Does God put couples together?

[ImperfectionisBeauty]

i don't mean to be rude when i say this, but i think he really needs to bring these guys with written instructions, if we're supposed to follow them so closely. "this guy's a douche. I brought him into your life so that you can stand up for yourself, and realize that you deserve better." i realized that i deserved better before i ever met him, and that did nothing for my self-esteem: Being brought an ******* when i really needed someone good.

 

thank you finally someone gets it!

[ImperfectionisBeauty]

You get out what you put in....so I would say prepare for the sucky life.

 

I put in a lot so my life should not take the sucky route, I'm not going to let that happen

[TheFinalWord]

I don't mean to be rude when I say this, but I think he really needs to bring these guys with written instructions, if we're supposed to follow them so closely. "This guy's a douche. I brought him into your life so that you can stand up for yourself, and realize that you deserve better." I realized that I deserved better before I ever met him, and that did nothing for my self-esteem: being brought an ******* when I really needed someone good.

 

Hi good point,

 

God has given an abundance of godly "red flags". I provided three earlier:

 

(1) If you want a Christian marriage, you need to date a Christian (I'm assuming we're talking about the Christian God here)

**Caveat to this; not someone who just says they're a Christian. Lots of people say they are Christian. Someone that lives by it. I gave links earlier to Perry Noble's sermon that will tell everyone how to know.

 

(2) You need to have life purpose compatibility

 

(3) You both need to be mentally healthy: no unresolved anger or bitterness--very important.

 

Concerning relationships, the bible gives an illustration of a yoke.

 

"Do not be yoked together with unbelievers."

 

A yoke is used in agriculture to plow fields.

 

http://trentpictures.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/ox-yoke.jpg

 

Two bulls would be harnessed together to provide twice the power. Now if a believer is yoked in a relationship to an unbeliever, how can they go in the same direction?

 

If someone ignores God's wisdom in this area and willfully goes ahead in a relationship anyway its not God's fault. Lots of people come into our lives. We however, decide for ourselves who gets access to our heart. The bible is readily available in our country (in many countries its not) and you have free access to advice from many Christians that are married on this site. If the advice is ignored, that's well within anyone's right, but it's not God's fault.

 

"For everyone to whom much is given, of him shall much be required." -- Luke 12:48

 

Now, if you have been betrayed by a man, I can sympathize with that. Christ understands that. He was betrayed by His best friend Judas. Take your pain to Him and He will heal you

 

For dating..

 

I would go even one step further, but many won't be able to handle this teaching. As men we should aim for the attributes of an overseer. Women should aim for men with these characteristics.

 

Qualifications for Overseers

 

The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to wine, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church? He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.

Edited September 16, 2012 by TheFinalWord

[BetheButterfly]

I would like to be fb friends I don't know how to pm but can I just put my email on here?

 

I tried to pm you but it said that you weren't allowing them or couldn't receive them, so maybe you can ask William?

 

As for your previous post, I was raised by wonderful parents who love God and believe the Bible is true. Now, they're not perfect; I'm not either, but I have seen them love others and help others all of my life. Their beliefs help motivate them to help others.

 

There are most definitely Atheists who help others, but many do so in order to "give back" and in order to feel good about doing the right thing, not in order to please God. However, the important thing is to help others, whether one does so in order to feel good about themselves or to please another Being, right?

 

The Bible is an amazing historical collection. Although some people dismiss the manuscripts as a fairytale, other people understand that each scroll (now book) contains remarkable information concerning the experiences of some people a long time ago. The information concerning the Dead Sea Scrolls is great to study, if history intrigues you. For me, history is awesome and I love studying about the people who lived a long time ago!

 

The Bible became "alive" to me when I truly experienced God. Now, I understand you haven't had such an experience yet, right? Jesus says to seek and you will find, so if you really want to know God personally instead of just about God, it's possible.

 

To me, knowing God is trillion times better than merely knowing about Him!!! Now, I still don't know everything about God, but I know God as my Heavenly Father and love Him, and trust in His love for me!

[BetheButterfly]

I'm not questioning your purpose in life or your commitment to your husband; only the way you reach conclusions.

 

Why?

 

Out of curiosity, why do you think god doesn't act on the prayers of, say, African Christians who fall victiim to starvation and war by the tens of thousands?

 

God has sadly allowed many of His children to suffer. I'm not fond of that but then, I didn't create the world.

