Does God love me?

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Neoplatonist said:
Sounds like a linguistic house of cards: constructing a sentence from words to create something we can’t actually wrap our mind around.

Besides, if we could, the seeming inconsistencies we normally encounter (things done by a loving God that don’t “seem” like loving acts to us) probably wouldn’t drive us to apoplexy. 😃
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It probably does sound “like a linguistic house of cards” but when I “met” God the Father, I realized that what I was taught in second grade, which was “God Is Love”, was/is quite literal.

As far as, “to create something we can’t actually wrap our mind around”, I, personally, think that there are things about God that are beyond what our puny, little finite minds are able to grasp, as in figuring out, even thou many seem to think that they have figured out absolutely everything about God.

I believe that one of these is that absolutely no one can comprehend or conceive of a Being being Love,

I didn’t understand how God could be Love when I was taught that in second grade and I still do not understand how God can be a Being of Love even tho this has been revealed to me.

One of the things that I will say about “knowing” that Love Is God’s Very Being as opposed to love being a mere attribute of God is that it changes how I “look” at things and “think” about things.
 
Tom_Baum said:
It probably does sound “like a linguistic house of cards” but when I “met” God the Father, I realized that what I was taught in second grade, which was “God Is Love”, was/is quite literal.

As far as, “to create something we can’t actually wrap our mind around”, I, personally, think that there are things about God that are beyond what our puny, little finite minds are able to grasp, as in figuring out, even thou many seem to think that they have figured out absolutely everything about God.

I believe that one of these is that absolutely no one can comprehend or conceive of a Being being Love,

I didn’t understand how God could be Love when I was taught that in second grade and I still do not understand how God can be a Being of Love even tho this has been revealed to me.

One of the things that I will say about “knowing” that Love Is God’s Very Being as opposed to love being a mere attribute of God is that it changes how I “look” at things and “think” about things.
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Thank you, I agree with you. I also think that there are things about God that are beyond what our minds are able to grasp, Is it not because of God’s love for us that we are able to love others? Where does love come from if you do not believe in God? If I have this love from God that I am able to pass on to others, how much greater is His love? Maybe I am wrong but its seems logical to me that the closer we are to God the more we are able to love. The problem that most of us have is that It is a constant struggle to control the selfishness that lives in us and we begin to love only ourselves. Jesus is the help we needed and still need to fight that battle. His sacrifice brought us hope and forgiveness. At least that is how I see it.
 
JosieN said:
Thank you, I agree with you. I also think that there are things about God that are beyond what our minds are able to grasp, Is it not because of God’s love for us that we are able to love others? Where does love come from if you do not believe in God? If I have this love from God that I am able to pass on to others, how much greater is His love? Maybe I am wrong but its seems logical to me that the closer we are to God the more we are able to love. The problem that most of us have is that It is a constant struggle to control the selfishness that lives in us and we begin to love only ourselves. Jesus is help we needed and still need to fight that battle. At least that is how I see it.
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That has the same logic as saying: “God must be radioactive, otherwise where does radioactivity come from?”
 
Neoplatonist said:
That has the same logic as saying: “God must be radioactive, otherwise where does radioactivity come from?”
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I do not see it being the same logic at all. But that is just my opinion. Maybe someone else can give you a better answer.
 
Tom_Baum said:
It probably does sound “like a linguistic house of cards” but when I “met” God the Father, I realized that what I was taught in second grade, which was “God Is Love”, was/is quite literal.

As far as, “to create something we can’t actually wrap our mind around”, I, personally, think that there are things about God that are beyond what our puny, little finite minds are able to grasp, as in figuring out, even thou many seem to think that they have figured out absolutely everything about God.

I believe that one of these is that absolutely no one can comprehend or conceive of a Being being Love,

I didn’t understand how God could be Love when I was taught that in second grade and I still do not understand how God can be a Being of Love even tho this has been revealed to me.

One of the things that I will say about “knowing” that Love Is God’s Very Being as opposed to love being a mere attribute of God is that it changes how I “look” at things and “think” about things.
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Hmm… You get hugs and consolation. I get silence. I feel loads better. 😃
 
Neoplatonist said:
Hmm… You get hugs and consolation. I get silence. I feel loads better. 😃
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Maybe this will comfort you. There is always hope because of Jesus.

