DISQUS

bsbeloved · 10 months ago

Randy, I really like this post for sure. Here is what I think. Something that I myself am just learning in fact it just came to me as I read it :) I think that as Christians and really most people in genreal when soemone says I am not gay anymore then we take that to mean that they are completely whole 100 % "better" it is gone done over with there shouldn't be any attractions. What we do not relaize a lot of the time healing and process. Things take time strongholds aren't built overnight and they often times don't come down over night. They are fortresses of thoughts so we may have yrs and yrs of taking one brick off at a time. Uncovering more of the truth ans finding more freedom.Really though this goes with any type of struggle or pattern of sin.. not just homosexuality. We are being chagned from glory to glory we aren't going to leave this earth perfect


And MOST imporatantly like you said "Furthermore temptations in and of themselves are just as much an opportunity for righteousness as they are for sin."



Just b/c a thought comes to mind doesn't make it a sin the sin is when we act on what we are thinking about. I hope that makes sense maybe it has nothing to do with what the jest of the post was but anyway I was able to get a revelation from it. Thanks Randy. :)

Pianomankugie · 10 months ago

I don't think it can be overemphasized that Jesus was tempted in every manner. The fact that God Himself knows what any and every temptation is like from His own personal human experience is extremely comforting. He has done it so that no one can say "God can't empathize" or "God hasn't experienced what it's like down here" or "God doesn't really care", etc. Of course God can't be tempted, but Christ is 100% God And 100% Man. And even better, for those of us who are In Christ (and only God can be the judge of whether or not a person is or isn't In Christ) the Holy Spirit is right In us in the midst of any and every temptation. I believe (and I could be wrong) that He (God) is the only one who has the power to say no to temptation, I sure don't have the power in myself, so without Him, as far as I am concerned, forget it. But With Him....ALL things are possible! It's just a "simple" matter of giving up on my own "power" and submitting to his true power, because "trying to be good" is futile. Yes, giving up and submitting...easier said than done, but like most things, gets a little bit easier over time with practice.

Janey · 10 months ago

Hi Randy,


What do you mean by ... "I also don't need to force myself into a self-imposed restriction of what God may bring into my life... "



I think I know what you mean by that but could you please explain that a little further?

hizmunky · 10 months ago

I have recently come to terms with who I am and have been manuevering this journey the best I know how with God's help (when I let Him). I've been sad, depressed, angry, hopeless. The way I describe it is that when I finally realized "what was going on", it's like there was a huge relief, the other shoe dropped, so to speak. But, then that relief turned into "knowing the last chapter of the book". I was always waiting for that special someone and then this caused me to have this supposed revelation that that dream was now extinguished. It's like I've gone through the steps of grief in this realization. I'm in a better place than I was a year ago, thankfully. I can say that. Just yesterday I was thinking about my situation and Christ's view of it. I know a few times in my life, whatever I'm going through, I've thought, "Does Jesus actually know what this feels like, since he never actually did yada yada specifically?" Which obviously is a selfish and naive pondering, but all the same, we are human. Well, I was thinking yesterday, there is no doubt in my mind that He knew exactly what I feel like right now. Just struggling with why I have to remain alone at this time, no cuddling, no sexual experiences, no intimate touch and feeling sorry for myself. As a man I'm sure Jesus had urges. He was alone in this respect, he never got to experience sexual intimacy and I'm sure not even closeness with a woman, because his number one focus was redeeming us or at least He was committed to this because it was His fathers will. I was thinking you know the scenario could have been that Christ be in a monogomous married state, this would have been acceptable as would sex in this setting. BUT, that's not why he was put on this earth. With a wife (and possibly children) he would have added burden to the cross he already had to bear. They would have had to endure His treatment and crucifixion and He wouldn't have His total focus on the reason He was here. So I'm not alone.

Randy · 10 months ago

What do you mean by ... "I also don't need to force myself into a self-imposed restriction of what God may bring into my life... "

It means that I don't need to say that I need to limit my expectations of what He might or might not do in my life. I have to live in faith. That can be taken on quite a number of different levels.

Randy · 10 months ago

You are welcome. We are on the same page. I also make the case that even without diminished same sex attraction a person does not have to identify with the gay label.

Randy · 10 months ago

Very true Pianoman. I also experience that it gets easier as the lessons take deeper root in my life and I can look back at all the positives that have resulted.


And then the Lord is usually faithful to have me take on another lesson He wants me to learn. :) ... and that is a good thing.

Randy · 10 months ago

Thank you for your comment hizmunky <-- that's weird but funny to type out.


One of the greatest meditations I think a person can have is to meditate on the "humanity" of Christ in the context of His never sinning. Those yearnings, longings that come natural to all of mankind and knowing He stewarded them appropriately ... and He did so as an unmarried man ... should speak to all of us who are single or married.



Welcome to my blog and I pray the best for you and your journey.

Trinidad. Adventist. Gay?! · 10 months ago

I posted this at the original spot:


Jame asked: At the same time, don’t you wonder why God allows people to struggle and struggle, though, often without any alleviation in their “temptations”?



This brought to mind Paul's experience with his "thorn in the flesh" (2 Corinthians 12:7-10):



"To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me."



Paul really didn't want it and let God know:



"Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me."



But God refused to take it away:



"But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.""



Many people with SSA have not reached this point yet:



"Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me."



That is why, James! That is why.

When you reach to that point you begin to experience God in a whole new way. It's simply unbelievable. God is light years ahead of us--just light years.

Janey · 10 months ago

That is true... and that's what I thought you were saying... but I couldn't have said it as well as you just did. Thanks. :)

Randy · 10 months ago

That's nice. Thank you Janey.