How has your God proved himself to you?

[M. T. Cross]

I was sitting and thinking about this. Abrahamic religions have a God that demands worship. He demand loyalty, he demand fealty, he demands total commitment.

Fair enough.

But what has he done in your life - not just the things he is said to have done in the Bible, but what has he personally done for you that you would give all of this. How has he proved his worth.

Quote:

Disclaimer

I do not ask this as a challenge to whether or not he is worthy of this, but I am curious about people personal experiences. Unverified personal gnosis (UPG) we call it in the pagan community

[Gibs]

For sure EC He has. The prophecies will do that but I won't only go into one.

I think you've read the four gospels in the New Testament but there is a fifth aprox. given 600 yrs before. Isaiah did it and there is a short one in Genesis.

Ge 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

That one Spiritually discerned, since Isa 53: is only 12 verses here is the first gospel,

Isa 53:1 ¶ Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?

Isa 53:2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.

Isa 53:3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Isa 53:4 ¶ Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

Isa 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Isa 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Isa 53:7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

Isa 53:8 He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.

Isa 53:9 And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.

Isa 53:10 ¶ Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

Isa 53:11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

Isa 53:12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

There is more prophecies also but the prophecies most are spiritually discerned and one braced against it can't see it as it is by His Spirit and He is Spirit you see,

The 70 wks of Dan 9 is one of the best as it points out Jesus died in the middle of that 70'th wk of yrs. It can't be gotten around.

Joh 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Jesus Himself said it.

No I can't prove God, the true God YHWH, but His prophecy does! It is discerned by His Word by faith and there is a reason for that it can only be by faith.

1Jo 4:4 ¶ Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

[Tom Wetmore]

Gibs, the request was for personal experience of God by you.

[Gail]

Wow- you should ask my daughter. She's one that felt that with all the stuff she's been through AND been helped through that she had no option BUT to believe in a God that loves her. Coincidence? Miracle? All depends on how one looks at it.

I have told my story here before (probably ad nauseum) but it was the same for me. From a lost and neglected kid wandering the streets, circumstances and my heart led me to God.

I also had an emptiness that longed for a soul connection. That thirst was filled as I learned more about Jesus and God's love as declared in the Bible. But although I possessed a beaten up Bible for years I didn't delve into it much early on. When I first started I had to match what it said with what I already knew from experience. I was good and lost, I knew that. So in that respect my experience is different from someone who was raised in a Christian home.

[Gibs]

Yes Tom, I assure you it too was a personal experience in my life to find these proofs. I have had several come and let me know how grateful to see these proofs.

Even if you have the faith that YHWH is the one and only God it will strengthen it if these things are seen and understood. They cannot be denied!

When this is seen there will not be any unbelief. Seeing it is the story.

One who don't believe He is who He says He is, me telling of a miracle He done for me would not be much of a testimony. At one time away back I had questioned of the true God and this settled it for me.

I'd like to see other responses to this and EC's response back of the value of each to him.

I pray you be blessed EC in coming to find the Truth of Him, YHWH.

1Jo 4:4 ¶ Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

[Gail]

EmptyCross, part of it is a heart thing that cannot be tangibly explained, just as a heart yearning is sensed. You know when it is finally satisfied, when the thirst is quenched.

[JoeMo]

MT,

I've got a few stories; but I'll just post a three for brevity's sake.

Two years ago, I was laid off in a company reorg. I was 60 years old at the time. I work in a very specialized field (energy risk management); and there were no openings in Denver. My HS/College aged kids refused to move. I was on a walk one day feeling sorry for myself and stressing about my situation; so I prayed for a sign from YHVH. Within a couple minutes, a sparrow landed inches from my foot and "walked" about 2 or 3 blocks with me; just looking at me with his beak open. When I turned up my driveway, he walked with me. I figured the bird was sick, so I reached down to pick it up. It stepped back, flew up on top of my head,sang it's little heart out for about 2 minutes, and flew away. My daughter even got a picture of it posted on our church's website. I immediately thought of Luke 12:6-8 - "Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. 7 Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows."

Around the same time, a woman in our church suffered a terrible injury during childbirth that rendered her incapable of intimacy or child-bearing without major surgery. She was miserable and in constant pain. A couple days before her scheduled surgery, she had the women of the church pray for her; and she said that a soothing warmth had covered her "down there"; and she felt much better. On the day of her surgery, the the injury was gone; so the surgeon had nothing to repair.

