Greetings in the Lord! This is Bob, one of TheNET Moderators. Welcome! We're glad you are here!

Thanks for sharing a little of your story and also your struggles. Some think that we as Christians should never have struggles, but Jesus said in this world we would have troubles, but we are a people who triumph over our problems with the Help of the Holy Spirit in our lives. God helps us get up when were knocked down and continue to run our race that is set before us.

I have included some links to help you navigate around the site. You may want to check out the Footprints group, the Links for Growth forum for great tips on how to grow in Christ, and Miracle Grow to help you get closer to God every day.

Once again, thanks for joining TheNET. I hope you make lots of good friends here and keep growing in the wisdom and knowledge of the Lord.

Don't hesitate to ask if you have any questions. I look forward to getting to know you.

In the love of Jesus.
Bob

Welcome to AAG. We want your experience here to be positive and uplifting. There are a couple of things that can help you maximize your experience.

Forums and Blogs: Forums are for asking questions and for sharing a response to a question someone has posted. This is a great opportunity for “iron to sharpen iron.” Blogs are for posting an opinion, view or specific message regarding a subject.

Making New Friends: You will make many new friends here on AAG. Some will send a friend invite to you. You have the choice to accept or decline. When an invite has been sent to you the “My Friends” the upper right box on your home page will be followed by the word “New”.” Simply click on the icon and make your choice. To invite someone to be your friend you simply need to go to their home page and click on “add as friend” under their personal photo. Once someone is your friend you will be able to email each of your friends on AAG. You can also leave a message on someone personal page, but note that everyone will be able to read what you leave there.

IMs: You can IM anyone who is on line by clicking on their picture located at the upper right part of the page.

Chat Room: There is a chat room located near the top of the AAG main page. It is a great place to get to know people better.

Videos: You can also upload Christian videos on the AAG main page or watch them. They are located down the left side of the main page.

If you have any questions feel free to ask. We are here to serve you to the best of our abilities.

We are glad you are here,
LT
Volunteer Forums Moderator

Hello Derek,
What a truly blessed place you have found here my Brother. This is a place of sincere Love, Joy and passion for our Savior Jesus Christ. God has brought us together to reach out with a hand of Love and friendship to all. I look forward to sharing our thoughts and words about "walking in the Love of God". Thanks for being here my Brother.
journeymanhd

Yes my testimony is like Todds, but I don't have tatoos.lol
Roy fields is going to be in your neck of the woods this week and is going to be on God TV. I really grew to love worshipping the lord with him during the Florida revival.
In the love of jesus.
Bob

Welcome
Glad you joined our wonderful internet family, sharing the love of Christ, learning and growing in your spiritual life.And as a bonus making wonderful friends.

May you experience a wonderful fellowship and growth with all the others by joining in the groups and forums and share the love of Christ.
Blessings Nienie

I really enjoyed your comment to Lilly in the support for separated... group. You have taken your trials and allowed God to use them to teach you how to be a better person and a better man of God.
In the love of jesus
Bob

Dear Derek,
I can relate to the emotional "things " going on in your life. I call them growing pains. We grow spiritualy and the flesh had a real hard time dealing with that. We step out of our "fleshly comfort zone" and take on growing closer to Jesus. It's ok. Keep yourself together with God's word and the Lord will bring you comfort.
Hang in there dear Brother. The truth will set you free.
Your Brother in Christ,
journeymanhd

Hello Derek,
I was very sorry to hear of your back injury. I pray that you are getting better each day. I love what you saw for yourself in this moment of pain. A chance to grow with God. Quiet time to reflect and not dwell in the hurt but in the Glory of what God has in mind for you. I too have health issues that if I let them they would control my life. I choose to let God guide me and not my pain or emotions. The past "hurts and tempests" can be so much a barrier to our walk with Jesus. Healing and forgiving are so crucial to being closer to God. I once thought "no one could forgive me". Unknown to me at the time my past created who I was being in my present way of being. I was " I'm not good enough" and that was what stopped me from being the man God created me to be.
God told me he did forgive me. He told me I am a child of God and as such I am absolutely good enough. You know to forgive myself as well as others was like removing hundreds of chains from around my neck. God showed me the way to him when I asked him. He lifted me up and it felt so wonderful! The Lord is my shepard and he Loves us. It is so very simple. But, we as flesh driven beings make it so hard. We ( these humans) are a family. Our Brothers and Sisters live all over the world. In families people make mistakes and sometimes the mistakes are so horrible or so small. To Love our God our Father with all our heart and soul. To Love each other as God wants us to Love ourselves. Wanting to heal our Brothers and Sisters. To forgive them as we have been forgiven. We must be the example of God's amazing Love. To walk in Love for all. No barriers verbal, visual, nothing stopping pure Love.
You and I have much in common. There was a time I would really have said "hard to believe". I don't say that anymore. We have so much in common because you are my Brother in Christ. We have the same Father. May God's favor be with you Derek. May God grant you health and continued clarity as you walk with him.
Your Brother in Christ,
journeymanhd

