Just how great is Gods Grace.

[G5]

I have to say i have took some time away from the HNI forums and have only recently been back. I remember when i was here before i was given ample amounts of insight from so many members. I believe chuck 7, rebel hog and renfrowridge amoung many others had given me the encouragement to not only have faith in the word but also to question it and seek the answers i need through god himself. Through the debates i have read on here was just enough for me to pick up a bible every night and read myself to sleep. for that im greatfull.

As for the title of this thread. I have found gods grace to be nothing short amazing(and any other word in a thesauraus that goes along with it) i have been able to open my eyes to gods grace in so many situations through outa day, and every day i question how i was never able to see this before. From the beauty of people, best of situations, worst of situations to the most tragic of events. I have somewhere been able to see gods hand. I can see today where it takes so many views of so many people and so many actions of so many people to makegods plan work. Before i had really picked up a bible and read it for myself, Someone on here posted.
Proverbs 3:5-6. Trust in the lord with all your heart;do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths.
Who ever it was that posted this. Thank you.Im sure it has been posted several times, but when i first seen this it really stuck with me. and now that i know it, i tend to see it everywhere. but this place was the first. I suppose its always funny where you pick things up. but i have a question for anyone that thinks they can help.

See when i was first visiting the HNI hunting and religion forum i was sober. I was also not attending church. I was struggling in so many ways its really not worth talking about. But i was sober and i found a God of my understanding. Sortly after i found Jesus christ.But then on day out of the blue, having found jesus as my savior i started drinking again. And with that i have found a church. I have found that god has not turned his back on me for picking up a drink. (this is something i didnt believe was going to happen). Kinda messed up really, i was willing to loose god to have a beer. Anyway my faith has grown strong and my knowledge grows a little more everyday but yet i still drink. I have faith that gods grace will completely take the drink out of my hand, one day. But how is all this possable that i think i have found such faith, even while i know god doesnt want me to drink, andi do anyways. So if you really read all this. Am i kidding myself?have i not found the faith i think i have? Would god really show me all of this even though im not completely sober on every day? would his grace still show itself in my life?

[Chuck7]

That is a wonderful post. I promiceto pray for you everyday to know God even more and to have the power to overcome the alcohol. You said alot in that post.
God bless,
C7
PS can you tell me your first name?? I just put a prayer bracelet on for ya.

[G5]

Chuck 7, my first name is Michael, i thank you for your prayers and you as well will be in mine.

[Chuck7]

Thanks Michael..
I really appreciate that. In these latter Christian years it seems prayer is one of my most valuable assets.
C7

[m.t.hands]

See when i was first visiting the HNI hunting and religion forum i was sober. I was also not attending church. I was struggling in so many ways its really not worth talking about. But i was sober and i found a God of my understanding. Sortly after i found Jesus christ.But then on day out of the blue, having found jesus as my savior i started drinking again. And with that i have found a church. I have found that god has not turned his back on me for picking up a drink.

g5, you will be in my prayersa couple of things in your post caught my eye

i am an alcoholic, luckily i can now say that i am not a drunkard (thanks to the grace of God), from reading some of your other post i know you understand, for me to flirt with alcohol would be very dangerious, one thing about drinking away problems is that is does not work, when you sober up the problem will still be there. BTW, God will never turn his back on you

John 3:16

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.


Proverbs 23:29-35

Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, [when] it moveth itself aright. At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder. Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things. Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast. They have stricken me, [shalt thou say, and] I was not sick; they have beaten me, [and] I felt [it] not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.


The sway of alcohol over mankind is unquestionably due to its power to stimulate the mystical faculties of human nature, usually crushed to earth by the cold facts and dry criticisms of the sober hour.
William James

We all want progress, but if you're on the wrong road, progress means doing an about-turn and walking back to the right road; in that case, the man who turns back soonest is the most progressive.
C. S. Lewis

[Goose 11]

G5,

Would god really show me all of this even though im not completely sober on every day?

Abraham was a liar. Genesis 20:2
Noah was a drunk. Genesis 9:21
David was an adulter and a murderer. 2 Samuel 11
Elijah was suicidal. 1 Kings 19:4
Paul was a persecuter of the church. Acts 9
Peter was a racist. Galatians 2:11

My point is that God can use us, no matter what our problems are. He can take us from where we are and deliver us to where we need to be. One thing that He requires from us though is repentance. That means to turn away from the sin and never go back. Get rid of the alcohol, by the power and grace of God, free yourself from it's grip. Who knows what good things God is going to do with your life if you would repent and give yourself completely to Him. I'll pray for you also.
Trae

[G5]

Proverbs 23:29-35

Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, [when] it moveth itself aright. At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder. Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things. Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast. They have stricken me, [shalt thou say, and] I was not sick; they have beaten me, [and] I felt [it] not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.