A couple months ago, I was diagnosed with stage 1 bladder cancer - probably from being a heavy smoker for many years. Before I went in for a follow-up and to schedule a biopsy, the church prayed for me. Part of the prayer was that "elephants stomp out the cancer cells". It was a little weird; but immediately I had to pee. When I went in for the follow up, there was no evidence of cancer.

These may not sound like big deals like raising the dead or making amputated limbs grow; but they were big deals to me. I relay these stories to you not in an attempt to convert you; but simply because you were curious about people's personal experiences. That being said, these and other experiences are real reinforcements to my faith.

Take care, bud!

JoeMo

[Tom Wetmore]

Yes Tom, I assure you it too was a personal experience in my life to find these proofs. I have had several come and let me know how grateful to see these proofs.

Even if you have the faith that YHWH is the one and only God it will strengthen it if these things are seen and understood. They cannot be denied!

When this is seen there will not be any unbelief. Seeing it is the story.

One who don't believe He is who He says He is, me telling of a miracle He done for me would not be much of a testimony. At one time away back I had questioned of the true God and this settled it for me.

I'd like to see other responses to this and EC's response back of the value of each to him.

But, that is not what was requested. Yours is a non-responsive answer to what is being asked.

Look at Gail's or JoeMo's answers. That is on the order of what is being requested.

And I would strongly disagree that telling your personal testimony to one who doesn't believe God is who He says He is wouldn't be much of a testimony. That is precisely what a testimony is supposed to be. A testimony is not a Bible study or an intellectual exercise in proof-texting. It is you bearing witness to another of what God has done for and in you. This is not about theoretical religion of proof texts and gathering evidence from other people's ideas and experience with God. It is experiential religion, what you can claim as first-hand experience yourself.

Telling people that God promises to do thus and so for those who follow him is meaningless unless someone can testify that He in fact did it for them personally and show others it is real and true. If God said he will help you overcome sin, a testimonial proof of that for an unbeliever is a life of a believer that has in fact overcome specific real sin that is humanly impossible, or at least very difficult, to overcome, now, not some bright day in the future.

A worthy example is AA. Would people believe the claims of AA if there were not AA members following the 12 step program that are sober and had been so for a sufficient period of time to convince another drunk it is indeed possible to get sober and stay that way and get their life back together in a real and clearly evident way? No amount of memorization and repetition of the 12 steps is of any value if nobody can offer their own person experience that it works.

Christianity should be no different. That is all that I understand EC is asking for.

[Gibs]

Tom, I'm sorry but the word of God is a far better testimony than ours. The 53'rd chapter of Isaiah proves He is who says He is, a gospel long before it happened. And Jesus fulfilled it exactly, how could I do better my friend. How could any of us do better?

Can you?

Many people tell all kinds of things but unless you know the person how much can you believe. Yes I know, not all men are liars but today the truth is lightly regarded by too many.

I hope EC is edified by my post, I tried as best I know how.

My you be Blessed.

1Jo 4:4 ¶ Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

[JoeMo]

Hi Gibs,

I know your heart is in the right place. But MT has stated several times on CA that his religion is not Christianity. Yet we are fortunate to have him interact with us in an open-minded and non-judgemental way. Please respect his wishes and tell Him what God has done personally for you by reaching into your life with His POWER - not His written word. God's written word only has value to those who believe He is God; and saying He is God just because the Bible says He is is circular logic and gets people nowhere.

There are plenty of places in CA where one can post God's word. Out of repect for the man starting this topic, Please post your experience; not just something you have read. As strong of a believer as you seem to be, surely you have personally experienced God's manifest power in your life!

Be Blessed,

JoeMo

[Gail]

Gibs, if you really are shy, don't be... It is by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony that we are overcomers in the end.

Why? Because it glorifies God to tell others of what He has done for you. So much of what is in our world tells of how active Satan is. Jesus testified of the Father. You can do no worse if you did so as well.

:)

[M. T. Cross]

Wow- you should ask my daughter. She's one that felt that with all the stuff she's been through AND been helped through that she had no option BUT to believe in a God that loves her. Coincidence? Miracle? All depends on how one looks at it.

I have told my story here before (probably ad nauseum) but it was the same for me. From a lost and neglected kid wandering the streets, circumstances and my heart led me to God.

