All About GOD - Growing Relationships with Jesus and Others

Sometimes its hard!!

Having the Holy Spirit inside of you is the greatest most self-assuring feeling there is. When I would read about how hard it also is I really didn't understand until this week.

There are moments of guilt, anger, sadness, and helplessness.

The guilt is when we sin. The most miniscle sin can beat us up. Sure I am getting better each and every day, but I will never be rid of sin and I sometimes can be very hard on myself when I do. Its that feeling of disappointing my Father. The things that He did for me when He allowed His Son to die on the cross just humbles me so. And then I go and repay him by not always following His simple rules. I sometimes add to the problems that our country is facing by allowing myself to get sucked in. This past week especially I felt like I drifted away. I am reeled back in, but I just had to write about how terrible I felt. How alone, and downright miserable.

Now the anger, saddness, and helplessness can all be rolled into one emotion. There were two people this past week that I have been trying to connect with. One looked me in the eye and told me that the bible was nothing but a text book of fables on how we should live our lives. As much as I tried to convince this person, they would just smile with confidence and tell me that they didn't believe in God and there was nothing I could do to convince them. I felt helpless because I couldn't convince her about how wrong she was. I felt angry by the smile that she gave me. I felt so very sad because God doesn't desrve to be treated this way. I would tell him how very sorry I was because of the so many that don't believe, and don't want to believe.

The other person simply said that I don't want people selling their religion to me, just like I don't push my religion onto others. So you could say it was a pretty short conversation.

God has given me so much!! I realize how much He loves me. But with that love comes an obligation that I sometimes feel I am not holding up. I don't know why I tend to reach out to the ones that are the most disconnected. It just seems like these are the types that God puts in front of me. I am planting the seed to the best of my ability, and maybe more than I know. I want to do God's work by spreading his word in the worst way. Its not for personal glory for I am most humble. I do sometimes fight with where my emotions take me. I just want to see that sparkle in someones eye that was never there before.

It was just a hard week, things are already starting to improve. Facing your trials is God's number one teaching tool. I sometimes think, "is it satan pulling me towards this situation, or is it God teaching me to walk away." I am sure it is satan playing with my weakness. But let me tell you, God is right there giving me the strength to fight him. I love Him so much for being my bodyguard.

Praise the Lord everyone, and may the love of the Lord be upon you!!

Todd

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Comment by Todd Robert Princl on June 24, 2013 at 1:25pm: Richard,

Thanks for the kind words. And i remember reading and watching shows where the disciples were picked, and how they doubted. I will continue on my journey listening to God as he puts people in my path. I will plant the seed the only way I know how and let God finish the job. And of course God gets all the glory as I humbley thank Him!!

Comment by Richard L. Broch, Sr. on June 23, 2013 at 8:13pm: Hi Todd,

May God bless you for your love and concern for those souls outside the Kingdom Of God. As Charles says, we are called to show and tell the gospel. The Holy Spirit takes it from there.

And Todd, as you are finding out......many don't want to hear about their salvation.

But check out Matthew 28: 16-17, " Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. (17) When they saw Him, they worshipped Him; but some doubted."

Remember, these doubters had travelled with Him for 3+ years, saw all His miracles, knew of His death, and saw the risen Christ.....AND DOUBTED.

No wonder many people today doubt........

So our marching orders are to show and tell the gospel anyway........like Jesus' parable in Matthew 13:3-9 and 13: 18-23. That's the way it works.

Grace and Peace.

Comment by Todd Robert Princl on June 23, 2013 at 2:46pm: I did discuss this at church today. We were in agreement that it is pretty important for relationships to be formed in order for trust to occur. That is what I was trying to get through all along. Cultivate the soil, plant the seed, water and fertilize the seed. I guess watered down was a very poor choice of words.

Amanda I am following my spirit. I just need to trust it. Sometimes we tend to go off on our own. I have been getting better in listening and not going rampant. But thanks for reminding me about trusting the spirit. That is an important one!!

Comment by Todd Robert Princl on June 22, 2013 at 7:43pm: Amanda,

I truly understand where you are coming from. And Amanda your words are always about love, and I feel that love. I also feel your sadness when you state your sadness.

I know Christ is the only way. But we are dealing with people that have no concept. They are so full of the ways of this world that a direct responce to God being the way falls on deaf ears. Am I wrong on this thinking? The aproach that I am taking is coddling and trust me not the approach that I would like to take, but you also don't want to appear smarter than they are. These are very smart people that we are talking about, but they are not wise. They are of this world. And this world has power over them. I don't know if God would agree with my tactics, but I do know that if you back these people in a corner the devil will come out of them with full guns blazing. I don't view my ways as watered down, because there is total sincerity to what I tell them.

This world has tarnished many a soul, maybe not as much as I believe. I am still looking for answers to how hardened a person is, but one thing I know is that there are people out there who have no concept.

So Amanda, I know there should only be one way, but is that the only approach? Is my way so watered down that it appears like I am not convincing enough? Times change and people change, I know the message is always the truth, but todays human nature is so tarnished.

And I don't want to harp on your past. I want to fulfill you with love for your future.

God Bless you my sister,

Todd

Comment by Todd Robert Princl on June 22, 2013 at 5:37pm: I so much realize how God takes over. There have been many signs of the planted seed working. I have been very careful with not saying that God's way is the only way. I believe the best way to get through people is by being gentle. In today's world if you use force people rebel even more. You show them with kindness and it is a reflection of how God works through you that comes out for them to explore. I always talk about God with the most tender heart. He made me tender and people can see right through me if I act like someone that I am not. In my heart I have to believe that in their minds the wheels are spinning. And the best part, by them seeing me all the time they are constantly reminded that I walk with God. So in turn a signal goes off in their brain the conversation that we had.

Just the other day one of the girls at work was talking about their soul to a group of people. I walked in as they were leaving and she said as she walked by, "and speak of the devil" I gave that comment some thought. The phrase "speak of the devil" is used so loosely. I mean, have you ever felt like a bad person when someone said that to you. And knowing this person I am sure she didn't say it to think I was a product of satan. I was actually pretty happy that I was the topic of conversation in the breakroom. This person is I believe searching for more. She wants to be challenged. She drops all these subtle hints letting me know that I got her. I am picking the right time. For some reason God wants me to hold back. Maybe something with this person is about to happen where she is going to come to me for guidance. I don't know, but lately there have been many opportunities for me to light that fire back up. But God is holding me back for some reason. And let me tell you I have a full arsenal of God's love to give her. Just a wealth of wisdom. She loves a challenge and the narrow and wide path picture that I posted is one that can tell a great story of the right path to walk. I am going to send her that picture and ask her what it means to her.

Its the total aethiest personalities that I have issues with. They are cocky and so self righteous. That is where my inner anger comes out that makes satan smile. But soon that anger turns to sadness. That is when God saves me from the clutches. Thank you Amanda, and thank you Charles.

Amanda, I pray for you all the time that the thoughts and evil feelings of your past are replaced with God's love. Your posts are conviction to me that God is slowly getting you to where you need to be. You can help people my dear sister. Feel loved by us all as God wants your past to be replaced with the promise of a great and wonderful future. Just stay on the course and trust and faith will conquer any demon that came before you. May the power of God totally cleanse you. That is what I pray for.

Comment by Charles Burwell on June 22, 2013 at 9:15am: Todd

Thank you so much for sharing this it has ben a real blessing to me. Plase do not get, as the apostle Paul said, 'weary in well doing' and God will richly bless you. Please also remember that it is the Holy Spirit alone that can convince and convict . We are simply called to be faithful to present the gospel.

God bless you

Sometimes its hard!!

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