 

Jesus said that many of his followers would be persecuted. Matthew 5:1-12 is one place, (I boldened some.)

 

Matthew 5 NIV - Introduction to the Sermon on the Mount - Bible Gateway

 

"Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them.He said:

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 Blessed are those who mourn,

for they will be comforted.

5 Blessed are the meek,

for they will inherit the earth.

6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

for they will be filled.

7 Blessed are the merciful,

for they will be shown mercy.

8 Blessed are the pure in heart,

for they will see God.

9 Blessed are the peacemakers,

for they will be called children of God.

10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

 

11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

 

Matthew 24 also includes warnings of being persecuted.

Matthew 24 NIV - The Destruction of the Temple and Signs - Bible Gateway

 

"4 Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. 6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of birth pains. 9 “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come."

 

 

 

 

 

But he will take the time to arrange some convoluted string of events to ensure you get hitched?

 

God did not have to answer my prayers for a husband who loves God and loves me. He could have sent me to Pakistan and asked me to sacrifice my life in order to bring help to the Pakistani Christians in need. That is actually one thing my husband and I are praying about... it is possible that maybe someday, my husband and I will go there to help with a school for the Christians. Many of the Christians in Pakistan are from the "untouchable" caste of the culture and live in horrible poverty. It would be dangerous to go there to help them, but I do believe that God has plans for my husband and me to help those in need, whether there or here where we are right now.

 

God has a plan for each person, and when He brings a couple together, He has a plan of what they can do to help others, whether together or separately yet supporting each other.

 

Why does it appear that such alleged blessings seem to be so much more common in prosperous regions of the world?

 

That is an interesting question. The USA was colonized for the most part by different Christian groups. Now, many American Christians believe that one of the reasons the USA is so blessed as a nation is due to the Christians who founded the USA, as well as those who made remarkable differences, such as those who fought against slavery and those who fought against segregation. Personally, some of my heroes are people like Elijah Lovejoy and Martin Luther King Jr. because of how they helped the USA become a better nation. They are both Christian. However, I do wonder if someday, the USA will pay for the horrible crimes many Christians and Deists did against the Native Americans and African Americans. I am thankful though for the Christians and Deists who have peaceably fought for the rights of other people.

 

In Pakistan, there are not as many people who fight for the rights of the oppressed, sad to say.

 

 

Aren't you just being somewhat self-indulgent?

 

I pray for my single friends to be blessed with wonderful men or women as their soulmates too, and have happily seen many of my friends get married to wonderful people!!!

 

As for self-indulgence, is that not human nature? Are you not self-indulgent in certain aspects of life?

 

This is not intended to have a go at you, these are genuine questions that I think you should spend a bit of time really pondering. It's a big world out there, and a lot of it is horrible. A lot of people cry out for help, but for some reason god rarely seems to get involved where it's needed the most.

 

That's one of the issues that has crept into Christianity which I don't appreciate: that many Christians think it's ok just to believe in God and Jesus, and yet live however they want.

 

Jesus made it clear in Matthew 25 a lesson that all Christians should heed: helping people.

 

Matthew 25

Matthew 25 NIV - The Parable of the Ten Virgins -

 

"34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ 37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’

46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

 

God commands those who believe in Him to help others. So, when people cry for help, humans are supposed to be responsible to help those who are in need.

 

 

 

As James said,

 

 

 

"26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. 27Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."- James 1

[TheFinalWord]

God has sadly allowed many of His children to suffer. I'm not fond of that but then, I didn't create the world.

 

This is an interesting movie. Lots of Hollywood license, but I think it touches on many good points with the condition of this world

 

Jesus is Tempted by Satan in the Garden of Gethsemane.flv - YouTube

[Anela]

Hi good point,

 

God has given an abundance of godly "red flags". I provided three earlier:

 

(1) If you want a Christian marriage, you need to date a Christian (I'm assuming we're talking about the Christian God here)

**Caveat to this; not someone who just says they're a Christian. Lots of people say they are Christian. Someone that lives by it. I gave links earlier to Perry Noble's sermon that will tell everyone how to know.

 

(2) You need to have life purpose compatibility

 

(3) You both need to be mentally healthy: no unresolved anger or bitterness--very important.

 

Concerning relationships, the bible gives an illustration of a yoke.

 

"Do not be yoked together with unbelievers."

 

A yoke is used in agriculture to plow fields.

