Aussie girl

When we are desperate, we are motuivated to learn! IvoryEagle says: “God always picks up a new beginning at our perceived end”. I love this. I think a crisis will teach us something new about God’s love and faithfulness, about what faith means, about what is really important compared to what we normally focus on. It will help us start again or continue on with renewed hope and confidence in God, and it will sharpen our spiritual insight and walk. We realise we need Him, we cannot do it ourselves…a lesson just as critical to learn, however, in the non crisis times. We are made to be dependent, ouch, this goes against our grain.

The comfort I receive from my faith comes from the promises in the Word of God, and learning to trust that God is with me in all circumstances, and cares about me in all things, even those I cause by my own behaviour. I have been learning to repeat the words found in Philippians 4:6 “Do not be worried about anything…”, and reminding myself that means “any thing”, as I think I have a tendency to put in a few exceptions to this lovely promise… but how dare I even try to add anything to God’s word, that is sin. The comfort I am wanting to learn from a daily personal relationship with God is the comfort that comes from knowing I am the loved child of my Father in heaven. The best comfort I can bring to a friend is to encourage them to focus on the Lord himself and his words. He is “the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort” (2Cor 1:3). One version (New Living Translation) translated it as “the source of all comfort” so what better place to go than to the source. The Message worded it as “healing counsel”. I like what Swordwoman said in her post that it can be our presence with a person that brings comfort. Words sometimes are intrusive especially in the beginning. There is a time for silence and a time for speech. When we first show love, then we will be heard more clearly. Words of comfort will then affirm that we are never alone, that God’s care never stops, and that his wisdom and power are beyond our understanding and sufficient for every circumstance.

Hello, I am Susan, and live in Melbourne, Australia. Like some others, this is the first time I have been actively involved in these studies and forum (did enrol once but did not follow through). It is good to meet others who love to study God's word. My prayer is that this wil help me grow in God's love. Looking forward to getting to know you. Blessings, Susan

Hello, I'm Sue from Australia. This is my first forum. I am looking forward to exploring this study, and sharing with others. Not quite sure about negotiating through this process but will see how we go, Blessings, Sue

Hi, I have just registered in this forum, have never really been involved in a forum before, so still finding my way around. At least I've got this far! Am from Australia, as you've probably guessed. Am looking forward to the Bible Studies on Romans, and hopefully growing and being changed in the process. Thankyou for this opportunity. Aussie girl