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Do You Know How to Live? - 11/3/2008 8:08:05 PM
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Walker311
Posts: 1339
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A 47 year old woman where I work died in her home over the weekend. I did not know her very well. There was a very short and to the point email sent informing our home office of her demise. I did a search in the local newspaper obit and it was also very short.
This not so unusual. We live, we die, but everyone is still, at first, shocked. We go to visitation, take food, pray for family members, express our condolences, and life goes on. There is nothing the dead can undo or change.
Did this woman know how to live?
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We don't have a choice about being born but once you and I were "born again", our eyes were supposedly opened to the abundant life offered to us through Jesus Christ. If we are teachable, you and I learn how to live.
There are things around us that we cannot change but there is one thing that we can change... we can change ourselves.
I often take inventory, if you will, of what I am collecting while I live. Am I taking in more junk than what is good in life? What am I doing to contribute each day to make this living experience more meaningful?
If we are simply going through the motions and trying get by then we are missing God's purpose for placing us here. What will we end up with if we simply get through today just so that we can do it all again tomorrow? I imagine this is how many people live. This ain't living!
In a forum setting, how would you answer such an important question as if there is a life that could be influenced by your answer?
Do You Know How to Live? How?
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RE: Do You Know How to Live? - 11/3/2008 8:44:53 PM
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ladyichigo
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Another thought provoking thread!!
I do know how to live to say the least...but I'm afraid I haven't really taken the time to live it to it's fullest capacity yet. I should take every moment of my life as if it were the last moment on earth, as in cherish it, thank God for it, and not waste it away in mediocrity. Times with my children, my husband, even some of the mundane tasks at work, I should enjoy each moment. In a way these forums help me remember what I am doing here, what is my purpose here. It helps me take a step back, and see how I can make this "routine" day a better day and hope for a better tomorrow.
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Mari
My avatar picture is my father-in-law, Rev. Yuichiro Nakano jumping over fireworks on 12/31/08 to entertain his grand-kids. He's 70.
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RE: Do You Know How to Live? - 11/3/2008 9:16:38 PM
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spiritchsr1
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From: Ohio
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I don't know if any of us know how to live. This is why God gave us the Bible. It is a series of guidelines on how we should live.
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RE: Do You Know How to Live? - 11/3/2008 11:47:57 PM
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Liveloved
Posts: 2080
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quote:
Do You Know How to Live? How?
In Him.
Surrendered. Yielded.
Loved. Loving.
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RE: Do You Know How to Live? - 11/4/2008 1:30:57 AM
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growingseed
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I'm learning to understand that Jesus is showing me a different way to experience how to live. The disciples were hard of understanding what Jesus was teaching and always asked what did that mean, they finally got it when the Holy Spirit entered their lives. To live is to practice what Jesus is showing, teaching, and opening what we need to do to allow the Holy Spirit to work through us. We can see a difference in the circle of life around us if we watch him working in our lives. With Peter or anything else he will not change whats around us but will change how we see and experience life around us. Starting with our spouse's, family, friends, work, and if you go to church the relationship there will change. We are impatient with our lives and expect results right of way, but Jesus taught that we must worship the Father in spirit, and that in itself is a hard concept, but one that i'm seeking to again understand what it's like to be a baby in the spirit, to depend upon his grace and blessing. If we are learning to be disciple's in our hearts then he will reveal himself to us and that is learning to live in the spirit. So life will change and we will experience live a totally new way or perspective.
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RE: Do You Know How to Live? - 11/4/2008 4:27:30 AM
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Little_1
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We too lost a very young colleague at work this past week. The positives this person displayed were that they were always cheerful, always looked on the bright side of life, liked a laugh and a giggle. However, perhaps a deceitful negative would be that they also lived life with the attitude that 'life is short so why not enjoy it' kind of attitude which was typical of a 'worldy' lifestyle and choices which has become the acceptable norm.
Whilst the 'world' looks at such a life and says, "They were a jolly character - always positive, always happy go lucky despite what they faced" and this appeared to be so the case, I don't believe this is the best way to live if such a life is lived outside of the love of God because regardless of their positive outlook on life - they were still incomplete outside of Christ and I would go as far as to say that many such people (perhaps not all) put on a front and an act whilst deep inside they feel empty and that something is missing. Some may even have had their consciouses severed somewhere in their lives due to constantly rejecting Christ sadly and this enables them to live as they sometimes do in ways which is definitely not God glorifying but for self gratification and self glorification and when life is over such leaves souls with nothing. Robbed. Defeated. Lost......without God.
Luke 12:18-20
18"Then he said, 'This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry." '
20"But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?'
I believe we are sold short by this world even if we have any of the 'good' things mentioned above in this person's character and that of the foolish farmer's life if we don't have God in our lives to make us complete. If God is the One who gives us a positive outlook through who were are in Him, and gives us joy in the midst of difficulties as our strength, etc then this is true life and not pretend or second best.
We are created to love and worship God and enjoy Him for ever. I want to live my life in such a way that others can see the impact Christ has on my life and be drawn to Him also for salvation but more than that that they too would be drawn to God to love Him and serve Him and likewise enjoy Him for ever.
