tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29606082.post8586143366730936062..comments2023-10-03T06:25:41.357-05:00Comments on Grace Roots Blog: God in the ordinaryJoel Bruesekehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10395847887953875757noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29606082.post-2083561655128698992008-02-19T16:40:00.000-06:002008-02-19T16:40:00.000-06:00Thanks for your help! :)Thanks for your help! :)Machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12689939600980481572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29606082.post-91470566865070107642008-02-19T15:43:00.000-06:002008-02-19T15:43:00.000-06:00Joel and Bino! Good stuff!I really can relate to w...Joel and Bino! Good stuff!<BR/><BR/>I really can relate to what you said about the 'spiritual boosts'. Its like coffee, when your tired or need a boost of energy, drink some jo' and it will sure get the job done, for a little while! You will eventually start getting tired again and the cycle then will start over. Its just how it is when you are in need of a spiritual boost or feeling the 'fire'. Its like what Joel shared in that quote, its in the little things that Father uses. I think those little things have a lot more meaning in my life than any huge manifestations. I personally have never expereinced anything really big in my spiritaul walk, however, Father has really used the everyday wispers of the Holy Spirit to move mountains in my heart! That I believe has done as much good as any 'big movement'of the Holy Spirit!<BR/><BR/>In Freedom, Nicole!Nicolehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00043902043758568457noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29606082.post-63900450873657857592008-02-19T11:34:00.000-06:002008-02-19T11:34:00.000-06:00Nicole,Being "on fire for God." LOL... That used ...Nicole,<BR/><BR/>Being "on fire for God." LOL... That used to always be my thing too! I was so down on myself if I felt I wasn't "on fire." AND... I was very down on others if "I" was on fire but they weren't! Geesch!<BR/><BR/>I remember a time, and this must've been around the time I was beginning to really learn about grace, that I visited an Assembly of God church here in town and I saw "Acquire the Fire" posters all over the place. I thought, "OH MY... what a way to get people feeling good about themselves <I>temporarily</I>... but really only setting them up for the fall."<BR/><BR/>Another time was when I went to an "Adult Breakaway" retreat with some people from my church, back in my more legalistic days. It was a Friday night, Saturday morning and Saturday evening thing. We were all back on church on Sunday morning, and I was feeling SOOOOOO great (as were the others who went with us), and I couldn't understand why those around me weren't praising God and singing loudly and clapping and raising their hands like I was! I was "on fire!"<BR/><BR/>But the very next Sunday morning I had "lost the fire." ;)<BR/><BR/>Again, not to put down "big" experiences, but ever since I began growing in grace, I mean really growing in it, my life has been so much more "even keel," so to speak, rather than a roller coaster ride of major highs and major lows.<BR/><BR/>My hope has changed. My hope is not in huge experiences, but in the personal God who relates to me through His natural creation, through other people and in so many other ways than miracles, signs and wonders.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29606082.post-70911299280295058482008-02-19T11:22:00.000-06:002008-02-19T11:22:00.000-06:00Markus,Dave wanted me to let you know that he has ...Markus,<BR/><BR/>Dave wanted me to let you know that he has activated your account!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29606082.post-48337040049482259712008-02-19T11:20:00.000-06:002008-02-19T11:20:00.000-06:00Bino,You hit the nail on the head with what I was ...Bino,<BR/><BR/>You hit the nail on the head with what I was getting at here. We get so focused on signs and wonders and "spiritual boosts" that we lose our focus on God in everything in life.<BR/><BR/>I heard a quote today... of all places it was on a video I was watching of my old favorite program, The Pretender. The quote went something like this, "parenting isn't in the big things, it's in the little things."<BR/><BR/>In a sense, our relationship with Jesus isn't about the big manifestations, but it's about everyday life, the everyday happenings, the "small" things.<BR/><BR/>I'll just say that I've 'experienced' God in so many small, personable ways that I almost don't want to have a "big" visible or tangible experience, for fear that it will take my focus away from the God who meets me personally in my heart! Now... that's not truly a "fear." :) I'd love to have more of those "big" experiences. But in my heart I am content because I know God... I mean I really know Him... in the small, everyday things of life. I have no reason to look for "more." It's up to Him if He wants to show me more.