 

http://trentpictures.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/ox-yoke.jpg

 

Two bulls would be harnessed together to provide twice the power. Now if a believer is yoked in a relationship to an unbeliever, how can they go in the same direction?

 

If someone ignores God's wisdom in this area and willfully goes ahead in a relationship anyway its not God's fault. Lots of people come into our lives. We however, decide for ourselves who gets access to our heart. The bible is readily available in our country (in many countries its not) and you have free access to advice from many Christians that are married on this site. If the advice is ignored, that's well within anyone's right, but it's not God's fault.

 

"For everyone to whom much is given, of him shall much be required." -- Luke 12:48

 

Now, if you have been betrayed by a man, I can sympathize with that. Christ understands that. He was betrayed by His best friend Judas. Take your pain to Him and He will heal you

 

For dating..

 

I would go even one step further, but many won't be able to handle this teaching. As men we should aim for the attributes of an overseer. Women should aim for men with these characteristics.

 

Qualifications for Overseers

 

The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to wine, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church? He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.

 

I'm not a Christian, but I'm generally thought well of - more-so than I realized. I would never have had a problem with social anxiety if I'd known - I got that in the first place thanks to bullying, and PTSD that came from something before that. Some of that was thanks to more than one man that I'm assuming god sent to my mother.

 

I was mentally stable before I met this guy. I dealt with some anxiety, but I was a okay otherwise. I also think that if God were really good, then he would bring someone good to myself and others, regardless of whether or not we're actual believers: my mother has always believed, but is not a church-goer because of the fire-and-brimstone types out there. Her friend's father was a minister, who was just awful to people who weren't believers, and she didn't believe that was the way to go. She passed that on to me, and she was disappointed that I admitted recently, that I no longer believe in God - that I'm not sure what to believe. I try to respect the beliefs of others, though.

 

I didn't deserve what I go, so God, if he exists, is now on my "naughty" list, where he should have been a long time ago, for what he brought to my mother.

Edited September 16, 2012 by Anela

[TheFinalWord]

I'm not a Christian, but I'm generally thought well of - more-so than I realized. I would never have had a problem with social anxiety if I'd known - I got that in the first place thanks to bullying, and PTSD that came from something before that. Some of that was thanks to more than one man that I'm assuming god sent to my mother.

 

Sorry to hear that. My mom was severely abused by an alcoholic father.

 

I was mentally stable before I met this guy. I dealt with some anxiety, but I was a okay otherwise. I also think that if God were really good, then he would bring someone good to myself and others, regardless of whether or not we're actual believers: my mother has always believed, but is not a church-goer because of the fire-and-brimstone types out there. Her friend's father was a minister, who was just awful to people who weren't believers, and she didn't believe that was the way to go. She passed that on to me, and she was disappointed that I admitted recently, that I no longer believe in God - that I'm not sure what to believe. I try to respect the beliefs of others, though.

 

Well, it sounds like you're kind of having a crisis of faith. I think those periods in life can make us stronger in the end. I'll pray for you

 

I didn't deserve what I go, so God, if he exists, is now on my "naughty" list, where he should have been a long time ago, for what he brought to my mother.

 

You mean an abusive step father? Just want to make sure I'm reading that right. No, you did not deserve that. God can heal that pain. My mom is proof of that

 

I also think that if God were really good, then he would bring someone good to myself and others, regardless of whether or not we're actual believers:

 

He did, His Son

 

"You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

 

God Bless.

[skydiveaddict]

Curious, do you think God places a person in your life for you to marry? Chance meeting perhaps and you just knew he was the one?

 

I thought that once. Worst mistake of my life

[Anela]

Hmmmm:confused: and yes I do believe God puts some couples together. But I also believe most of us never wait for that to happen...We go jump on anything because of some fairytale we are repeating to ourselves.

 

I didn't jump on anything...

 

And thank you, TheFinalWord. Even though I'm not sure what to believe, I always appreciate anything positive. ♥

[HokeyReligions]

Well, lets see.

 

Nearly 30 years ago, when I was in college I was working at one of those places in the mall where you get people to participate in a Q&A - sometimes paying them for their time, or asking them to sample something. It was great for dating because we had to ask all sorts of questions to qualify them for different sessions.

 

Anyway, the mall screener brought back yet another guy for me to interview about something. He was cute and I could tell he thought I was cute too. After the Q&A he asked me out - we went to a Denny's in the mall parking lot. We sat and talked for hours upon hours and closed the place down.

