Born Again Christians Thread-No Bashing please

[2gether]

But since others have given updates....

I started Seminary a couple of weeks ago. So far it is going pretty well, but combining it with my professional life and being a new dad is going to be a little stressful. School really excites me, though...I've wanted to do it my whole life, and to ahve the chance now, at 33 is a real blessing.

It is interesting that we just finished a sermon series on prayer at our church also. Could God have been preparing us for the hurricane and its aftermath?

 

[luvthatduke]

talking hands, what great stories,
especially your personal one.
I've heard similar experiences from many people,
and I have no doubt that it's either angels or God, Himself.

2gether, hey we may have hurricane stories to tell
right now, but it's always great to hear how God is working
in a brother's life. Blessings!

 

[Chatter Box]

I am in no way shape or form a born again. I actually don't believe in 1 almighty god. I am a pagan and I believe in multiple Gods and Goddesses, however, is there really such a thing as born again? I mean don't people who believe in God always believe in God deep down? I'm not bashing anyone but I am really curious..what does born again mean to you? Did you stray and then re-discover religion or God or faith? I have never had doubts in what I believed, even as a small child, I always asked questions but never felt that anyone told me the real answers to what I was looking for until my grandmother decided I was mature enough to hear what she believed and when she explained her thoughts and feelings, it was exactly what I was looking for from the get go.

 

[Tasha+Scott]

I am in no way shape or form a born again. I actually don't believe in 1 almighty god. I am a pagan and I believe in multiple Gods and Goddesses, however, is there really such a thing as born again? I mean don't people who believe in God always believe in God deep down? I'm not bashing anyone but I am really curious..what does born again mean to you? Did you stray and then re-discover religion or God or faith? I have never had doubts in what I believed, even as a small child, I always asked questions but never felt that anyone told me the real answers to what I was looking for until my grandmother decided I was mature enough to hear what she believed and when she explained her thoughts and feelings, it was exactly what I was looking for from the get go.

Well, I think that a lot of us agreed a while back that we don't actually call ourselves born again Christians. That was the term the OP used. Most of us just refer to ourselves as Christians. We believe that Jesus was sent to this earth to die for our sins and that we are forgiven through the blood he shed. We believe that one day we will be reunited with him in the Rapture and that a great Tribulation will happen here on earth and that anti-Christ will reign for a time. I am not entirely sure what the significance of the term born again is since I refer to myself simply as a Christian but I am guessing the principles are the same and it is simply a different term for Christians...not sure. Anyway, hope that helps. Maybe some of the other Christians on this thread can shed a little more light to this subject.

 

[shelly3girls]

I call myself born again. I will explain it how I have been taught. We are all born sinners. Being born again is asking Jesus into your heart. It is a choice we make. We must admit we are a sinner. When we pray the sinner's prayer asking God to forgive our sins, our sins are washed away by the blood of Jesus. He died on the cross for our sins which allows us to be born again but we still have to make the choice. Just believing that God exists is not enough.

 

[live4christp1]

Good morning everyone! What some powerful testimonies about hurricanes, God's grace and life in general. Thanks everyone for sharing. I look forward to coming on this thread daily to see what God is doing in other believers lives. It is a blessing to me.

2gether - How great that you are getting the opportunity to go to seminary. My DH started when he was 32/33 - he still needs to finish....only done bits here and there as we can afford it. It was hard work but he really enjoyed classes like OT survey - he learned so much. Prayers that everything will go well with your studies & family.

Now I'd like to ask you dear friends to hold up a couple of things in prayer for me. We start our teen group back up tonight at church......please pray for that ministry, that we will see teens come to Christ and those who already know Him grow in their spiritual walk this year. Also please pray with me about some decisions about school.......our company has a tuition reimbursement plan, I think I mentioned it here before but said I couldn't think of something I'd like to do. Really feel like I should study for elemenary education and try to get a position at my DS school. By the time I finish, DD would be in school as well.....my mom & dad keep DS during the summer while I'm here at work, but teaching would allow me to be on their schedule as well. I now mom & dad won't be able to take care of them forever and I don't won't to run into a situation with not knowing what to do with them. Many years ago, I really wanted to be a teacher but when I looked at all the time it would take to go to school, I changed my mind (I know, stupid decision on my part, would have been easier to do before I had kids). I just know I don't want to be here where I'm working forever.

Thanks everyone! You are all wonderful!

 

[Talking Hands]

I need to ask for prayer for a friend of my DD2. Victor was diagnosed with leukemia last week and is in the VA hospital here. He is 23. So far he has a great attitude and is looking at this at a bump in the road. Unfortunately we can't visit as my daughter has a cold. He could use prayers for healing and his Dad and sister for peace and strength to support hime through this.
Also please pray for the deaf and deaf-blind affected by Katrina. Lousiana has a large deaf blind population and the disruption in there lives is very difficult for them. Also pray for the sign language interpreters that have lost their homes. And pray for volunteer sign language interpreters to help with communications for the deaf and deaf-blind as they go through the needed paper work to help them get back on their feet.

