I started sunday school at a baptist church, went for 2 years.<BR>I went back to church when i was 22 and pregnant with my child and alone as ex left me. It made me feel complete and whole and quite honestly since my mother thought i was awful for being pregnant and not married it helped me a GREAT deal. I stoppped going because my ex came back around.<P>I started up recently again, same church as when i was pregnant. I feel inner peace when i am there. Whole again.<P>My ex NEVER went to church with me not even for the sessions before we got married to familarize ourselves with the church. I went alone with my child.<P>What feelings have you gained or have you leaned on the church for support???

My faith is absolutely crucial to me, and I can point to a myriad of ways in which God has been there for me.<P>My friends from various churches have been a tremendous source of support for me, and I thank God for them.<P>I grew up with church as the center of my family's social life. It was really our only social life. But after being betrayed and trampled on one too many times by church leaders or the blind steamroller of the institutionalized church, where programs are more important that people, I don't think I will ever actually join a church again.<BR>

I grew up going to church. Still go to church. There has never been a time when I didn't go. In fact, I've had only two church homes in my life. In fact, I'm currently working at my church. <P>However, there are times when I feel more distant from God. It's probably me - although I think silence creeps into all relationships. But, all relationships are fluid. <P>Yes, there have been times when things about my church family have hurt me. But they have been there for me through my travails with this change in my life. However, I feel like many of my peers here don't have a clue. <P>The people here aren't perfect. They make mistakes. Yes, I've even been attacked for some of my views by some people I consider to be religion addicts. But, I know they're flawed, like me. And perhaps the reason I feel hurt sometimes is because of what is going on inside me. They don't know. And I chose to stay here and hemorage emotionally through the divorce because I felt like they needed to see the bloodshed. They needed to know - to share - my pain. Maybe it could be a wake-up call to them. To work on their marriage. To be there for folks in pain.<P>Strange as it seems to some, when my soul aches, it is here that I can cry. Something about the music. <P>Would I trade my faith in? No way. Is my "brand" of religion the only one that will get you into heaven? No way. Do I hope there is a heavenly life after this one. You bet. This one's not been so heavenly. But I have a Comforter with me night and day! <BR>

.<p>[This message has been edited by Trying to move on (edited March 26, 2001).]

It is amazing the feeling one can receive when you open your heart to the fullest extent.<P>It almost feels like a sheild protecting you from harms way.<P>

I wasn't raised in the church but even as a child thats where I turned for solice in times of trouble..we had a church at the corner of our street..and when things would trouble me thats where I'd go..they always<BR>left the doors unlocked back then so anyone could just go in..I never went when ppl were there..only when they had no services..<BR>My family was far from the church crowd..<BR>but as an adult I have gone and I like myself better when I am walking closer to God..<P>My Stbx went to church w/ me before we married, he wouldn't go alone...only if I went..and only if I wasn't in a church training class..He wouldn't go to those..<BR>and I should have really looked at his actions then..and not just listened to the<BR>words..words can be very deceiving..as I <BR>have learned over the years..It's been so bad at times he's made me choose between spending time w/ him or going to church..and unfortunately I chose spending time w/ him..<BR>and my relationship with Christ Suffered as a result..but I am working on that again..<BR>I'm just thankful God is so forgiving..and understands..and is there for us when we have nothing else..

