Jennie
That is so wonderful.
Thank you for your prayers......In your case the pastor could not NOT KNOW he was in error.
In my case the man in question, who I have chosen not to charge, I believe was acting like a fool without knowing what the consequences of his statements were. I think he will know by now because the persons who have stopped my work, one is a lawer I trust that he will have opened the eyes of the fool as his statements brush with tar their entire group. That I do not press charges is due to mercy of understanding his ignorance at the time although it hurt and offended, I have forgiven him and his family.
I have had it on my heart to hope for the outcome that Gena and Jerry experienced but I have been inspired to understand that each situation is unique and what the Lord is working at in me will be quite different to others even though I would hope for the same result as Gena!...I am being shown to hope in nothing that is not to the Glory of God....Just this afternoon as I was musing on the possible outcomes of the crisis I am in, a felt a caution that I should not be entertaining my imagination to the hope in self gratification.....Christ after all was crusified and He was not only pure and innocent, He was scorned and mocked. He hoped in only the Glory of God that was set before Him...
We have been to seek advice from friends of ours. He is a Lawyer and he advised us to put in writing that we do not accept the basis for the decision to stop my work. This simple advise is so appropriate and shows that we were being deviously lead into a trap had we not responded. I thank you for your prayers and no doubt this shows how God is involving you in this story to show you His will and His plan. It is wonderful how God works.
...This does not mean that I expect a box of chocolates and roses as a result....Oh NO....I expect a scourging....and have been conforted with what Gena wrote about Jerry....."he doesn't care what legally happens".....You see jennie, in my case, if God wills it, this story I am experiencing could unfold into a major courtcase that can have National implications! This could even get the National Press involved and make this story very visible publically. .If that happens then it is Gods will. It can still happen or it can die out with not a ripple effect anywhere except in the scare ridges it is cutting open into my heart right now.
The man who I could press charges against who is insturmental in what is unfolding against me, I believe to be ignorant. He is potentially guilty for crimina-injuria. In other words he did not bridle his mouth and said some really out of line things to me. I am not protecting him at all. He is a fool. I am forgiving him and not of my will but because it is in my heart by the grace, council and wisdom of God to do so....I REALLY believe he is A FOOL! not a sinner....as such as the Pastor in your case.
If I had been in the situation that you and your husband experienced I would hope to be guided also. Your Michael was in a full time position. Was this God's way fo dragging him out of the Church? God gave him the courage not to bow to the idol of the Church or the job but to bow, trust and rely only on HIM. You too share wonderful victory over Church and job....to HIS glory As I see it, Michael's experience and no doubt the agony you both went through of doing what is in right standing with God, I see was a gift from God that blessed you both to have recieved in more ways than one!
I have asked God to bless the man who is a fool and his family. To forgive him. As for the others...may God forgive them too as He guides me to report to Council and refuse to accept their basis as valid for what they have done. Once this is done, I expect to be told to take my bags and get out of their premises.....That will be awful....humiliating, degrading and darnright painful....
God will be the mender of my broken heart....He is my council and advocate as surely as I percieve Him to have been to both your family and Gena's
Thank you for your prayers. I have no doubt they are being answered
Arcturus.....in testing