 

[Tasha+Scott]

I call myself born again. I will explain it how I have been taught. We are all born sinners. Being born again is asking Jesus into your heart. It is a choice we make. We must admit we are a sinner. When we pray the sinner's prayer asking God to forgive our sins, our sins are washed away by the blood of Jesus. He died on the cross for our sins which allows us to be born again but we still have to make the choice. Just believing that God exists is not enough.

Ah, okay. Well, by that definition I guess I am a BAC, I just have never really used that term before. Btw, congrats on your recent preg. I noticed your ticker!

Cristy and Talking Hands~ Prayers said!

I also have a prayer request. My brother (the deaf one) is currently in Memphis having the wiring conected to the cochlear implant that he had implanted in July. They will be turning the device on today. It will be awhile before his hearing and speech are somewhat normal but today marks the 1st day of the journey. Pray all goes well and that my family makes it to and from Memphis safely. And thanks to all that prayed about his actual surgery in July. It was a success!

 

[live4christp1]

Talking Hands - Prayers for Victor and his family. Prayers that God would direct the doctors in the best and most effect treatment.

Tasha&Scott - Praying for your brother, hope all goes well. Keep us updated. We have a deaf ministry at our church "Silent Word Ministries" and DH and I are signing up to take and intensive 2 week sign language class starting next week.

 

[shelly3girls]

Tasha&Scott,
Thanks! We are praying for a healthy baby. We had a major scare with DD#2's heart but left it in God's hands and he answered our prayers. We will add everyone listed above to our prayer list.

 

[Talking Hands]

I also have a prayer request. My brother (the deaf one) is currently in Memphis having the wiring conected to the cochlear implant that he had implanted in July. They will be turning the device on today. It will be awhile before his hearing and speech are somewhat normal but today marks the 1st day of the journey. Pray all goes well and that my family makes it to and from Memphis safely. And thanks to all that prayed about his actual surgery in July. It was a success!

Praying that all goes well. Just be aware there will still be some situations that he will have difficulty with. Especially ones with very loud background noise. I hp[e he one of the ones it works well for.

 

[2gether]

I am liking this thread more than just about any I have read recently...and am so glad I tried checking the Community Board just one more time. Thanks for bringing some of the pixie dust back to the boards for me!

The term "born again" refers to John 3:3, in the New Testament of the Bible, where Jesus says to Nicodemus, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the Kingdom of God unless he is born again." A previous poster explained what Jesus meant, but basically it means denying your sinful self and asking God to take Lordship over your life and, through Jesus, forgive your sins. The Sinner's Prayer is a prayer asking God to do just that.

As far as whether I've always believed, I had a long period in life where I had no faith whatsoever, and I now many who had never even heard of Jesus before adulthood but are now "Born again" Christians. In recognizing that we are, in ourselves, not enough to reach heaven, and in finding Jesus, rests our hope of eternal salvation.

For all you brothers and sisters, I'll be praying for your requests. God bless you all!

 

[Albertan mom]

Welcome 2Gether!

Praying for all your requests.

Glad this thread is still going on!

 

[luvthatduke]

Praying for all the requests,
may God work in amazing ways!

Talking Hands, thank you for mentioning
the deaf population in NO.
I must confess, as a hearing person I honestly
did not think of how difficult this tragedy will be for them,
please forgive me.

I call myself Born Again, but if asked what "type" of
Christian I am I generally will say Evangelical and
let the conversation start from there.
I have found in my personal walk that if I allow God
to open some doors for me He will give me opportunity
to further explain that I consider myself Born Again
and then I have an opportunity to tell the person
what that means to me.
I also use the word saved often, but not with non-Christians
knowingly as it can turn a positive conversation
into a negative one very fast.


I remember a post from a Pagan the other day,
and if you're still here I'd like to tell you that I became
Born Again after I attempted to kill myself.
I was quite serious about it, and extremely upset with
God that He did not allow me to die.
My medical case was written up by the doctors at
the hospital because I should be dead.
There is no earthly, physical reason I am alive.

I had been reading a $5.00 paperback Bible that I
had bought, and my mother remembered it.
She brought it to me on the Psych Ward
and after my eyes could once again focus (took about 2 weeks)
I started reading Jesus' words, trying to figure out
what on earth He had allowed me to live for,
especially because I was cursing him in my heart & mind
for not letting me die.

