kpflounder

We are born again by asking Jesus into our hearts. We then get to know Jesus through the Word of God. By learning who Jesus is, we develop trust and faith in Him. This is our spiritual birth and childhood. I firmly believe that spiritual life is connected to the word in many ways. First, we develop, grow, and keep our faith through constant reading of the Bible. Second, the Word is one way God speaks to us. He uses scripture to enlighten and teach us. Third, I believe that our being born again, and being a spiritual creature enables us to better understanding of the spiritual references in the Word.

Trials allow us to put into practice what we read in God's word. In our beginning trials, we slip, but as we keep on reading and believing, our faith grows, and we begin to see God working in our behalf during our trials. We learn to turn first to God, not our friends and family, which is what God wants and He blesses us for that. By learning to turn to God first and more, we build our faith.

I think people blame God for things they don't understand out of fear of the unknown. God created us to worship and love him, but He didn't want an army of "yes-men", incapable of thought. He created us to have imaginations and creativity, which is where many of us get carried away. Imaginations opens the door to evil thoughts, and creating on our own gives us a false sense of independence. It is when we become so full of our own accomplishments that we fail to acknowledge God. I don't think of temptations as others. We have choices to make and, due to our inflated egos and false independence, we make the wrong choice, on our own. True, there is evil offering bad ideas, but we make the decision. The same as the two year old who wants to touch a pretty, porcelain doll. Mom says no and slaps the hand. The child will repeatedly try to touch the doll, getting hand slapped. After MANY bad decisions, the child learns NOT to touch the doll. We need to learn to seek God in all decisions, before they are made, and listen for His guidance, AND seek God immediately for wisdom of how to correct our bad choices. I don't think we need the devil to sin. In this day, we can get up and make bad TV, radio, internet, chat, etc... decisions on our own, while the devil takes a long break... to prepare for when he will send an attack on each of us. I also think evil is allowed to exist to truly show us the beauty of God's love and peace. We probably would not appreciate His goodness as much, without seeing the bad.