Hi Derik, I pray that God will cause your back to heal quickly, I has a axcident once and suffered from a slipped disk for 3 months. It was so painful. So rest and allow it to heal.

You can watch Godtv online also, just go to godtv.com.
What a great ministry and just think it is broadcast from Jerusalem to 200 countries all over the world.

I am glad the the support groug has blessed you. I started the group because I never wanted anyone to suffer alone like I did.
Just to know there is some one out ther who really cares and understands your struggles can make all the difference in the world.

I had a real blessing last Saturday when I was able to talk to a young man named Jerimy who is from England.

I met him over 2 years ago when my wife and I separated and I lived in Maine for 4 months. I had joined a home Bible study and one night Jerimy came, He had just been led to the lord by Norm who had been going to him for physical theropy.

It was so good to hear that he was still walking with the Lord. It made my day!

In the love of Jesus
Bob

Yes we can send messages on your page that will alert your e-mail or under our picture it says to send message this private Glad your on the mend.
In the love of Jesus
Bob

Hi Derik, It is my brother who is mentally retarded not my son. My brother Ray spent over 30 years in an institution and now he is in community care home. I worked at the institution for a number of years and ran a group home. When I started raising my own family, god directed me to become a truck driver where i worked for 20 years until I became disabled myself 2 years ago due to a neuromuscular disease.

I have a really good friend named Bart who has Downs. He lives with his parents who are wonderful Christians. Bart has the gift of love and has a heart of gold. He loves God and has an ability to pour love upon others like no one else I know.

Life has so much that can bog us down, but if we just take a moment to look for God, we will find Him in the hearts of people like your son and Bart. It was working in that institution that God showed me what love was all about. Some of these residents had nothing to give back, but they were loved and cared for any way.
I was amazed that the residents who at first appeared grotesque to me actually we the ones I loved the most. Most of them were completely dependent on us to care for them and if we didn't they would die. I think it was there that God did a very deep work in my life. I began to realize that I was grotesque with my sin, but he loved me anyway, I was helpless without Him in my life, dying, thank God for loving and helping us every day of our lives.

In the love of Jesus
Bob

Hey Derek,

Thanks for the kind words. I too appreciated your input. You obviously have studied the subject. Jonathan is a university student and that subject aligns with his major and his passion. He is very knowledgable on the subject. I look forward to getting to know you in the days ahead.

Lord Bless,
LT

Hi Derek....You may be interested in certain videos which you can order online.
www.ExplorationFilms.com
They have fantastic videos to discuss how God's Creation defies Evolution.... Dr. Jobe Martin is the scientist who does the videos. The name of the Ministry is 'Biblical Discipleship Ministries'
The toll free phone number is 1800 964-0439.
Telephone is 972 771-0568. email: dr-jobe@juno.com.

I have bought a bunch of their videos for my kids to prepare them now as they grow older and come into contact with the lies of Evolution.

Remember...eyes on Jesus.
Blessings, Carla

Hi Derek,

You are so right in all that you say...Thank you for the beautiful message on my page. My husband is a 'good' person. The 'good person' misunderstanding in the world has got to be one of satan's greatest lies. ie: 'if you are a good person you will get to heaven'.

Your welcome...I agree that books to definately have more information in them. These videsos are very well done also. ....really fantastic for children especially as they are preparing to go into the world. :) These videos are good also for those (like me) who want to know basics, but don't want to dive real deep into Evolution. I have so much reading already. My passions are elsewhere than disproving evolution. But...we must be informed!

