daily devotional.Jim Habeggerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09320817826382769445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6326041191684355559.post-18192140779975885352013-09-12T03:15:12.067-05:002013-09-12T03:15:12.067-05:00Emily, I have some doubts and concerns about using...Emily, I have some doubts and concerns about using a book of sayings attributed to Jesus, apart from the Bible, as a daily devotional. Has anyone raised that issue with you, in relation to "Jesus Calling"? Do you see any possible danger in it, and if so do you have any ideas about how to avoid that danger? I see that you've cautioned readers to be sure not to become entangled in routine or allow our devotionals to be more important to our daily quiet time than the Word, but that doesn't address all my doubts and concerns about using that kind of book as a daily devotional. I'll try to explain after I think about it some more. For now I'll just say that I might be much less concerned if it were presented and treated as a work of fiction.Jim Habeggerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09320817826382769445noreply@blogger.com