I also had an emptiness that longed for a soul connection. That thirst was filled as I learned more about Jesus and God's love as declared in the Bible. But although I possessed a beaten up Bible for years I didn't delve into it much early on. When I first started I had to match what it said with what I already knew from experience. I was good and lost, I knew that. So in that respect my experience is different from someone who was raised in a Christian home.

Thats an awesome story Gail. I am glad you found the guidance and hope you needed from that beat up Bible to find your way up off of the streets. Thats a very tough place to be, not many make it. I married one that made it so I know of what you speak.

[M. T. Cross]

EmptyCross, part of it is a heart thing that cannot be tangibly explained, just as a heart yearning is sensed. You know when it is finally satisfied, when the thirst is quenched.

That right there! I know exactly what you mean. It is something that can not be explained, and generally if one does try to explain it they come across as nutty as an Almond Joy candy bar

But I have experienced that as well. Its a wonderful feeling.

[M. T. Cross]

MT,

I've got a few stories; but I'll just post a three for brevity's sake.

Two years ago, I was laid off in a company reorg. I was 60 years old at the time. I work in a very specialized field (energy risk management); and there were no openings in Denver. My HS/College aged kids refused to move. I was on a walk one day feeling sorry for myself and stressing about my situation; so I prayed for a sign from YHVH. Within a couple minutes, a sparrow landed inches from my foot and "walked" about 2 or 3 blocks with me; just looking at me with his beak open. When I turned up my driveway, he walked with me. I figured the bird was sick, so I reached down to pick it up. It stepped back, flew up on top of my head,sang it's little heart out for about 2 minutes, and flew away. My daughter even got a picture of it posted on our church's website. I immediately thought of Luke 12:6-8 - "Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. 7 Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows."

Around the same time, a woman in our church suffered a terrible injury during childbirth that rendered her incapable of intimacy or child-bearing without major surgery. She was miserable and in constant pain. A couple days before her scheduled surgery, she had the women of the church pray for her; and she said that a soothing warmth had covered her "down there"; and she felt much better. On the day of her surgery, the the injury was gone; so the surgeon had nothing to repair.

A couple months ago, I was diagnosed with stage 1 bladder cancer - probably from being a heavy smoker for many years. Before I went in for a follow-up and to schedule a biopsy, the church prayed for me. Part of the prayer was that "elephants stomp out the cancer cells". It was a little weird; but immediately I had to pee. When I went in for the follow up, there was no evidence of cancer.

These may not sound like big deals like raising the dead or making amputated limbs grow; but they were big deals to me. I relay these stories to you not in an attempt to convert you; but simply because you were curious about people's personal experiences. That being said, these and other experiences are real reinforcements to my faith.

Take care, bud!

JoeMo

Thank you Joe, those are great stories as well, thank you for sharing them. I love the bird one, as some of my deepest most meaningful experiences have involved birds. I think the Divine must too.

[Gibs]

Gail, ole Gibs is not shy you can know that. Any story of me would not be received here from the nature of it and EC don't know me from Adam. My story happens to be of a very personal thing that I feel sure He does not want me to divulge. But I believe and wouldn't have ever come this far unless He had brought me is all I'm 1nclined to say. I know you may not understand that but if you were in "my shoes" you would.

The testimony I gave is far better than my personal one. I am no body, He is all things, I am nothing and yet He loves me.

1Jo 4:4 ¶ Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

[M. T. Cross]

Gibs,

First off let me say I know you mean well, and that your heart is in a place of love and you are trying to share the things that move you.I guess in a way that is your personal experience. I would love to hear a story of how your God moved actively in your life, a moment of action that you could not attribute to anything else. Something that did not happen 2-6 thousand years ago.

One other thing Gibs. I know sometimes I hack on you a bit, and your Bible verse quotes do drive me right up the wall, but I really do admire the strength of your conviction and how much you want to share those convictions with others. I have no doubt that you are a wonderful man and that the world is better for having you in it.

Much love and blessings to you as well sir.

[Gail]

Gail, ole Gibs is not shy you can know that. Any story of me would not be received here from the nature of it and EC don't know me from Adam. My story happens to be of a very personal thing that I feel sure He does not want me to divulge. But I believe and wouldn't have ever come this far unless He had brought me is all I'm 1nclined to say. I know you may not understand that but if you were in "my shoes" you would.

The testimony I gave is far better than my personal one. I am no body, He is all things, I am nothing and yet He loves me.