My regret is that I never shared the Gospel with this person. Did I have the opportunity? I could have made it. What lessons have I learnt? Life is short - we need to use our time wisely and speak to others about the love God has for them and the forgiveness He extends to all who come to Him......God forgive me and may I never have to ask such again.
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RE: Do You Know How to Live? - 11/4/2008 8:22:26 AM
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URForgiven
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I have been crucified with Christ [in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ (the Messiah) lives in me; and the life I now live in the body I live by faith in (by adherence to and reliance on and complete trust in) the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself up for me. Galatians 2:20
Peace
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"Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit,
are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?" Galatians 3:3
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RE: Do You Know How to Live? - 11/4/2008 4:13:33 PM
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Walker311
Posts: 1339
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I wished I would have done this or that. I'm sorry I did not say this or do that. I would have done things differently if I had it to do over. I regret, I regret, I regret.
Life is not about regrets. Regrets do not make us better people. It does not extend or enrich our lives.
Christ came to rid us of regrets. All of them! You can't walk that narrow road carrying all that baggage that He came to delete from our souls and lives. We cannot be a witness to others carrying all that junk from our previous lives. We can't take it to heaven with us. We cannot truly LIVE with that weight.
Jesus knew how to live. Jesus taught us how to live. Over and over He tells us through the word. "Go and sin no more" "feed my sheep" "he that doeth the will of my Father" "follow me"
"If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you".
It is time to start living the words of Jesus. Not... I wish, or I want to be, or if I had the ability and my all time favorite... "if I only had the time".
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RE: Do You Know How to Live? - 11/4/2008 5:47:22 PM
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delete123
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Walker311
Life is not about regrets. Christ came to rid us of regrets. All of them!
I believe sometimes Walker that, this is probably a huge problem with Christians. Not that they forget that Christ came to rid of the regrets, but that some folks do not know how to let go of them.
So people become yoked with a ladle of a heavy burden instead of leaving it at the cross to carry a lighter yoke which is promised by Christ.
If we could only learn to depend on Him more to remove what we believe is: I should have, could have, would have.... but!
Sometimes I believe many of us go or believe we are the Eliza(I may have the wrong prophet here. I'm studying something else right now, so am focused on that.) syndrome that we are the only faithful and God has no other.
We need to be more readily to accept His forgiveness and move on and heed to His voice when He calls upon us for another task.
But sometimes in our regrets He can still receive Glory using this weakness that we may suffer.
When I worked in the hospital (I use this experience a lot, because the Lord showed me the most during these years.) That life is like a vapor.
However I made what I call "the mistake" which changed my life and am learning all over again how forgiving and merciful He truly is.
To learn how to live, it takes one learning how one die to see the value.
Just my two cents worth
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RE: Do You Know How to Live? - 11/4/2008 6:47:28 PM
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Walker311
Posts: 1339
Joined: 4/11/2005
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quote:
However I made what I call "the mistake" which changed my life and am learning all over again how forgiving and merciful He truly is.
Knowing how to live is often best learned by making mistakes... not that we should do so on purpose. I've made my share but that does not make me an expert... on living or mistakes.
quote:
If we could only learn to depend on Him more
Yes! This is the essence of what knowing how to live is all about.
How on earth can do people exist without having the kind of love that you and I have come to depend on? There would be no hope, no real purpose or meaning. We have something that the world wants but they are too blind to see.
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RE: Do You Know How to Live? - 11/4/2008 11:26:49 PM
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Focusing
Posts: 6006
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quote:
Life is not about regrets. Regrets do not make us better people. It does not extend or enrich our lives.
Regrets are a huge waste of time. If I had to do it over again ... that's not even a possibility, so why waste time thinking about it? I have always taken the position that life is a great big learning experience.
quote:
Do I know how to live?
I can survive from day to day. I learned I could get through some extremely difficult times, and most people who know me would never guess what I have been through. I share degrees of detail with people as I felt led by the Spirit, and I believe it has given hope to others. I believe I have been an encouragement to others. I believe I have been able to provide some guidance to others ... rarely on purpose, and usually only through sharing my own experience.
So, do I know how to live? No, not really. But I am learning to allow God to use me as He sees fit.
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Instead of a gem, or even a flower, we should cast the gift of a loving thought into the heart of a friend. That would be giving as the angels give.
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RE: Do You Know How to Live? - 11/4/2008 11:39:06 PM
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Walker311
Posts: 1339
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quote:
But I am learning to allow God to use me as He sees fit.
I would say that for most of us, God cannot effectively use us until we become an emptied vessel that is re-filled with Jesus.
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RE: Do You Know How to Live? - 11/5/2008 1:25:45 PM
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Little_1
Posts: 1589
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Walker311
quote:
However I made what I call "the mistake" which changed my life and am learning all over again how forgiving and merciful He truly is.
Knowing how to live is often best learned by making mistakes... not that we should do so on purpose. I've made my share but that does not make me an expert... on living or mistakes.
quote:
If we could only learn to depend on Him more
Yes! This is the essence of what knowing how to live is all about.
So true.
Philippians 3:13
"...... But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead......"
We cannot change the past but with God's help, the future can be different. PTL
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