Some recent influence on me... from G. K. Chesterton...<P> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>"The riddles of God are more satisfying than the solutions of man." <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Ya all know I'd show up here! <P>I really don't know how to describe what has happened to me over the past year and a half. I was brought up Catholic and went to Church "every" Sunday. When I reached college, my religion began to take more effect on me as a person - No longer was I going to mass on Sunday because I had to, now I was dragging my "hung-over" lazy body out of bed at 10:00am every Sunday (after having been out until 4:30am) BECAUSE "I wanted to"!<P>In fact, looking back those years were the most joyous ones I have had to date. Sure the freedom of college is always a reason for happiness, but more than that it felt like my life was "together". It was then that my wife and I fell in love.<P>But things changed quickly after I graduated. I still went to church every Sunday, but I began to lose my way. My focus went from God, my wife and then me to money, my wife and then me. Even after we married, my wife and I still went to church, but my priorities became all screwed up. My focus was all about work and being a good husband/provider. What a farce!<P>Looking back I see now that I lost God in my life. I let material things take control. The problems (that were mine) in our marriage did not deal with me not loving my wife, rather they delt with me "not loving me". As hard as I worked, things got progressively worse - with my business, my friends and family and with my wife. Still I trudged on. I believed that if I make enough money, my wife will be happy, I will be happy and then we can begin living our lives. How wrong I was.<P>The day came two July's ago. My wife physically sat me down and let me have it with both barrels. All her pain - all her sadness - everything came pouring out in that conversation. I felt so sad and upset that I almost got physically sick. But still I did not "wake up". I simply figured that "I" could make everything better all by myself. That went on for another 8 months. But slowly my stubborness started to give way to someone speaking in my ear ever so lightly. I began to realize that the reason I still felt terrible about myself was not just because of my marriage problems, or my financial state - it was because I had forgotten who mattered most.<P>My wife moved out back in March and from that day I asked God back into my life - without any conditions. I did not ask him to make my wife come back. Rather I asked HIm to heal us both as individuals and as husband and wife. <P>What an incredible journey this past year has been. Financially I am worse off than I have ever been, but through it all, when I didn't know where the money was going to come from to pay a bill, it just seemed to appear. And still does. Nights when I think I just can't go on anymore, when all I can do is sit and cry, the phone will amazingly ring and it will be a friend that I have not heard from in weeks/months, saying that they just thought about me and felt I may need to talk!<P>I know see so much going on in and around my life. My choice has been to let God in. Not to blame him for my situation (which is a very easy thing to do). I know that the problems I have are self-made. And I know the lessons He wants me to learn are all around me now.<P>Today I feel whole again (except for the missing part of my heart that my wife has). No I am not a "holy roller" - I don't go to church everyday - I don't fast or anything like that. I am still a young 30 year old guy who knows how to get into a little trouble here and there. Who enjoys a few cold ones every now and then. Rather I am just someone who now looks upwards before making any decisions. Who first looks to help, rather than for some to help me.<P>It has only been a couple months since I have truly turned my whole marriage completely over to God. Whatever He sees fit to do with it, is fine with me. All I pray for is for my wife to maybe experience some of the same things I have. Amazingly, once I turned my marriage over to Him, I felt like a HUGE weight has been lifted from me.<P>So please forgive me if in any replies to your posts, I may come across as "holier than thou" - for I am so far from it!! I just have this faith in me that wants to help.<P>Boy, this sounds kinda sappy, but I don't care!!<P>God Bless us every one!<P>Mike

Do you have a personal relationship with God? I ask brcause it is so important. I grew up in church. In fact my dad was the pastor. However I did what I had to do to appear that I was a christian. Boy was I off base. I think sometimes God has to use the hard times to wake us up. He wants us to depend on him for everything! Yes, I now have a personal relationship with him. Will I ever compromise that again. NO WAY!!! I pray that after he gets me through my current situation that in the future he will always remind me of how he is getting me through this. Another benefit is all the people at my church. We are like a family and when one is having trouble it is wonderfull to see Gods people coming together for one of their own. I am so glad for the ones that have been there to help me get through this. I would recomend reading your Bible and finding out what a personal relationship with him is all about. Get on your knees before God and ask him to come in your life and be by your side day after day. He will NEVER leave you or forsake you.

I turned immediately to God when my husband left me. I went to Church twice a week and read "The Power for Living". What an inspirational book. It was written by someone from my home town in Florida.<P>I definitely have a relationship with God but I would like it to be much stronger. I have been trying to decide which church I would like to attend regularly in my area. I have been skipping around between 2-3 churches in my area. <P>I thank God for getting me through the toughest times and being there for me. <BR>

Having a personal relationship with god.<BR>I would have to admit and say no.<BR>I dabble, which is disrespectful to say.<BR>I believe i feel stronger when i attend church. I read my daughter the children's bible . I feel less confused when i am around people in "faith".<P>To me that in itself is significant.<BR>

1Co:7:13: And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.<BR>1Co:7:14: For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.<BR>1Co:7:16: For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?<P><BR>I was hoping this be the case in my marriage, and it still may be, but not in marriage. You never know who you may be affecting with the life you lead. Lead it well.<P>------------------<BR>1Co:2:4: And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:<BR>1Co:2:5: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.