 

When I got home to my apartment my roommate (who was also my mom) asked how it went. I said "If I ever get married, he's the one". A couple years later we got married. We celebrated our 26th anniversary in June.

 

One of my new bosses, who is 67, just celebrated his 43rd wedding anniversary. He said he knew right away too.

 

Oh, and when I was dating - the divorce rate was high and people were saying the same things as now. And that krap about it being different now - well hogwash! In 25 or 40 years some of you who are marrying now will realize that it TAKES 25 or 40 years or however many years "success" means to you to find out. And it takes WORK.

 

Did God put us together? I dunno. My husband believes so. We also at times have believed God can have a twisted, maybe even sadistic, sense of humor too! LOL

 

You'll be my age before you know it and you'll see that the fears and issues expressed by the young today are the same as you & I expressed when we were young, as did our parents, grandparents and all the generations who went before. And those who will come after.

[Eve]

I knew the moment I heard my Husbands voice that it was going to be me and him, through thick and thin. He asked me to marry him before meeting me in person - which is not the sort of thing he does often, lol.

 

I must admit to not being very trusting of men and so refused to meet him in person for three months partly due to exams and partly in case I was actually crazy... but we were connected straight away like we were married from that moment. Everything else was secondary.

 

I had prayed with my very soul prior to meeting him and had surrendered myself to Gods Will. Can't explain it but we both knew straight away. He was not a Christian but really was one step away. I lead him to Christ through him kneeling with me whilst I did my general prayers. He then saw for himself in his life and was baptised.

 

So, yes I believe that God can connect couples if you get cleaned up by Him. We just celebrated 13 years of marriage, 14 years together.

 

Take care,

Eve x

[ImperfectionisBeauty]

This just seems like serious fairy tale stuff haha but I went to church today and started praying again for a decent guy to come into my life maybe this time it'll actually work.

[Anela]

This just seems like serious fairy tale stuff haha but I went to church today and started praying again for a decent guy to come into my life maybe this time it'll actually work.

 

I hope he/she listens. I would say that I think you're a little young to be worrying about this, but I know that some people have a strong need to be partnered, and when I felt that way, it felt patronizing to hear certain things - especially from those who were partnered.

 

I know that the comments in this thread are made with good intent, but something bothers me. I might pick it up in another thread, but I have to go now.

Edited September 16, 2012 by Anela
spelling mistakes

[ImperfectionisBeauty]

I hope he/she listens. I would say that I think you're a little young to be worrying about this, but I know that some people have a strong need to be partnered, and when I felt that way, it felt patronizing to hear certain things - especially from those who were partnered.

 

I know that the comments in this thread are made with good intent, but something bothers me. I might pick it up in another thread, but I have to go now.

 

It bothers me that people are constantly coupled up and I'm not it sucks. I'm kind of young (I guess if 21 is young)my therapist said I'm 21 not 41 I should calm down lol but I want to be married and or have a baby within the next 5 years and the way my relationships or lack of relationships are going that might not be happening.. I'm going to be 35 and unmarried with no babies

[BetheButterfly]

It bothers me that people are constantly coupled up and I'm not it sucks. I'm kind of young (I guess if 21 is young)my therapist said I'm 21 not 41 I should calm down lol but I want to be married and or have a baby within the next 5 years and the way my relationships or lack of relationships are going that might not be happening.. I'm going to be 35 and unmarried with no babies

 

I understand but it is miserable for many people to get married and have babies and not truly experience love and joy in that marriage. You are young. You have time. As for me being 35 and married with no babies yet, I personally would have loved to have gotten married to my Love when we were younger, but we didn't even know each other then!!!

 

Don't give up on love. True love waits. So many people though rush into relationships because they are desperate and don't want to wait. However, later they wish they had waited for the right person.

[BetheButterfly]

I knew the moment I heard my Husbands voice that it was going to be me and him, through thick and thin. He asked me to marry him before meeting me in person - which is not the sort of thing he does often, lol.

 

I must admit to not being very trusting of men and so refused to meet him in person for three months partly due to exams and partly in case I was actually crazy... but we were connected straight away like we were married from that moment. Everything else was secondary.

 

I had prayed with my very soul prior to meeting him and had surrendered myself to Gods Will. Can't explain it but we both knew straight away. He was not a Christian but really was one step away. I lead him to Christ through him kneeling with me whilst I did my general prayers. He then saw for himself in his life and was baptised.

