Comments on: Malls, Mexican food, and men. . . http://restoredtograce.com/2009/03/22/malls-mexican-food-and-men/ discovering my place in the picture God is painting Tue, 16 Mar 2010 09:12:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Katie http://restoredtograce.com/2009/03/22/malls-mexican-food-and-men/comment-page-1/#comment-1878 Katie Fri, 09 Oct 2009 13:53:16 +0000 http://restoredtograce.wordpress.com/?p=273#comment-1878 Wow...that was probably one of the best posts I've seen. That's because of the honesty you put out there on behalf of yourself, and I'm sure many other men. Like Beth said, I think the fears that you mentioned men have, are very similar to women. Yes, women want to see leadership and a strong faith in God in a man, but women should strive for that as well. I think it's so true that instead of waiting for a guy to step in to our lives, we need to pray for them to give them the courage to do so. We all have flaws and failures that have set us back in the past, and I'm sure that because of that, we feel like we can't move in the direction we want to go in. We're only human though! Pastor Tim and the other two men you mentioned are definately great examples of strong Christian men. BUT, do you really think that just because of their leadership skills that they have not had major set-backs in their lives?? The point is, nobody will ever be perfect, and I think the fact that you are so aware of that is a step in the right direction. Don't be afraid to pursue your dreams because of a fear of failure. You're guna be fine :) Wow…that was probably one of the best posts I’ve seen. That’s because of the honesty you put out there on behalf of yourself, and I’m sure many other men. Like Beth said, I think the fears that you mentioned men have, are very similar to women. Yes, women want to see leadership and a strong faith in God in a man, but women should strive for that as well. I think it’s so true that instead of waiting for a guy to step in to our lives, we need to pray for them to give them the courage to do so. We all have flaws and failures that have set us back in the past, and I’m sure that because of that, we feel like we can’t move in the direction we want to go in. We’re only human though! Pastor Tim and the other two men you mentioned are definately great examples of strong Christian men. BUT, do you really think that just because of their leadership skills that they have not had major set-backs in their lives?? The point is, nobody will ever be perfect, and I think the fact that you are so aware of that is a step in the right direction. Don’t be afraid to pursue your dreams because of a fear of failure. You’re guna be fine :)

]]> By: Beth http://restoredtograce.com/2009/03/22/malls-mexican-food-and-men/comment-page-1/#comment-32 Beth Fri, 19 Sep 2008 14:15:23 +0000 http://restoredtograce.wordpress.com/?p=273#comment-32 Great stuff Jamie & Nate - I'd say the fact that you are even *aware* of your struggle has put you much farther ahead than most men. And just so you know, the fear is common to women as well - to quote Nate: "No, I’m afraid because of myself. I’m afraid because I know my flaws and my failures. I know my sins and my selfishness. I’ve seen myself falter time and time again…I’ve suffered through the guilt of my sin, and I’ve been robbed of my dreams. I’m afraid of the evil that I’m capable of." Any self-aware person, man or woman, is going to look themselves in the mirror and see these things one day. When faced with my own failures (of which there are many) I continually must ask myself: "Is this the truest thing about me?" And the answer is "No." Christ's purchase of my soul has given me the chance to live as He created Woman to be, but it does require daily submission to Him and a steady dose of His Truth. Whether you be a man or a woman, your true identity, and the courage to live in that place comes only from Christ, and only He is strong enough to enable us to dwell there. Great stuff Jamie & Nate – I’d say the fact that you are even *aware* of your struggle has put you much farther ahead than most men.

And just so you know, the fear is common to women as well – to quote Nate:

“No, I’m afraid because of myself. I’m afraid because I know my flaws and my failures. I know my sins and my selfishness. I’ve seen myself falter time and time again…I’ve suffered through the guilt of my sin, and I’ve been robbed of my dreams. I’m afraid of the evil that I’m capable of.”

Any self-aware person, man or woman, is going to look themselves in the mirror and see these things one day. When faced with my own failures (of which there are many) I continually must ask myself: “Is this the truest thing about me?” And the answer is “No.” Christ’s purchase of my soul has given me the chance to live as He created Woman to be, but it does require daily submission to Him and a steady dose of His Truth. Whether you be a man or a woman, your true identity, and the courage to live in that place comes only from Christ, and only He is strong enough to enable us to dwell there.

]]> By: Amber http://restoredtograce.com/2009/03/22/malls-mexican-food-and-men/comment-page-1/#comment-31 Amber Wed, 17 Sep 2008 04:35:59 +0000 http://restoredtograce.wordpress.com/?p=273#comment-31 Thank you so much for acknowledging something that most men are afraid to discuss. I will be praying for you, as well as the men in my life. Thanks for your comment! Thank you so much for acknowledging something that most men are afraid to discuss. I will be praying for you, as well as the men in my life.

Thanks for your comment!

]]> By: James Burgmeyer http://restoredtograce.com/2009/03/22/malls-mexican-food-and-men/comment-page-1/#comment-30 James Burgmeyer Tue, 16 Sep 2008 23:34:06 +0000 http://restoredtograce.wordpress.com/?p=273#comment-30 Brother, I hear you. And I too feel your fear. For years I have struggled and fought tooth and nail for ever ounce of manhood that I have, I have more willpower than many and enough courage to face my fears yet it is not enough. I need to continually submit to Christ's leadership and as a leader be lead by Him but is is so hard and so often I feel confused and disoriented as if i was walking though a fog. I pray that I get there one day but it will not be by my own accord but by grace. There are so few true men out there (honestly I have had the privilege of knowing some real men but at best there are only a handful) we toss that word "Men" around but it so cheap and easy to say it that it rarely carries any true weight. I think the reason that there are so few men in our culture ( even in the church) is that most guys have no idea of what a man is (as God defines it not as the world does) guys are like blind fools stumbling in a dark alley at midnight unsure of what they are looking for. Go ahead, ask a handful of guys if they can define what a "man" is, they can't do it because they don't know how. It's sad but true. but there is hope, God would not call us to something if he did not have a plan for us. It is not easy and it requires sacrifice and obedience, (not perfection) but when Christ has had His way with us we will shine with the true glory of what we were made to be, men. if you want to check out a great speaker go to DM.org and search for the talks given by Mark Fodale. he does a great job inspiring guys to be men and shows us how to get there. Brother, I hear you. And I too feel your fear. For years I have struggled and fought tooth and nail for ever ounce of manhood that I have, I have more willpower than many and enough courage to face my fears yet it is not enough. I need to continually submit to Christ’s leadership and as a leader be lead by Him but is is so hard and so often I feel confused and disoriented as if i was walking though a fog. I pray that I get there one day but it will not be by my own accord but by grace.

There are so few true men out there (honestly I have had the privilege of knowing some real men but at best there are only a handful) we toss that word “Men” around but it so cheap and easy to say it that it rarely carries any true weight. I think the reason that there are so few men in our culture ( even in the church) is that most guys have no idea of what a man is (as God defines it not as the world does) guys are like blind fools stumbling in a dark alley at midnight unsure of what they are looking for. Go ahead, ask a handful of guys if they can define what a “man” is, they can’t do it because they don’t know how. It’s sad but true. but there is hope, God would not call us to something if he did not have a plan for us. It is not easy and it requires sacrifice and obedience, (not perfection) but when Christ has had His way with us we will shine with the true glory of what we were made to be, men.

if you want to check out a great speaker go to DM.org and search for the talks given by Mark Fodale. he does a great job inspiring guys to be men and shows us how to get there.

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