I'm on a complex spiritual journey

[MartyMuppets]

I thought I'd share this with you all very carefully.
As many of you who read my Fellow Churchpeople and My Stress-control course threads know I am currently a member of the Catholic Church and I attended counselling with Major Colin Robinson of the Salvation Army for problems I had relating to fights and quarrels with my family while I was living with them. My involvement with both really has helped me to stay focussed upon God and to forgive myself for my faults as well as my family for the faults on their part in our past difficulties.

But now I am debating where my true place in Church is. I was a convert to Catholicism from the Anglican Church Mum and I were both members of and since they lost a certain amount of their spiritual vitality when our priest left town and I wasn't feeling like I had the support I needed at the time I went to the Catholic Church. And I know that God did begin to bless me through involvement with them and friends like Ian who sponsored me for membership.
However I have had a new chapter come up in my life that's torn me between two points. My Catholic lady friend has finally told me recently straight out that she knows we're not meant for each other. And while it's not that I particularly worry about not getting married in the forseeable future, her final answer has made me realize that even though I accepted the teaching of Catholicism sincerely there is one point in which I do stumble over. I know that the Catholics are very good Christian people but without a genuine Catholic wife by my side, I am not sure if I'll altogether feel at home among them. I've told this to a favourite priest of mine in Confession and explained that since Major Colin has been very supportful of me I'm going along to worship at Salvation Army in addition to my own Church while I consider and pray about what I feel I should do.
He was very nice and told me that if I decide to change they'll all be sad but they won't hold anything against me personally and encouraged me to put myself in God's Hands to allow Him to lead me. And Major Colin says I'm welcome to go to Salvation Army as often as I like while I consider what I should do in the end.

I know I can depend upon the support of you all my dear friends in this matter and I thank you for being willing to listen to me.

 

[Kiki]

Aw Marty, you're such a good catholic, just... follow your heart.

 

[Skye]

Aww, you're so right, we will always be here and listen whenever you need!

I'm sorry you're faced with this tough decision, but as always, Marty, I wish you the absolute best in your spiritual journey. Just be patient, give it a little bit of time, and always stay true to yourself and what you really want... I know you'll discover what you're truly meant to do.

 

[Ilikemuppets]

Just keep praying to the Lord above that he will guide you in this matter and that he will lead you to the righ place where you belong and trust and have faith in him, and he will!

 

[MartyMuppets]

Yes I would never turn my back upon Him. I know He will lead me to where He wants me to be. I am going to follow my heart towards God like I always have done in everything else before.
Thank you Katie, Caroline and William for your kind words.
I've just finished studying the New Testament in my Catholic Access Study Bible all the way from Matthew to James precisely. Then when I finish going through the rest of it I intend to look at the Old Testament in more randomized order. If I neglected my scripture studies and prayers to God I'd have nothing at all to give me hope in life at all.
I am still giving communion to my neighbour in unit 4 next to me each week since she is deaf and cannot go to Mass. And it always makes her so happy to receive the Body of Christ from me. So that does give me joy. And I also still do charitable works through St.Vincent de Paul.
And Major Colin was a real encouragement to me in getting back into regular scripture devotions and I honestly do love hearing him preach at his church and the message is remarkably appropriate for me in my position.
I'm grateful to God that he has provided me with two Church bodies that are equally supportive to me in their own right while I spend time listening to God's voice revealing the path He has mapped out for me.

 

[CensoredAlso]

That's nice that you bring communion to that woman. That's a shame she can't go, there are a lot of other Churches that have Sign Language programs.

If you pray a lot and just be patience, I'm sure your answer will come to you. Not to be a pain, but you can marry someone outside your faith and still be a faithful person, but I'm sure you already know that.

 

[redBoobergurl]

I'm praying for you as always my friend and I know God will lead you to the right answer if you trust in Him. I'm here for you if you need to talk or anything, you know where to find me. (((HUGS))) for you.

 

[Ilikemuppets]

Your welcome, Marty! I'm happy to help in any small way that I can! It' great that you have your studies! God does give us hope all the hope we need! I think it's really nice that your giving communion to that lady, too! recving the body of our Lord and savior can give us joy because Jesus is where we can always find real, true joy! It's also very good with the work your doing at St Vinent de Paul. It's by God's grace, through faith in him, with works that we are saved! So the work we do for God is very important! I'm glad that Major Colin has been such an incouragement to you and blessing in your life, and that your getting the message you need. Devotion to God is so important in our lives. And I'm so happy for you that you've been bless with two church bodies and that your have so much support from both of them whle yur going through this time in your life. If you listen to the voice of the lord, he will never fail you of lead you wrong. God bless you Brother and may you find where the lore leads you becaues that where you were meant to be!

 

[MartyMuppets]

Thank you heralde and Beth and William once again.
I do know that the Lord does lead you to where He wants you to be. He has His faithful people in all kinds of churches and even if you do change as some people do, I believe that you were at least meant to be there for the time that you were.

I do so enjoy taking communion to my neighbour and I am reminded of something I think is worth sharing.
When I first moved to my city of Rockhampton I was happily settled as a faithful Anglican but one Saturday I decided to visit the Seventh-day Adventist Church and who should I happen to meet but my long-lost Uncle Jack from my dad's side. We had been separated for many years after my parents divorced and Mum took me away to the small country town we moved back from. When we realized who each other was it was a joyous reunion and as an Anglican I used to visit the SDA Church every once in awhile to see Uncle Jack. Often I would sit in the same pew with him and the Adventist people were happy for me to do that.
He told me how when his wife was alive they had been a devout Baptist couple. Sadly when she died he was among other things virtually ignored by their fellow parishioners. Hardly anybody would talk to him at Church. Then somebody invited him to SDA worship one day and they made him feel so welcome that he became an Adventist convert. The Baptists did apologize to him and invited him back but he said he felt God had placed him in Adventism. Though of course he did forgive them.
So it had been God's will for me to meet him there and spend those times with him at his church. He was a dear fellow though he suffered from amnesia and also cancer which would kill him. But my other relatives who I got to meet again through him told me that amazingly one thing he never forgot about was having been with me. And when he died I said good-bye to him with all of Dad's family and the SDA church at his funeral. And I remember him with grateful joy to God for the times I had with him and for the faith I know he had as an Adventist in the final part of his life. And the Adventist people cared for him when he was eventually so sick before his death he could no longer go to their church. They would bring him their communion including the grape juice they habitually use for wine in a phial with their tiny little glasses for it. I was so thankful he had found such a loving Christian family.

I know that God will reveal His desire for me in Christ in His time when He's ready.

 

[Ilikemuppets]

Tha's a great story, Marty! And that really wonderful that you found you ran into your uncle like that, too!