……….hate
Him; feel like they have to bash those that do believe; need to feel superior;
and the list goes on……….
In my
opinion and this is just my opinion
………..they
are angry about something that has happened in their lives; they are hurt and
deep inside there is fear, they may not even recognize the fear yet. Maybe they
have gotten themselves so deep into a relationship/lifestyle that they do not
know how to get out, their pride gets in the way.
I’m sure
there are other reasons.
What I don’t
understand is they want us to listen to them BUT they don’t want to listen to
us – what are they afraid of? Maybe their spirit is crying out and they don’t
like that feeling…..I really don’t know on that one.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Now for
those of us that call ourselves ‘Christians’ – do you really put Christ first,
do you have a relationship or a religion?
I can tell
you in today’s world it’s very easy to have a religion, especially when you are
first learning about God. Too much of the world has come into the churches – my
daughters tried to tell me this early on in our walk but I thought they just
wanted out of the ‘Sunday School’ program. Most children are only going to
Sunday School (which I do not believe is in the Bible, it’s something the world
started with schools, separating ages) because they want the treats and play
time. Some people go to church for the ‘fellowship’ only, not to hear what God
is saying through the Pastor; not to make the changes they need to make in
their lives; they want it to be about them or they go to church so they feel
better about themselves kind of ease their conscience from a wild week. From my
past experiences with church it’s a Sunday religion – you only need to fill up
on Sundays then go back and live like you were. This is not what God teaches us
in His Word.
He tells us
there will be tests and trials.
I have had to
let one of our daughters go and trust God with the situation, it was a decision
she and her husband made after the birth of their first baby. This baby was
born with health problems, we do not know anymore as the day after she was born
is when they made a demand we could not accept. That was almost 3 years ago.
They told us to not contact them and we have honored that request, there have
been many times I wanted to knock on their door but at that would just cause
more anger in them – is this painful – you bet cha!! But through this God has shown me who He
really is. I trust Him to protect our daughter and her family. And we pray for
them daily. I post on my Facebook – Happy Birthday’s, Anniversary, etc. Because
I hope they will see there is no animosity only love.
I say all
that to let you know we’ve been through our fair share of pain and still have
our faith in God. We are still seeing Him move in our lives. I had to take my
eyes off what the world says and what my flesh wants and really learn who God
is and take Him at His Word (faith). That is another testimony in itself and I
hope to get the opportunity to share it soon, just waiting on Kenneth and
Gloria Copeland or Joyce Meyer, etc to send me an invite ;-)
dream big – you bet I am because I know there are others that need to
hear what I’ve been through and how God has always been there even when I looked
down instead of up – that pit was awfully dark.
Ok off
topic…..sort of…..but that’s me ;-) I
begin to write and my brain goes down other avenues, then comes back and takes
off again….there’s just so much to share.
So if we are
to be the light in this world, we as ‘Christians’ need to watch what we say and
how we treat other people. Are we really different from non-believers? Do they
see a difference in our work ethic, in the way we treat others, in the way we
treat animals, in the way we treat our spouse or our children? Do you really do
things for Christ to be glorified or for your own fleshly desires? If they put
us in a room with a non-believer would they see and hear a difference?
I use to be
a ‘fleshly desire’ Christian and it got me nowhere except into a pit of
depression and lies. I was a fake……trying to find truth…..in churches that did
not teach all of God’s Word. Then one day I heard the Lord ask me – if they
looked at you, watched you; would they want to know Me? Ouch, at that time I had to say – no, they
would not want to know You. My life did not show victory, it did not show joy
or patience or faith in the One I said I believe in.
I believe this
is why some hatred is out there among ‘unbelievers’ because a lot of us don’t
know God therefore we can’t live the life He has for us – a life which will
show others just how much He loves us, that shows He is still a God of miracles
Do you think one of the reasons people do not
want anything to do with God is because so much of the world has entered the
church and people do not see a difference – there’s child molestation, un-forgiveness,
pride, divorce, adultery…..and the list goes on. If we live no differently than
the world how can we expect people to want to come to church and get to know
God? Why would they want to give up their Saturday night out or have to get up
early on Sunday morning, that’s their only day to sleep…?
If you have been into religion and lived like
the world know this - God is a restorer,
He can take all I did wrong and make it right. All we have to do is drop our
pride and tell Him we are sorry, we sinned, please forgive us and He will.
I know God is real, no one else could have
given me the peace, the healing, the forgiveness and the joy He has in these
times of testing’s and trials. Learning who God is and having a relationship
with Him will draw others to Him as they see the difference in your life.
We need to
get back to the Word. To know it for ourselves so we are not deceived. When we,
as individuals and families, know the Word of God and go into a church where
the Pastor is preaching Truth and still seeking God to learn more, gain wisdom
(which we all should be doing until the day we die) we have genuine
‘fellowship’ with the Father and each other. You leave the gossip, the complaining,
the fear, the jealousy, etc out and truly come together as a body where we pray
for each other, encourage each other, correct each other, love each other and
grow up in Christ together, having testimonies of His goodness. God does
require change and obedience, for some of us that is where we back off and say
no way. But I can tell you He does this to improve our lives here on earth and
ready us for heaven. It may be difficult and even hurt in the beginning to make
some changes ….but God…..is there with you and gives you everything you need to
make it to the end results which brings a joy unspeakable.
And hope
does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by
the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. Romans 5:5
Consider
Abraham: "He believed God, and it was credited to him as
righteousness." Understand, then,
that those who believe are children of Abraham.
The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and
announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: "All nations will be blessed
through you." So those who have
faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. Galatians 3:6-9
"I tell you, whoever acknowledges me
before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of
God. But he who disowns me before men
will be disowned before the angels of God.
And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven,
but anyone who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. Luke
12:8-10
Love the
Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind
and with all your strength.' Mark 12:30
Therefore,
rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of
every kind. Like newborn babies, crave
pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is
good. As you come to him, the living
Stone--rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him-- you also, like living stones, are being built
into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices
acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. I Peter 2:1-5
If anyone
speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone
serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things
God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for
ever and ever. Amen. Dear friends, do
not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something
strange were happening to you. I Peter
4:11-12
Don't you
know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are
slaves to the one whom you obey--whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to
death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? Romans 6:16
The LORD is
my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will
praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him. Exodus 15:2
No comments:
Post a Comment