FOR MOST OF US, THAT QUESTION IS VERY HARD TO ANSWER. WE GET CONFUSED. WE SEE SO MANY BAD THINGS HAPPENING IN OUR WORLD TODAY. WE LOOSE FRIENDS AND FAMILY TO DEATH BY VIOLENCE AND ACCIDENTS AND JUST PLAIN OLD AGE. WE CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHY THESE THINGS HAPPEN ESPECIALLY IF THERE IS A HIGHER POWER OR A GOD. WHY DOES GOD LET SOMEONE KILL SOMEONE WE LOVE? WHY DOES GOD LET BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO US. WHY DO OUR CHILDREN GET HURT AND SICK AND GO TO THE HOSPITAL SOMETIMES NEVER COMMING HOME?

WELL, THIS IS WHAT I HAVE LEARNED OVER THE YEARS. GOD DOES NOT CAUSE OR LET ANYTHING HAPPEN.

HE HAS GIVEN US CHALLENGES IN ORDER TO MAKE US BETTER PEOPLE AND TO UNDERSTAND THE WORLD AND ALL IN IT. HE HAS TRIED US JUST AS HE DID JOBE IN THE BIBLE. HE HAS NOT GIVEN US ILLNESS OR HURT.... THESE THINGS COME WITH WHAT WE HAVE IN OUR WORLD, NOT SOMETHING GOD HAS GIVE TO US. A LOT OF THE TIME WE, AS HUMANS, HAVE CREATED OUR OWN PLITE. WE CONTINUE TO CONTAMINATE OUR AIR AND WATER. WE PUT ADDITIVES IN OUR FOOD THAT CAUSES CANCER. WE HAVE BECOME LAZY AND COMPLACENT IN OUR LIVES. GOD HAS NOT DONE THIS TO US.

GOD DOES NOT KILL PEOPLE. PEOPLE KILL PEOPLE. GOD HAS GIVEN US A MIND IN ORDER TO MAKE CHOICES FOR OURSELVES. THOSE CHOICES WILL EITHER MAKE US OR BREAK US. WE HAVE THE POWER OVER THEM, NOT GOD. BUT, EVEN IF THE CHOICE WE MAKE IS A BAD ONE, THEN GOD STILL FORGIVES US. HE STILL ALLOWS US TO REPENT AND COME HOME TO HEAVEN. ALL WE MUST DO IS TO TURN OUR LIVES AROUND AND DO WHAT HE ASKS.

THIS REALLY WORKS.....TRY IT.....LEARN WHAT IT MEANS TO REALLY BELIEVE IN A HIGHER POWER, EVEN IF YOU CANNOT ACCEPT THE CONCEPT OF GOD AS SUCH.

MY LOVE TO YOU
DONNA

If one reads Job, Satan had to go to God first and ask permission to do anything to him. God did not allow Satan to do anything that he didn't think Job could handle.

What ever we are going through...remember, God knows we can handle it.

well, in contrary of most people on here, I believe in reincarnation and been back to 3 previous lives. I believe that a higher power is in everybody, in every thing, plant, animal, object. The last time I went back to a previous life, it was the one I lived right before this one. I died and was born again in this life. When I was dead, it felt so warm and peaceful and I guess that was the moment when I realized I was really close to the 'higher power'

In 12 step groups (AA, NA, etc.) which is where I have come to know my Higher Power, the only suggestions for this concept is that a Higher Power is loving and greater than me. It can be the group itself, God, nature, humanity. It's supposed to be something I can put my faith in and allow that force or being to guide and direct my life in a positive way. When I first got clean, I believed there was some force or power that dominated the universe, but had no faith. I had been in church off and on during my life, but never really came to believe what they believe. Eventually through having faith during the trivial times, when times got tough, it was a little easier to believe. I call my Higher Power God, but have a few different concepts of God than most people. As long as I am comfortable with what I believe and have faith in Him, then I am at peace and am okay.

WAY TO GO DANIELLE..... YOU HIT IT ON THE SPOT...


LOVE YA
DONNA

Even though I haven't mentioned this subject to Wayne, I got a letter from him today that gave his views and wanted to share it -

"I shot a few minutes with this old guy today. He said something that kind of took me by surprise, that all people in order to maintain a solid, happy fulfilled life need a third person or being in their life. A spiritual connection or whatever it is they chose just something they could believe was far greater than themselves. This spiritual connection could help overcome - no replace - the things in one's life that drugs seemed to fill. There was an long odd quiet moment and he walked back inside."

Danielle, good to hear from a fellow friend of Bill W

I'm a friend of Bill W too. :D Met him in '82 and been hanging out with him closely since '85. :D

I see you've replied to both of my AA posts. You get around. I'm a regular oldtimer around our group, called Sleepy Hollow, but I'm a newby around this forum. I just found the PTO and I'm excited about being a part of this place. God bless.

LOL Hey, you can get around too, if you go to the start page, look in the upper left area and click on "view new posts". That way you get to see the most recent posts in all the forums. Don't click on "mark all forums read", though. That will wipe out the page and it will take awhile for all the posts to build up again.