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Need encouragement, something
Deborah-Leigh:
I agree Chris and Sevenator your post is uplifting. Keep up the reading in BT Phazel. :)
Peace to you
Arcturus :)
rjsurfs:
Hi Phazel and all,
I encourage you to continue what you're doing... and that is studying the scripture. I would highly recommend studying the Lake of Fire, looking up every scripture that Ray uses... and then read the entire series again. This has been the most helpful to me.
Remember, that being "in the way" is not without suffering and sacrifice. I had a very similar experience. I was extremely involved in the church and in other "christian activities, studies, and fellowships". I was very close to many people. However, I do believe when God did drag me beyond that Babylonian door step I have truly never looked back. When my house was indeed fallen, I was free... the sacrifice is much easier to bear when you realize what you have gained.
I don't shun anyone... or condemned my old friends. I don't cross the street if I see them headed my way on the sidewalk... I am free. I am on a path that is true... and they aren't with me... I'm not straying (Lord willing).
Consider those in the Gospels that Jesus said, "follow me". It has always been this way.
Bobby
Kat:
Hi Phazel,
In order to serve and follow Christ it is necessary to leave the things of this world behind. It is not an easy thing to do, to put aside the things we once held dear and to put Christ ahead of them all. But we must if we are to be His disciples. Christ explains what we must do to be His dicsiple...
Luke 14:33 So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.
We have to turn away from all of the things that we depend on in this life and turn our faith and trust to Him. I'm not saying we should leave our jobs or families, in many ways I think they are used in our judgment now.
But the church is a place that people go to for guidance in religious matters. If we are to grow to be like Christ, the church, which is of the world is NOT what should be guiding us, but we must depend on Christ totally.
Php 3:7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.
v. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ
v. 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;
v. 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,
v. 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
It is not the easy path we are on, but what a grand outcome for a few :)
mercy, peace and love
Kat
Grateful:
Good Morning, PHazel !! :)
The trials & tribulations we have undergone/are undergoing can only mean ONE THING : Christ is right in back of you, propelling you straight into His Heavenly Kingdom of Joy, Glory, and everlasting Peace!! Remember that Bible verse that says, "through much tribulation ye must enter into the Kingdom of Heaven" ? (Acts 14:22) Also see 2 Thess. 1:4-5.
So, as I've indicated, we can rejoice EXCEEDINGLY when we see we are persecuted (harassed, looked-down-upon, etc.) and suffer great emotional and mental pain, because that can only mean ONE thing : Christ HAS YOU in the palm of His Hand and is working a thing of Great Beauty, when all is said and done! :D :D
Sure, it HURTS to go through all these things, BUT when we go through the dark tunnel of the birth canal and come out into the Light of pure Love, Joy, Peace, Goodness, Kindness, Gentleness, Faith, Patience, and Self-Control (the 9 Fruits of the Spirit), we ARE then Pure Gold (tried in the fire of all those "hasslements", to coin a new word! ha!). So, like the saying goes, "Hang in there, Baby!!" (even if it feels like it's only by the skin of your teeth sometimes! I've BEEN THERE!!! Whooey!! ) And, boy, you'd better NOT think I'm "bragging"!! I've HURT SO MUCH throughout all my life, that I despaired of even Life itself more than once!!!!!!!!!! What I AM saying is that it DOES PAY to PERSIST on the sacred Spiritual Path that God outlines for us so plainly in the Scriptures. And, as in my case, that includes such things like refraining from retorting when someone says something "snippy" to me, refraining from getting angry (for two reasons : #1 - "He who can make you angry CONTROLS YOU." and #2 - God WILL do Justice to the offending person -- NO ONE can escape Divine Righteous Justice....believe me, I KNOW!! ). It is our MOTIVES that God looks at, whenever we think, say, or do something. "Blessed are the PURE IN HEART , for they SHALL SEE God."
Have a WONDERFUL Day, PHazel !! :D :D ;D
Linda
Beloved:
You have made your decision Congratulations, Do not look back
Rom 3:18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.
You have obeyed the Word of God and have come out.
Rev 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues
You may" feel" sad and have soul pulling but remember
2Co 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
.
Heb 4:1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.
Cast out that demon of depression you are a child of God and the devil will flee
2Ti 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
Beloved
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