John:17- 26

17:20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;

17:21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

17:22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:

17:23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

17:24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.

17:25 O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me.

17:26 And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.
 
JosieN said:
Maybe this will comfort you. There is always hope because of Jesus.

John:17- 26

17:20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;

17:21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

17:22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:

17:23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

17:24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.

17:25 O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me.

17:26 And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.
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OK, I really like this passage, JosieN, and you may think I’m being obstinate. I’m not trying to be: even Christ prayed that I would feel the love of God within me and I still don’t. ?]

What good will my prayers and efforts be compared to that?
 
This is from the Douay Rheims Version of the Catholic Bible. The Bible has some very good advice.

catholic-bible.org/ecclesiasticus/ecclesiasticus-2.htm

Ecclesiasticus (Sirach)

Chapter 2:4-6

2:4 Take all that shall be brought upon thee: and in thy sorrow endure, and in thy humiliation keep patience.

2:5 For gold and silver are tried in the fire, but acceptable men in the furnace of humiliation.

2:6 Believe God, and he will recover thee: and direct thy way, and trust in him. Keep his fear, and grow old therein.
 
JosieN said:
This is from the Douay Rheims Version of the Catholic Bible. The Bible has some very good advice.

catholic-bible.org/ecclesiasticus/ecclesiasticus-2.htm

Ecclesiasticus (Sirach)

Chapter 2:4-6

2:4 Take all that shall be brought upon thee: and in thy sorrow endure, and in thy humiliation keep patience.

2:5 For gold and silver are tried in the fire, but acceptable men in the furnace of humiliation.

2:6 Believe God, and he will recover thee: and direct thy way, and trust in him. Keep his fear, and grow old therein.
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LOL. If Christ’s prayer for me didn’t work. How in the world would I keep trusting based on some OT passage?
 
Sorry, for that reply. It was late and I was in a hurry. I feel that the Bible is important and so I guess I expected you to see it that way also. I also think being humble is important and was hoping you would too.
 
JosieN said:
Thank you, I agree with you. I also think that there are things about God that are beyond what our minds are able to grasp, Is it not because of God’s love for us that we are able to love others? Where does love come from if you do not believe in God? If I have this love from God that I am able to pass on to others, how much greater is His love? Maybe I am wrong but its seems logical to me that the closer we are to God the more we are able to love. The problem that most of us have is that It is a constant struggle to control the selfishness that lives in us and we begin to love only ourselves. Jesus is the help we needed and still need to fight that battle. His sacrifice brought us hope and forgiveness. At least that is how I see it.
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I happen to believe concerning, “Let us make human beings in our image, after our likeness”, that “our image, our likeness” is speaking about “Love” since Love is the Essence of God, some think it refers to free will and/or intellect or other things, I happen to disagree.

Another thing about, “Let us make human beings in our image, after our likeness”, this could be construed as pointing to something else about God that is beyond our intellectual capabilities and that is the Trinity, “our image, our likeness”, rather than ‘my image, my likeness’ when it very clearly speaks of God as being One in many places and yet here speaks of “Our”.

As far as, “Where does love come from if you do not believe in God?”, I happen to believe that any time that Love shines thru us that it is God shining thru us and whether or not anyone believes in God has nothing to do with whether or not there is a God.

Concerning, “His sacrifice brought us hope and forgiveness”, I believe that what Jesus did, brought US Salvation, not just some of us.
 
JosieN said:
Sorry, for that reply. It was late and I was in a hurry. I feel that the Bible is important and so I guess I expected you to see it that way also. I also think being humble is important and was hoping you would too.
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I am humble - why would something I do work when Christ’s prayer didn’t? Didn’t mean for that to sound like me not being humble. 😃
 
Neoplatonist said:
OK, I really like this passage, JosieN, and you may think I’m being obstinate. I’m not trying to be: even Christ prayed that I would feel the love of God within me and I still don’t. ?]

What good will my prayers and efforts be compared to that?
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I doubt that this will be any consolation but you are far from being the only one that does not “feel the love of God within me”.