 

So, yes I believe that God can connect couples if you get cleaned up by Him. We just celebrated 13 years of marriage, 14 years together.

 

Take care,

Eve x

 

Beautiful!!

 

Thanks for sharing Eve!

[BetheButterfly]

This just seems like serious fairy tale stuff haha but I went to church today and started praying again for a decent guy to come into my life maybe this time it'll actually work.

 

If you think it's fairy tale stuff, then why go? Don't pray unless you are serious. You're obviously not serious, so don't waste your breath praying unless you truly believe. God isn't Santa Claus or the tooth fairy, and if you think He is a fairy tale, don't expect anything from Him.

[ImperfectionisBeauty]

If you think it's fairy tale stuff, then why go? Don't pray unless you are serious. You're obviously not serious, so don't waste your breath praying unless you truly believe. God isn't Santa Claus or the tooth fairy, and if you think He is a fairy tale, don't expect anything from Him.

See that's the thing like I go to church and I believe in God but I don't. It is really hard to explain. I do believe in God and I want to have a better relationship with him but it isn't my top priority of things going on in my life. But I do go to church and I listen and I hope eventually one day I will be blessed with anything but it is really hard to just believe in something you have no evidence of. I mean you all are telling all these stories about "oh I met this guy online and I just knew the minute I talked to him and I prayed for him or her" and that's great for you all but it makes no sense in the sense that there are way bigger things in life for God to care about but he put all his energy into finding you a man, and then he also allowed other non believer athetist and stuff to find good spouses? So what made your prayers more important than mine? I just think a lot of people attribute random dumb luck to God instead of just being like.. I just got lucky. In the end you just got lucky, you join POF you are religious so you were looking for a religious man you happened to see a man who mentioned God in his profile and the rest just seems like luck. I mean I may as well become an atheist (I have no intent to) and take matters into my own hands than to wait for a million years on God. That is just how I feel, so I do believe but I think at some point you have to be logical with your belief. My ex is the one who really got to me to thinking about it because he has super weird religious views, he kind of thought that organized religion was like a cult that brainwashed people (which makes sense too) and he didn't believe in Jesus but he believed in God.. but it was more like he believed in God as kind like the Earth rather than some random man that sits in the clouds and grants prayers or wishes. I didn't necessarily believe his views but for the sake of not arguing with him constantly I did research it more and it doesn't seem too far off the mark.

 

And when I was deep into prayer I was very serious about it, nothing happened then either except he brought me the most amazing perfect guy I have ever met then randomly took him away with no explanation so I think it makes sense why I am lacking faith at the moment.

[Anela]

If you think it's fairy tale stuff, then why go? Don't pray unless you are serious. You're obviously not serious, so don't waste your breath praying unless you truly believe. God isn't Santa Claus or the tooth fairy, and if you think He is a fairy tale, don't expect anything from Him.

 

I was serious, I didn't jump on anyone who came along, and I haven't received. This was years ago, and I've tried since.

 

Some people need to be given a reason to believe. If god exists, and I've prayed more than once for help, only to have another avalanche fall on me - he shouldn't be surprised if I'm struggling up the side of the mountain, muttering, "*******."

 

This is why I need to take it to another thread. I don't like the inference that those of us who are struggling, aren't serious or are bad in some way. I have all sorts of faults and I have many good points, just like everyone else.

[TheFinalWord]

I mean you all are telling all these stories about "oh I met this guy online and I just knew the minute I talked to him and I prayed for him or her" and that's great for you all but it makes no sense in the sense that there are way bigger things in life for God to care about but he put all his energy into finding you a man, and then he also allowed other non believer athetist and stuff to find good spouses? So what made your prayers more important than mine?

 

That would matter, if God were limited. But He's not. God has the ability to care about every detail of your life and not miss anything else. Please read this verse:

 

You have searched me, Lord,

and you know me.

2 You know when I sit and when I rise;

you perceive my thoughts from afar.

3 You discern my going out and my lying down;

you are familiar with all my ways.

4 Before a word is on my tongue

you, Lord, know it completely.

5 You hem me in behind and before,

and you lay your hand upon me.

6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,

too lofty for me to attain. 7 Where can I go from your Spirit?

Where can I flee from your presence?

8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;

if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.

9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,

if I settle on the far side of the sea,

10 even there your hand will guide me,

your right hand will hold me fast.

