My Relationship with God

How do I know about God?
By reading his word (scripture).
How does God talk to me?
Through His word, through my prayer, and in my thoughts.

I talk to God through prayer, meditation and casual thoughts.
God talks to me through scripture and my prayers.
God guides me with scripture and through my prayer.
God has answered my prayers.

When I ask God a question I sometimes get an immediate response, in my thoughts.
These responses are usually very short, with few words, but dead on the point.

Example: "Tell me God how to get to know you better?"
Immediate Response: "Read My word."

Example: "Tell me God how to build a relationship with You?"
Immediate Response: "Talk to Me and listen to Me."

I have never "heard" God's voice. (I would probably faint).
Sometimes when I ask God something I get no response.
I don't let this discourage me. I think that God just wants me to figure it out for myself or maybe I am asking the same question over and over and He sees no need to repeat Himself.

Through my relationship with God and my faith in Him I have become courageous.
I do not fear death. I know what awaits me.

I told God I do not want to die. He has not responded.
I have told God many times that I worry about what will happen to my family when I die. He told me "don't worry".
I believe his response means that I should not worry because, as I should already know, He will provide for them and protect them.

I don't believe that this means it won't be hard for them and that they won't have to suffer and sacrifice. It just means that God will take care of them in his own way, toward His own end.

I will not second-guess any of God's plans. I may question them, but I will not resist them. God is trustworthy.

When I was diagnosed with cancer I asked God "Why me Lord?" His response: "Why not you?" I had no good reason why it should not be me.

I have come to realize that God has given me this challenge in order to help me grow spiritually in order to prepare me for His kingdom. It is a challenge to help me learn. I want to meet the challenge and learn.

I asked God how I could best do his work with the life I have left.
He quickly responded: ”Endure” and "Let your light shine."
I have come to realize that God has commanded me to “Endure and Let Your Light Shine” to provide the example to others of the power of God’s love and grace through our journey so as to help them take the next step closer to Him.

Endure and Let Your Light Shine

1 Corinthians 10:13 -- No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it.

Hebrews 10:36 -- For you need endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.

Proverbs 13:9 -- The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out.

Matthew 5:14-16 -- let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

Matthew 10:32-33 -- ‘Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven; but whoever denies me before others, I also will deny before my Father in heaven.”

The Great Commission

After Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection He returned in the flesh one last time to His apostles and instructed them in the Great Commission. These are Christ’s last words of instruction to us, as recorded by Matthew, before his final ascension to the spirit world.

Matthew 28:18-20 -- And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’*

Padre Pio

The Way to Heaven
What does it matter to you whether Jesus wishes to guide you to Heaven by way of the desert or by the fields, so long as you get there by one way or the other? Put away any excessive worrying which results from the trials by which the good God has desired to test you; and if this is not possible, resign yourself to the Divine will.

Make Yourself at Home
It is just as well to make yourself at home with the sufferings that Jesus is pleased to send you as you must always live with them. In this way, when you are least expecting to be liberated from them, Jesus, who cannot bear to keep you long in affliction, will come and relieve you and comfort you, giving you new courage.