Posted by holymama on March 7, 2004, at 14:04:36
In reply to Re: Lenten Sacrifices... » holymama, posted by Dena on March 6, 2004, at 16:48:50
Hi Dena,
Thank you for that really insightful message. I love what you said:
Isn't it funny how the things we use for comfort become "idols" in our lives? It seems that God means it when He describes Himself as a "jealous" God. He really wants to have first place in our lives, & won't settle for anything else. He wants to be our source of comfort, of joy, of security, of identity, of reality, of purpose & meaning, of peace... and when we put ________ in His place (even when we don't know we're doing it!), we push Him out of first place. It can be so darn subtle too.
I hadn't thought about drinking as being an idol I was worshipping, but it's really true, and what you said has given me a new way to look at things. Once again, I am blown away by this Bible thing. Christianity and the wisdom in the Bible has given me a new language to describe my deepest feelings, and a really accurate and truthful way for me. I had written off Christianity for a long time during college and young adulthood, and now that I've discovered it again (actually, for the first time...as a child growing up in a protestant church, I never 'got' it.), it is blowing my mind. I can take one scripture and meditate on it for a few days...and find amazing truths in it. It's the same with every scripture. That Jesus guy really knew what he was talking about!! :)
As for your jealosy over those who become intoxicated with God, well I am one of them. I don't know if you have read any of my other posts on this board, but in the recent past I have been diagnosed as bipolar, studied the Bible with a Jehovah's Witness, had a very manic episode where I became very religious and 'high' on God -- feeling like I was so close to HIm, to enlightenment, or whatever it might be. I am now straightening myself out with meds, but I am constantly going a little manic still, every month I do it and I need to readjust my meds, and every time this happens, I get high on God. I am still studying with my Witness friend, and I love it; she takes my experiences with God very seriously, where other people are scared of it, scared of my illness, want me to 'come back down'. I promised my husband I would find another church with him to raise our children in, right now we are attending a Quaker meetinghouse, and it might be where we will end up. But he has given me permission to continue my spiritual quest outside of the Quaker church as well...I just feel too passionate and zalous about God right now to contain it in a silent Quaker meeting once a week. :)
Sorry you are worried about being blocked...I don't know the reason exactly, but I see that it is a problem on this site, and I say problem, because I think most people here seem to agree it's not in the best interests of keeping an open dialogue. There is a point at which sensitivity to hurting others becomes overbearing and oppressive. Thank you for the e-mail address. I may use it sometime!
Love, Autumn
poster:holymama
thread:318247
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faith/20040113/msgs/321655.html