Have a great day. Love in Christ, Carla

Hi friend
Been thinking about you! How are you after your back injury?
BLessings Nienie

Hi Derek
The time I received your email it was 1:22pm here in sunny South africa.
Wow my friend you are indeed a very busy man!! Enjoy life to the fullest!!!Praise God for your healing and that you can be in action again!! I can just imagine touching your toes....what a blessing some of the younger generation struggle with that one hey!!!! Praise God that HE lifts you up to be healthy and up and about and be of such a joy to your family and friends.
I love your gift ideas quite orginal!! I can just imagine the expression of the parents when the so called dinosaurs turn out to be only green slimy stuff oh yigg!!!
Intersting to study the Old Testament there is so much to learn for it is a preparation for the New Testament.
(Hmm and is Beryl a very "special lady"...? Just joking seems like you 2 get along very well and put quality time into each others lives!!)
It was a blessings to hear from you and we all can learn from you!!!Active and in action!!!
May you experience the love and blessings out of the Fathers hand today and every other day!!
Abundant blessings
Nienie

God bless you, Derek. You are a witness to the grace of God and your testimony is inspiring. God bless you. I'm looking forward to our fellowship on this site. It's good to be here to pray for one another in the Body of Christ. I am praying for you.

Derek, I just read your request for prayer regarding the problems in the Anglican Church in England. I know it will bother you. It's like having problems in the family where we expect peace and love. However, keep your focus on the Lord Jesus Christ, the Head of the Church which is His Body. You know that the Church which is the Body of Christ consists of believers in Christ universally and transcends human religious organizations, such as the Anglican, Evangelicals, and so on. All of us who believe in Christ are brought into the Body of Christ by the Spirit (Romans 12:4-5; 1Corinthians 12:12-13). And the Spirit ensures we are nutured in the Body of Christ. The link we have with other members of the Body is spiritual but real and surpasses the natural link of human connections. The Lord will lead you into fellowship with those with whom you can relate in Christ and He will use them to edify and encourage you. In the meantime, pray for those concerned with the problems of the Anglican Organization. One thing I may say in closing, the organizations men set up to form comunities among God's children on earth may sometimes crumble. But the real Church, which is the Body of Christ, as mentioned before, will always remain strong in Christ. God bless you. I am praying for you.

Hallelujah! This is to me is an aspect of the Lord stirring the awareness of the members of His Body in our generation as He does in every generation to remind us of the reality of His existing and advancing Church. I have just commented on your remark in the prayer room.

Derek, certainly the Holy Spirit is stirring the reality of the oneness of the Church in our hearts. That oneness is between us. I just left a comment in response to yours in the Prayer Room and notice now in the message you left for me your prayer here is based on one of the Scripture passages I shared with you in that comment about holding on to the Head of the Church. I am very happy the Holy Spirit has us on the same path. God bless you, my friend.

Thanks for writing. You are right. One needs always to consider the reader or listener in our zeal to communicate. In any case, what is the meaningfulness of communication if what is communicated is not communicated?! Yet, at the same time, we who communicate in the name of the Lord must give out as the Spirit moves us, long or short, even like casting our bread upon the water, hoping that the ones whom God intends it for will get it, whatever they may have to put out to get it.

Regarding spiritual growth, I think a great challenge is the fact that we cannot do it for ourselves. It bothers the zealousness of a mindset shaped by the world's self-centred philosophy of living and achieving. It becomes difficult to accept from such a mindset that God will do it all for us without our input.

Jesus once said no man by taking thought can add one cubit to His stature. That relates even more so to our spiritual stature. Nonetheless, it should be a comfort to us to know that what we cannot do for ourselves God is actively involved in doing for us all by His mercy and grace. And so, after bringing us into communion with Him in Christ at salvation, He goes on to produce spiritual growth in us in a self-effortlessness that may be likened to the growth of a plant.

I have found encouragement in Paul's way of putting it in Philippians 2:12-15:
"Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world."

After exhorting the believer in Christ to "to work out" our own salvation, lest we should either be dispondent because of a sense of weakness or over-zealous out of a notion we can do it on our own, Paul immediately continues by stating "for it is God who works in" us. So the truth is we work out what God works in. We can work out our own salvation, we can do all things without complaining, we can function with excellence, because the all wise and mighty God operates in us. And what is even more strange to human self-centred philosophy of living and achieving, Paul writes that God works in us "both to will and to do." The phrase "work in" in the passage carries the meaning of powerfully energizing.