<BR/><BR/>I think part of the reason I wrote this is also because I see so many people looking outwardly, looking for "big" experiences and manifestations... and again, these are real and I don't want to take away from that... but I see people longing for these things with an unquenched thirst, almost as if these experiences <I>define</I> their relationship with God, and I just hope for them to know God in the minute areas of life... in all life... not just in big experiences, that as you say Bino, seem to fade away quickly.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29606082.post-86517665596931063082008-02-19T11:04:00.000-06:002008-02-19T11:04:00.000-06:00WC,Yep, we're pretty much on the straight and narr...WC,<BR/><BR/>Yep, we're pretty much on the straight and narrow here in Iowa. ;) I notice there are many diagonal roads in your area, or to the north of you.<BR/><BR/>If you want to get really bored, go to the west of us, into Nebraska. We drove through there on our way to Colorado one summer and it was pretty much a case of watching the grass grow!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29606082.post-30688924306626700152008-02-18T20:00:00.000-06:002008-02-18T20:00:00.000-06:00I have had similar experiences when it comes to be...I have had similar experiences when it comes to being 'on fire for God'. In high school I grew up going to Aquire The Fire Youth Seminars and almost every theme or focus they had was being on fire for God, and not losing that fire. It was a great way to motivate kid's to come to Christ, but a week or so after the Seminars, it always seemed that the so called 'fire' was out once we went back to our usual schedules. It is exciting to have that fire and feel God's manifestations come upon you, however, it seems to be a little unrealistic to expect God to manifest himself to you every time you turned around! Don't get me wrong, I am in the same boat as Joel on this one, I do believe in the Spirit and all of that, but to expect something to happen all the time or feel on 'fire' is not how Father has worked in my life. <BR/><BR/>Just my thougts!<BR/><BR/>In Freedom, Nicole!Nicolehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00043902043758568457noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29606082.post-6569384658218096272008-02-18T10:03:00.000-06:002008-02-18T10:03:00.000-06:00At some point in my life, I had been looking for t...At some point in my life, I had been looking for those 'big' manifestations to build my faith. I too believe in miracles, signs and wonders and I think it is still happening all over the world. My problem was, I lost focus. I needed those 'spiritual boost' to get some spiritual goose bumps. I felt good, excited and all that. But it didn't last. I was 'joyful' in the midst of manifestations but was miserable at home :) Eventually, I found out these people who appears to be so happy and joyful are equally miserable outside the four walls of that meeting.<BR/>They are always seeking something. Jesus said, seek and you shall find. If they have found it, why are they seeking it? Once we find, we stop seeking right?<BR/>I was never contented, never fulfilled, never understood the all sufficiency of Christ. I was always on the look for some spiritual capsules week after week, just to survive. I don't think thats is Christian life. But I didn't have a clue. Did miracles build my faith? Yes, for a short time. But the understanding of the truth of God's grace, forgiveness, love and acceptance changed my life and gave me long lasting goose bumps. It gave me freedom. Generally, people who give so much attention to miracles, signs and wonders lack in the area of exposing the truth of God's practical love. Thats my experience.<BR/><BR/>Great post, BTW!Bino M.https://www.blogger.com/profile/02303467552834533436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29606082.post-69144791621101628392008-02-18T08:58:00.000-06:002008-02-18T08:58:00.000-06:00Hey Joel...did the google earth for waterloo, iowa...Hey Joel...did the google earth for waterloo, iowa...what a pancake landscape...wow...big straight roads out your way.Walking Churchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07108948078929712054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29606082.post-89957507117268494692008-02-18T08:55:00.000-06:002008-02-18T08:55:00.000-06:00Hi Markus,I'll contact Dave, who's in charge of ac...Hi Markus,<BR/><BR/>I'll contact Dave, who's in charge of activating accounts. For security reasons, he has initiated a special process for signing up, that takes an extra step or two (see "Attention: Visitors & Friends...." on the forum home page for more info). Follow the directions there (if you haven't already done that), and in the meantime I'll also make sure Dave knows about this.<BR/><BR/>Sorry for any inconvenience! :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29606082.post-40706003781713089222008-02-18T08:34:00.000-06:002008-02-18T08:34:00.000-06:00Just having a question about the gracwalk forum. I...Just having a question about the gracwalk forum. I can't login using my name "mackan" and I think my account never have been activated... Can you help?Machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12689939600980481572noreply@blogger.com