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Love Your Enemies?

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Marlene:
My Home is not new to pain. My Mother, had a brother who was murdered. They never found the person or persons. My sister was raped. She had a child by this man, she raised this child. There are many other trials in life we go through. Being, hurt by your own family member is what God speaks of.
as very hard to forgive.

Two days, before going down to my Brothers ,God had me reading Ray's papers on Love. Well, I never even tried to show my Brother he was wrong. I took it all. Now, had I been like I was before God touched my heart. I would not have acted that way. But, I have to say how it helps us when our conscience is not tromented . I mean if I had fought with him I would  have been no better. But, now that I am no longer blind. I am able to obey God because he lives in me. So, I came back with a good conscience. This enables me to forgive and move on. I just will pray for all my enemies. This is what we are here for to learn to be like Christ. I am humble because , this was all God doing this in me. Its really hard to forgive those who are from your own house hold.
Bunny Life isnt it wonderful when we see the Spirit living inside us. This has truely been a week that I have been tested.

Happy for those who brought those papers up. What, a blessing to see when we are hurt, God is right with us.

In His Love,
Marlene

Akira329:
Hey Joe this is a great topic indeed!
Thanks for reminding me of Joseph!

Gen 45:1  Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him; and he cried, Cause every man to go out from me. And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren.
Gen 45:2  And he wept aloud: and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard.
Gen 45:3  And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph; doth my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer him; for they were troubled at his presence.
Gen 45:4  And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt.
Gen 45:5  Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.

Because of the mercy Joseph showed unto his brothers a great nation was born out of Egypt

Gen 46:3  And he said, I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation:

Pro 16:6  By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.
Pro 16:7  When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.

Antaiwan

bunnylife:

--- Quote from: Marlene on May 17, 2009, 06:46:58 PM ---My Home is not new to pain. My Mother, had a brother who was murdered. They never found the person or persons. My sister was raped. She had a child by this man, she raised this child. There are many other trials in life we go through. Being, hurt by your own family member is what God speaks of.
as very hard to forgive.

Two days, before going down to my Brothers ,God had me reading Ray's papers on Love. Well, I never even tried to show my Brother he was wrong. I took it all. Now, had I been like I was before God touched my heart. I would not have acted that way. But, I have to say how it helps us when our conscience is not tromented . I mean if I had fought with him I would  have been no better. But, now that I am no longer blind. I am able to obey God because he lives in me. So, I came back with a good conscience. This enables me to forgive and move on. I just will pray for all my enemies. This is what we are here for to learn to be like Christ. I am humble because , this was all God doing this in me. Its really hard to forgive those who are from your own house hold.
Bunny Life isnt it wonderful when we see the Spirit living inside us. This has truely been a week that I have been tested.

Happy for those who brought those papers up. What, a blessing to see when we are hurt, God is right with us.

In His Love,
Marlene

--- End quote ---

Marlene, I can't imagine how your Mom felt. I know that I prayed they would find who kill my brother. I could except it if they didn't but I know my Mom couldn't. He was they youngest of five. Five people were indicted a week later.  You have been through so much and have grown. Yes it is even harder when it is family.

Yes it is so wonderful to know and see the Spirit living inside us and to know that God's grace is sufficient for whatever the trial or testing. We know that we have gone through hard trial by His grace and grown. We know there be many more trials but God is right there with us the whole way.

We have examples in the OT of being treated unjustly and those in the NT. And we have examples of each other ongoing the fire. By His grace with us in Christ and Christ in us.. we can forgive and love as Christ did. Praise be to God!

In His Joy,
Bunni

Marlene:
Marques, I am going to mark those verses in my Bible. It never ceases to amaze me how I never got the message of those verses until God led me to Ray's website. It certainly is an act of God. Now, I see it is only God who can do it. All Glory be to God! While, lost in Babylon we think it is us doing it. Just, like most of the world think. When, Christ returns all will see and hear and all greed, and war and other things will disappear. I am looking forward to this day.

Just, want to let each and everyone of you, how much you mean to me.

In His Love,
Marlene

hillsbororiver:
Hello and thank you Antaiwan, Deborah, Claudia, MG, Bunnylife, Marques & Marlene for all of your edifying responses!

Last night I attempted to respond with comments and additional scriptural witnesses but I was having problems loading the BT site, I am not sure what the issue was but I had to save it for later use. I wanted to say now that most of the time when I start a topic it is usually inspired by something I am directly dealing with in this journey or it is a subject that is constantly on my mind.

This particular topic was actually a few months in the making, since last December I have had many old friends from way, way back as well as some family members (from New York & Michigan) seek me out, some of them I had not had any real contact with for decades others maybe 10 years or so. It was an amazing thing as it came steadily, a new reintroduction every week or two right up until March! The one thing in common they shared was some personal tragedy, some things were self inflicted (or so one might think) and others were just those bad things we see happen to "good" people.

For whatever reason, perhaps because I am far removed from their day to day lives living here in Florida or that in my younger days I appeared to be someone who would die at an early age or do a long stint in prison they felt comfortable sharing their troubles. Now I know there are no coincidences, that somehow everything that happens in some way fits into God's ultimate plan and purpose but I was really clueless for quite some time. I did not get deep into "witnessing for the Lord" but I did share the really "Good News" as I could without being overbearing, there was a strong feeling within me that I was drawn into this not so much to speak, but to listen.

This was not all about me showing anyone the Light but more so for me to observe and grow in empathy, sympathy, compassion, etc. It actually took me quite some time for the scales to fall off in regard to this point, I really kept wondering, "what is this all about?" It was freaky in a sense because it seemed to be coordinated but none of the people had any contact with each other prior to getting in touch with or visiting me, but the flow of folks was consistant and steady without overlapping.

Eventually it has become clear that the Lord was working on me (as He used me for a sounding board) to develop and evaluate my real brotherly love for others, it was relatively easy to have compassion for old friends and family members but I started thinking what if these weren't "loved ones?" What if they were only folks I knew superficially or in passing, would I have had the time to sit and listen? Show any interest? Attempt to empathize? Give some positive feedback? I saw how deficient I was and it was not pleasant, my selfishness and impatience became front and center of what I really needed to pray about and for His Spirit to strengthen me.

There is more for me to add here in regard to what I am experiencing and how it has affected other aspects of my walk with Him, but time doesn't allow for it right now.

Anyway, thank you all for your contributions here.

Peace,

Joe   

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