You have most likely heard of Mother Theresa of Calcutta, the last years of her life she felt pretty much totally abandoned by God and yet she somehow kept on doing what she felt that God had called her to do in what she called a “calling within a calling”.

Many, if not most, people who have had an “experience or maybe more than one of God” do NOT stay “up on that mountain”, so to speak, but very often go to some of the deepest valleys here on earth.

I believe that this is one of the reasons that we are called to pray for everyone.
 
JamesATyler said:
How can I become certain that God loves me? I know he had infinite love but I suffer from fear that I am excluded and I can’t shake it.
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God loves mankind. He showed it to us through His sacrifice on Calvary. I hope for the best for you… He loves us all. He loves you because you are one of God’s children, and He is omniscient.
 
KidCatholic1 said:
Originally Posted by **JamesATyler **
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👍 One has to remember this truth.

The problem is in what the person is feeling - the anxiety, the sense of worthlessness, of being unloveable.
In all cases, imho, this is the direct result of human relationships in this world.
No matter what is on the surface, what has been reflected back to the person in their interactions, is that they don’t matter.
A baby enters the room, everyone’s face lights up and the baby laughs and everyone laughs. This is what is supposed to happen. If it does not, the person’s sense of self will be damaged.

I would say to go with the feeling, take on its full impact. In doing so, you will know Jesus on the cross, the blameless lamb abandonned and ridiculed. Entering the sacred heart of Jesus, you will be healed.
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Tom_Baum said:
I happen to believe concerning, “Let us make human beings in our image, after our likeness”, that “our image, our likeness” is speaking about “Love” since Love is the Essence of God, some think it refers to free will and/or intellect or other things, I happen to disagree.

Another thing about, “Let us make human beings in our image, after our likeness”, this could be construed as pointing to something else about God that is beyond our intellectual capabilities and that is the Trinity, “our image, our likeness”, rather than ‘my image, my likeness’ when it very clearly speaks of God as being One in many places and yet here speaks of “Our”.

As far as, “Where does love come from if you do not believe in God?”, I happen to believe that any time that Love shines thru us that it is God shining thru us and whether or not anyone believes in God has nothing to do with whether or not there is a God.

Concerning, “His sacrifice brought us hope and forgiveness”, I believe that what Jesus did, brought US Salvation, not just some of us.
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I believe also that any time that Love shines through us that it is God shining through even if you don’t believe in God. I just think that if you want to grow closer to God that it is important to pray and follow His will. I think this will bring us closer to His love. I also believe that reading the Bible can bring us closer to understanding God. The Acts of the Apostles is very good to read in my opinion.
 
JosieN said:
I believe also that any time that Love shines through us that it is God shining through even if you don’t believe in God. I just think that if you want to grow closer to God that it is important to pray and follow His will. I think this will bring us closer to His love.I also believe that the Bible is there to help us.
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I also happen to believe that the bible is there to help us and that God can speak to us thru the bible, not just thru a theologian as some seem to think.

Some theologians seem to know only what other theologians have told them about God.

It is not just the bible that God has sent to help us but each other, even those that drive us up the wall.

As it is written, “God works in mysterious ways”.

Life can be tough but one of the things that I am thankful for is that I do not have to “figure everything out” and to realize that those that have figured everything out, haven’t.

I believe that many things in the bible can have multiple meanings and sometimes even seemingly contradictory meanings are quite true and not contradictory but complementary.
 
Tom_Baum said:
I also happen to believe that the bible is there to help us and that God can speak to us thru the bible, not just thru a theologian as some seem to think.

Some theologians seem to know only what other theologians have told them about God.

It is not just the bible that God has sent to help us but each other, even those that drive us up the wall.

As it is written, “God works in mysterious ways”.

Life can be tough but one of the things that I am thankful for is that I do not have to “figure everything out” and to realize that those that have figured everything out, haven’t.

I believe that many things in the bible can have multiple meanings and sometimes even seemingly contradictory meanings are quite true and not contradictory but complementary.
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They may have multiple meanings but that is how they speak to the heart. I think if you are open to the meaning God wants you to hear, then that is the message you will receive from it. At least that is how it appears to me.
 
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