Gibs, I would take you seriously and I have no problem with you wanting to keep it personal.

I do not agree, though, that you are nothing. You are a treasure to God- one that cost His own child to restore and redeem. You try giving up YOUR child and see what a cost that is! He would do that for a person of worth. You may think that you are nothing, but your value before God is inestimable.

[Gail]

Quote:

Thank you Joe, those are great stories as well, thank you for sharing them. I love the bird one, as some of my deepest most meaningful experiences have involved birds. I think the Divine must too.

I believe that God reveals Himself through nature. With my hubby, that is what gave him a spiritual lean to his heart when he was still a child. Even today he prefers to be outdoors for the peace it gives him.

:)

[Gail]

Gibs, I do appreciate your contribution here. I think it's time for a hug of friendship:

[Gibs]

EC, that is fine, you are the one I wanted to respond to my post. If you are inclined to be moved by such testimony so be it. Do you imagine any will give you one that would move you? I can know only what moved me and that's why I posted what I did. I call it hard evidence. It was proof to me. The Bible has a Power about it no other book has.

Lots of people hack at ole Gibs EC and that is fine, it comes with the territory and sometimes it is perplexing but understood.

You know me, I follow Him, Jesus Christ.

I coerce you in no way.

1Jo 4:4 ¶ Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

[Gibs]

Gail,

A big brother hug right back. I too am an outdoors man and except for a few yrs as a very young man being in the coal mine with my Dad I've worked outdoors all my life. I don't like big cities and stay out of them as much as possible.

I have always been an avid gardener and do the "back to eden cover gardening". www.backtoedenfilm.com/#movie I think will bring up what that is. If computer is an XP or slow internet take off HD in lower right corner.

I did some of this around 32 yrs ago and hadn't heard of this, surprised to find it.

His Blessings to All His Children,

1Jo 4:4 ¶ Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

[M. T. Cross]

EC, that is fine, you are the one I wanted to respond to my post. If you are inclined to be moved by such testimony so be it. Do you imagine any will give you one that would move you? I can know only what moved me and that's why I posted what I did. I call it hard evidence. It was proof to me. The Bible has a Power about it no other book has.

Lots of people hack at ole Gibs EC and that is fine, it comes with the territory and sometimes it is perplexing but understood.

[JoeMo]

All,

This thread is a small miracle to me; and shows how our respective deities are working on our hearts. It is one of the few places on CA where I have seen aconsistent outpouring of mutual respect, love, and support - almost like what I envision heaven to be like. Each of you are blessing me trmendously.

Gibs,

Don't ever think you're nobody. You are a child of God; and He is so proud of you for holding Him up as honorably as you do. Your consistency and lack of any retribution to some of the more abusive posts you receive are a tribute to your Christlikeness. You have as much right to calim your salvation through Christ as anyone on this forum. I would LOVE to hear your personal testimony!

MT and Gail, you are both balancing forces of reason and grace every place you go on CA. You both exhibit a spirituality that is much needed in this world. I learn so much about patience and spiritual maturity from you. Thank you both for your fine example here.

[Gibs]

EC, I would have loved to have known your Daddy. Ever since a child I always liked to sit with the old people and listen and take part and ask questions at times. Many times I could have been out playing with my own age and I did not.

I've always been a questioner and thinker. I learned from get go men did not agree on much. I learned why, this was part of the puzzle I knew I must solve. Men all have different teachers from among men that none hardly ever preach and teach the same thing. You won't agree but I knew there has to be a source for absolute truth.

It didn't happen from any miracle He performed for me but it was the fact of getting to the truth. My Dad may have been partly responsible for me being such a stickler for the truth, but you need to know He gave up on God. While he was giving up on Him I was finding Him. Yes Dad instilled in me, get to the bottom of things, to the truth of it.

Yes indeed it is strange indeed where that quest leads different people. You see my Daddy was a school teacher and many told me he was one of the very best. He soon learned though he hated to be tied in a school room when spring came and hated to go back to the school room in early fall. Well he quit, during the depression and opened up a coal mine all by himself and he liked that but was bad for his health.

So that is the way of things, We are free to come to believe as we find best and so to speak then we make our ouwn nest

I don't know if you are done looking yet but knowledge does increas as the search goes on.

Take care EC and keep looking.

1Jo 4:4 ¶ Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

[Gail]

Gibs- wow! Your story- what a blessing! Thank you!

((( Gibs )))