A few nights later, when all the other patients were sleeping,
I crept out of my hospital bed and knelt on the cold, tile floor.
I wept and told Jesus that I was still angry with Him and our Father,
but because I wanted to trust His Word,
I told Him I wanted Him to come into my heart and save me.
He knew that my heart was as hard as a lump of coal,
and that I was incredibly angry with God and still wanted to die.
But because His Word is true I know that He entered my
heart that night and never left.

I did not live a life to please Him for some time,
I kept wavering back & forth, many times doubting
that even Jesus would be willing to love me, to save me,
and I doubted that He would ever be able to change my heart.

Well, long story short - He perservered, I became more pliable
to the Holy Spirit and the changes began to show.
Had absolutely nothing to do with church - not dogma, not sacraments,
not how many sermons I heard, not how many Bible Studies I attended.
But, it wasn't until I went to a church (Baptist, FWIW)
and asked some questions and allowed people to start loving me,
that I even could begin to understand that whatever I "felt"
on any given day, it would not take away my point of salvation
that night in the hospital.
There are still times I doubt, and I remember that Jesus
tells the Truth - He Alone is the Truth, and not just me but
countless others in my life can attest to His work in me.

Blessings...

 

[Albertan mom]

Thanks for your great testimony luvthatduke...

God is good. He is always there for us, waiting for us, loving us.
His mercies are new every morning.

 

[Aidensmom]

Thanks for your great testimony luvthatduke...

God is good. He is always there for us, waiting for us, loving us.
His mercies are new every morning.

I completely agree.

 

[live4christp1]

luvthatduke - thanks so much for sharing that testimony. God's love is so amazing to me - it's unconditional, we don't have to do anything to earn it. you were a blessing to me this morning.

Here's a song for you -

PCD - When God Ran

VERSE(1):
Almighty God, the great I am
Immovable rock, omnipotent, powerful, awesome Lord
Victorious warrior, commanding King of Kings
Mighty conqueror, and the only time – the only time I ever saw Him run

CHORUS:
Was when He ran to me, He took me in His arms
Held my head to His chest, said “My son’s come home again”
Lifted my face, wiped the tears from my eyes
With forgiveness in His voice He said, “Son do you know I still love you?”
He caught me by surprise when God ran

VERSE(2):
The day I left home I knew I’d broken His heart
And I wondered then if things could ever be the same
Then one night I remembered His love for me
And down that dusty road ahead I could see
It was the only time – it was the only time I ever saw Him run

CHORUS:
And then He ran to me, He took me in His arms
Held my head to His chest, said “My son’s come home again”
Lifted my face, wiped the tears from my eyes
With forgiveness in His voice He said, “Son do you know I still love you?”
He caught me by surprise as He brought me to my knees
When God ran – I saw Him run to me

BRIDGE:
I was so ashamed, all alone and so far away
But now I know He’s been waiting for this day

CHORUS:
I saw Him run to me, He took me in His arms
Held my head to His chest, said “My son’s come home again”
Lifted my face, wiped the tears from my eyes
With forgiveness in His voice I felt His love for me again

He ran to me, He took me in His arms
Held my head to His chest, said “My son’s come home again”
Lifted my face, wiped the tears from my eyes
With forgiveness in His voice He said, “Son”, He called me Son
He said, “Son do you know I still love you?”
He ran to me and then I ran to Him
When God ran

 

[live4christp1]

It is such a comfort to me to know that even when I don't understand the why's, the how's, etc. that God is there in the midst of it all. He has a purpose, He has a plan and sometimes all that is left for us to do is just believe.


Clay Crosse - When All That's Left is to Believe

Lyrics:
Oh Lord
Sometimes You seem unfair
If You really love me
Why would You bring me here?
Oh Lord

I've tried to do what's right
Why won't You deliver me
From this never ending night?
Sometimes the truth can hurt
But You said it would set me free
Somewhere in this pain
You must have a plan for me

Chorus:
When all that's left is to believe
I give my doubts and fears to You
And fall down on my knees
I may not have the answers now
But You give me what I need
So father I will cling to You
When all that's left is to believe

Oh Lord
Believing makes me see
Everytime I trust in You
Your spirit moves in me
Life's a mystery
And I don't claim to know it all
But I'm certain where to turn
If my back's against the wall

Repeat chorus

Father forgive me
When I lose my way
And love me back
Upon the path
Of faith

Repeat chorus

 

[luvthatduke]

Thank you so much!
Blessings to all...

Before I forget, I just posted a thread
on the Katrina board that President Bush
has designated September 16th as a
National Day of Prayer in Remembrance
of the Victims of Hurrican Katrina.
Thought I'd let everyone know.

 

[Grandma Bear]

Not only is September 16th a special prayer day; but there is a presidental prayer center which has a list of prayer request from our president and quotes and messages from many spiritual leaders. If you are interested check out the following: www.presidentalprayerteam.org