I don't know why, but I am feeling a need to be more connected, closer to God. I do belong to a church that I am very happy with. I attend pretty regularly, every other week (I work alternate weekends). I have been a Sunday school teacher for the past 3 years. But I just feel like I need to be more connected. I don't really know how to explain it. I don't feel like my relationship with God is personal enough. I am always extremely busy. I work 3 jobs and have 6 kids and a grand kid to care for. What can I do to fullfil myself a bit more? I am trying to spend more time just "talking" to God. I think when I am in the car alone is a good time. I would like to read more of the Bible or Bible study, but I never seem to get anything read anymore. Any suggestions?

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~Happiness is a large family~

Everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger. James 1:19

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 1 Corinthians 9:24

Seek God and tell him exactly what you are feeling. He will lead you and guide you.
I know this will sound silly, but I have trouble getting time to read my Bible too. I took me a Bible and I put it on the back of the camode and every chance I am in there by my self I read it. It may be a verse or it may be a chapter.
I will pray for you to get a closer walk with the Lord. Maybe do a small fast. You can fast your food, tv, computer, pop, cigs, whatever is a sacrafice for you to do. Either way God will bless you for it.
Also sometimes we walk thru dry places that we don't understand, but sometimes it is like a growing process. It may not be that you are not as connected as you want to be, it may be that God is teaching you something thru this. I hope I am making sense thru this. Either way I am praying for you. May God grant you a closer walk with Him.

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When Jesus returns, will you be ready???

June72 is so right- just talk to God and tell him all that you're feeling. Talk to him all day..I keep up a mental conversation throughout the day (mostly along the lines of: could you send down a little more patience, please?)
I have a page a day Bible calendar that is short and sweet- one verse every day. I try to read it three times during the day and reflect on that. It's the samll stuff that keeps me connected.

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I don't believe in miracles; I depend on them

Something I do to feel closer to God is to listen to Christian music when I'm in the car. I have a local Christian radio station that I love and there's nothing that can soothe my soul more. It seems like no matter what I'm going through (and we've been through a lot lately), God can always speak to me through the words of a song.

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Stephanie
Mom to: Caleb (8/03), Ian (9/05), & Lucas (11/08)

remember that God is always there..no matter what your feeling...sometimes getting your heart right...I am not saying your not saved...but sometimes we come to THE LORD when we have did some sin and expect him to hear us...I am sooo glad that he is a MERCIFUL AND GRACIOUS GOD AND FORGIVES EASY.......I love the song..dont know what it is but it has these words...

I GO TO YOU IN PRAYER..........AND I KNOW YOU'LL MEET ME THERE

sorry that is all I can get right now...but just remember...God truely loves to do for his Children and he just wants us to do our best that is all...sometimes just raising your hands and give him a good thanks will help you to tune in to HIM...

MANY PRAYERS FOR YOU TO GET THAT FEELING THAT YOUR LOOKING FOR

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CHOOSE TODAY WHOM YOU WILL SERVE!!!

Well, I have a few suggestions and I may get long-winded. Just a warning. Anyway, The first thing is how to fit in Bible Study. I use my Bible as my nighttime wind down time. I have a little magazine that a friend gave me that has devotionals for each day and an in-depth study for each book of the Bible (I just finished Job- talk about long-winded.lol). I found this to be the easiest way to stick to my readings. Second, to feel a deeper connection... The Priest at Mass last Sunday was discussing how we tend to turn to God when our lives are in shambles. He said to start inviting Him into your everyday life. He gave the example of finding a good parking spot. Just ask and you shall recieve. Ask God where you should park, where you should go to lunch, what you should cook for dinner, how to study His word every day, etc.. Anyway, I thought that this was very insightful advice because I always feel unworthy of His intervention and torture myself instead of getting help and enjoying my life. Good Luck.

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Scrap Goals:
~*~*~Shawn's First Communion Album~*~*~My Cousin's Disney Album~*~*~Misc Family Pages
ChickyHip's Christmas Card Challenge: 01/50

I don't know if you have ever heard of Joyce Meyer. I love her she has all kinds of tapes and books. She is so down to earth. Joyce says prayer needs to become as natural as breathing. I believe her. I try to spend more time praising and not asking. I have learned to pray with my eyes open. I always thought you needed silence to pray. It does help. But I find I can pray in times like sitting in a doctor's office waiting, I can close my eyes and nobody knows what I am doing. I try to use opportunities like that to spend more time talking to God. I have found that if I do not dwell on my own problems and praise and pray for others, my "stuff" seem to take care of itself. I know that is God. I need help in my personal bible time with God also.

Just a suggestion that I personally do. I have a journal that I write down my prayers and my thoughts, just as if I were verbally saying them or praying them to God. Whenever I pray specifically for something and God answers my prayers, I go back and write the date that God answered it, just so that I can visually see that God IS answering my prayers and hearing me. Sometimes I read a chapter each day from the book of Proverbs. Since there are 31 chapters, you can read a chapter for each day of the month.

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"When God is all you have, you'll find He is all you need."

*Stephanie*

The car might be your solution. You can books on tape and listen to christian radio. I also read Our Daily bread which is about a 5 minute devotional. I also like 15 minutes alone with God by Emilie Barnes. Just your desire to come closer to God makes Him very happy! God bless!

First, know that you're not alone in this. I felt very connected to God when I became Catholic when I was 18. I was in college, but lived at home, so I had a lot of time alone to reflect, etc. As I got older, met my husband, got married, began having health problems, got a job, moved, etc. I found myself drifting further and further away. A few years ago, my sister wanted to finish her religious ed., so I became her godmother. Like it or not, I was faced with Bible study and beliefs studying. Again, I felt close to God and also took on a few saints I felt close to. AGain, I got busy with my life and now I'm to the point where I feel very disconnected. The rest of my life is so "busy" that I feel like there's no time for God anywhere. How pitiful is that? If it weren't for Him, none of this would happen!

Someone last week told me to sit down and just talk with God, apologize for being gone for so long, and ask for guidance on what to do next. Trust that he'll let you know somehow. For instance, I talked to this person and then a few days later, there was a post in the bulletin at church about needing cathecists for the school year. Today, I signed up to teach my son's class. I'm not sure what's going to happen, but I know God will lead me the right way.

good luck!

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