11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me

and the light become night around me,”

12 even the darkness will not be dark to you;

the night will shine like the day,

for darkness is as light to you.

 

13 For you created my inmost being;

you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

your works are wonderful,

I know that full well.

15 My frame was not hidden from you

when I was made in the secret place,

when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.

16 Your eyes saw my unformed body;

all the days ordained for me were written in your book

before one of them came to be.

17 How precious to me are your thoughts, God!

How vast is the sum of them!

18 Were I to count them,

they would outnumber the grains of sand—

when I awake, I am still with you.

 

 

God is often given human limitations. "God can't have time to hear my prayers, He's busy with those poor kids in Africa" (BTW they pray for us with our consumerist society; America isn't all that ). God is infinite. He is not limited like human beings. Marriage can create more effective ministry. If you are wanting a spouse only for your selfish desires, that is one thing. But if you want a spouse so you can further God's work, why is it selfish to ask for that? God is not limited. Most couples in my church are very active in community work, supporting missionaries, adopting children from poverty stricken nations. Regarding why bad people get good things? God is kind to the just and the unjust. He's faithful even when we're not. He is very gracious and loving.

 

29 Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them. 30 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”

31 Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

[ImperfectionisBeauty]

I wanted to add I am not a total non-believer even though I am sure it comes off like that. I know there is a God, I have done some REALLY really stupid things in the past (I still do really stupid things actually) and I know that for me to not be dead or hurt really really badly there has had to be someone protecting me and watching over me. I just really wish that God would understand how much I want/ need this relationship thing to work out and lead me to someone too, I mean I am putting in as much effort as I can to date with all the dating sites and joining all this on campus groups but my God meet me half way here!

[Anela]

I wanted to add I am not a total non-believer even though I am sure it comes off like that. I know there is a God, I have done some REALLY really stupid things in the past (I still do really stupid things actually) and I know that for me to not be dead or hurt really really badly there has had to be someone protecting me and watching over me. I just really wish that God would understand how much I want/ need this relationship thing to work out and lead me to someone too, I mean I am putting in as much effort as I can to date with all the dating sites and joining all this on campus groups but my God meet me half way here!

 

Exactly - instead of having it feel as though he's sending someone to stand on your fingers, saying, "Nope! I don't think so!" It feels like someone's up there thinking, "Uh-oh, she looks happy. We can't have that!"

 

I haven't only been talking about relationships here.

[TheFinalWord]

I wanted to add I am not a total non-believer even though I am sure it comes off like that. I know there is a God, I have done some REALLY really stupid things in the past (I still do really stupid things actually) and I know that for me to not be dead or hurt really really badly there has had to be someone protecting me and watching over me. I just really wish that God would understand how much I want/ need this relationship thing to work out and lead me to someone too, I mean I am putting in as much effort as I can to date with all the dating sites and joining all this on campus groups but my God meet me half way here!

 

I don't think you are I'm typing fast, but wanted to add some more.

 

You matter to God. Every hair on your head is precious to the Lord.

 

"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows."

 

Every thing about you, matters to God. He has time to hear anything. Nothing you are feeling or going through is insignificant to the Lord. You can cast all of your burdens on Him.

 

I know that it can feel like you are all alone when you are going through tough times.

 

What you have done in the past, don't worry about that. God does not hold it against you. He loves you more than you can imagine

 

As a father has compassion on his children,

so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;

for he knows how we are formed,

he remembers that we are dust.

The life of mortals is like grass,

they flourish like a flower of the field;

the wind blows over it and it is gone,

and its place remembers it no more.

 

It's okay to go through a time when you are wondering about God. We all have those times in life.

 

God does understand it, very much. This life is a vapor; here today gone tomorrow. God understands how weak we are. He took on human form and understands everything you are going through. He knows what it is like to feel alone, betrayed, and abandoned.

 

This message today from Rick Warren describes exactly what you and many people are going through. The courage to keep going when we don't have all the answers. I would encourage you to watch that message. I think it will minister to you

 

The Courage To Keep Going

 

(PS: It may be tomorrow before it's available)

[Anela]

Well, whomever is out there has a sense of humour that doesn't match mine. "She dared to question my existence on Loveshack; I'll give her some abnormal bleeding." I thought I felt like I was PMS'ing earlier, and it's a couple of weeks too soon.

 

Yay. I won't hold my breath when it comes to meeting anyone good, but I'll let you all know if something good happens.