My point is that God can use us, no matter what our problems are. He can take us from where we are and deliver us to where we need to be. One thing that He requires from us though is repentance. That means to turn away from the sin and never go back. Get rid of the alcohol, by the power and grace of God, free yourself from it's grip. Who knows what good things God is going to do with your life if you would repent and give yourself completely to Him. I'll pray for you also.
Trae

Thanks for the feed back, and the prayers. I have no idea why its so hard to put the drink down. Since i have came to faith my life has gotten so much better. I have been able to overcome some character defects i thought to be impossible. Like patience, oh man havei becomea patient person, and I know that god did that for me and I knowhe will take the drink away if let him, just not real good at letting him take things away. Its almost like ive got drinking on string. i give it to him and then i want it back, i give the string a tug and you know what happens from there. But hey were striving for progress not perfection right?

mt hands. that that is a great verse. tells me everything
goose 11. i really hope that god can use me. for anything. to be a part of his plan is the greatest acomplishment on earth.

Thanks again
Michael

[Chuck7]

Thanks for the feed back, and the prayers. I have no idea why its so hard to put the drink down. Since i have came to faith my life has gotten so much better. Brother..the victory will come when you realize you can't put it down and will have to rely totally on Christ one day at a time. The Word says."Ask ..and it shall be given unto you..it also says when you ask beleive and ACT like you already have the thing you are asking.Now we must ask according to God's will. We know it's God's will to free you from alcohol so let's begin thanking Him for your deliverance before it even comes. Don't ask me how it works...I don't know.It's just simply a principle of God's Word. I prayed for you today and will continue...even after you are totally free. I'm presently being freed from gluttony. I'm on day 35 .I'll explain at the bottom of this reply.I have been able to overcome some character defects i thought to be impossible. Like patience, oh man havei becomea patient person, and I know that god did that for me and I knowhe will take the drink away if let him,Amen..and He will .Mike you are awesome man.I'm proud of what God is doing in your life.just not real good at letting him take things away. Its almost like ive got drinking on string. i give it to him and then i want it back, i give the string a tug and you know what happens from there. But hey were striving for progress not perfection right? No ..actually both.We will discuss that in 2007.

mt hands. that that is a great verse. tells me everything
goose 11. i really hope that god can use me. for anything. to be a part of his plan is the greatest acomplishment on earth.

Thanks again
Michael

I'm afraid this may freeze up so I will continue with on th enext reply.

[Chuck7]

Mike 35 days ago my son Matt who is 21 wanted to help me lose weight. He is very buff and loves me and knows my weight is going to kill me. He comes up with some pretty good ideas and is a foreman at an oil' trucking place.

At this place though he is learning the ways of the world and has grown a taste for whiskey and beer. My dad and grandfather both died of cancer caused from alcohol.

Anyway, Matt said dad ..why don't you eat only 2 meals a day with zero snacks , cut out all sugar drinks . Each time you slip up you owe me 20.00. I said sure .if each time you take a sip of alcohol you owe me 20.00 for I didn't like what my son was becoming. We agreed. I've lost 15lbs so far in the last 35 days and he is a much happier young man. We pray together in the mornings and he is trusting God for direction in his life. My clothes are fitting better. I would have never believed God would use this little game to help us both out but God works in some pretty neat ways.

I used to be a moderate drinker Michael but have stopped as I don't want to be a stumbling block in front of my son who could easily be an alcoholic.

[G5]

chuck7,

That is awesome you and your son have such a great relationship. He will also be in my prayers. Your son sounds like a smart man, i pray both of you are able keep your money. I have also went to the 2 meals a day. Not because i am over weight but because during my hardest time that i have seen so far in my short life, i fasted and experienced something incredible. Since then i dont eat more than my share.

We know it's God's will to free you from alcohol so let's begin thanking Him for your deliverance before it even comes. Don't ask me how it works...

I have never looked at it like that before. I dont know why, i just havent. And i have to say that might be the neatest way for prayer. I try to have gratitude in all my prayers and only ask to take what i have away on an instant. I also think that is very good way to be able to pray and accept forgiveness (another thing i need to work on). As you said, it is funny where you pick things up and how great gods grace is.

Thanks again
Michael