The discovery of this truth has brought me much rest in Christ as well as a comforting sense that I can trust God to faithfully generate in me the will and active power or drive to accomplish His will in every situation. The basis of all this is being in communion with God. It's what Jesus meant by abiding in Him if at all we are going to be productive.

I hope you will find some time to ponder on this Scripture passage and the powerful truth it represents. There are several other similar Scripture passages you may find links to. But the truth supports the fact that giving the glory to God for all Christian accomplishment is certainly not a flattery. The glory is truly His fully deserved own.

I am always so blessed in what you write. And it stirs so much in me.

Your testimony is heart-breaking. A couple days ago I was listening to a secular song I loved years ago. It's entitled "You left me just when I needed you most." I don't know if you have ever heard it. But it seems it was meant to describe a broken love relationship. But in listening to it this time all I was hearing were the voices of forsaken and unloved children, abandoned by or deprived of their parents just when they needed their parents the most. My eyes were filled with tears. I thought of my son's three kids after he and his wife were separated about three years ago. They range in years at 4, 3, and 2 and live in California with their young Mom. But my heart yearned for them as I listened to the message the Spirit was giving through this secular song. They certainly need their Dad. Then my son called yesterday and was excited because the mom for the first time since the separation was permitting him to spend Christmas eve with the kids. Pray for these kids.

Christ through your childhood experiences make you able to sympathize and empathize with the many who sorrowfull and unloved are wandering in this dark cold world without the warmth and comfort of a caring someone to talk to.

Your friendship is God sent to me, Derek. I am praying for you. Thanks for your prayers. I always need them.

Thanks for your comment, Derek. It's good what the Lord is doing through you in ministering to others. That's the purpose of being a member of the Body of Christ and being endowed with the gifts of the Spirit; it is for the benefit of all.

I am thankful especially that the Lord has placed my son, Clinton James, and his young family on your prayerful heart.

I also can sense the renewal of Life in you, Derek. God is blessing you. We come to know the truth by the revelation of the Spirit. Then the truth becomes personalized and sets us free in Christ.

The Scripture passages that you shared have inspired me too. Another wonderful teaching the Lord gave regarding spiritual life, growth, and fruitfulness by resting in Him is the parable of the vine in John 15. There Jesus is very plain and assuring that it is by abiding in Him we can live and be productive.

God bless you. I am praying for you.

I am praising the Lord with you, Derek, as you enter into the joy of this great salvation the Lord offers us.

You are hearing the Gospel message, brother, not from man, nor from man's traditions and philosophy, but from the living voice of God in His word. And, therefore, you must be quickened the way you are being quickened now by it.

Continue on in the faith. Our on-going walk in this great salvation is designed by God to be in the same manner we began - in absolute dependence upon the Lord. This to me is what faith in God is all about - absolute reliance upon God.

Dead in sin when God by grace saved us, is there anything we could have done to initiate this salvation in our lives? We know the meaning of physical death; it is no different with spiritual death. It is not lightly or meaninglessly the Bible describes our condition before salvation as dead. Man will have difficulty accommodating the idea of salvation being absolutely God's initial work because of man's fallen mindset of self-dependence, as we discussed before. But that's God's way of salvation.

Take some time and meditate on these two Scripture passages and note the extent to which God is the absolute producer of our salvation. John 1:12-13: "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."
Ephesians 2:1: "And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins."

So having been saved and brought to this godly life by God's own initiative by grace (favour granted unconditionally or without merit), we are instructed by the Bible to go on to live in this great salvation in absolute dependence on God's grace.

Paul puts it this way in Colossians 2:6-10: "As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power."

It's indeed an explosion of joy, peace, and strength when we come to the realization that everything we need to live on in this great salvation is there in Christ for us and we aborb it all like a plant absorbs nutrients or a branch absorbs sap for life and growth. This is the rest in Christ for the People of God.

Derek, this is a very nice picture. It's good for us now to put a face to your kind personality already of much blessing and inspiration to us on this site. Also thanks for joining us at Grace To Help group. I know you will be a blessing to us there.

Gracias mucho Derek para su mensaje. Me satisface ser su hermano en Cristo. Es bueno tener amigos en otros lugares para la conversacion, el rezo y la ayuda cristiana. Puede Dios continuar estando con tu y bendecirle en todos lo que tu hace y su caminata diaria con el.
Aunque yo gozando aprendiendo espanol, tu puedes ver que no es algo que he perfeccionada. He estado estudiando y en de cerca de dos anos.