I am going to try and post some pictures of myself and my family in New York City that we took today, it will come later or tomorrow after my husband edits them.
I wanted to share a bit more of my spiritual history with you.
When I married my husband I was a full-fledged pagan, and that was what attracted him to me. He was Catholic but not practicing. He did not start going to church until after our first son was born and he decided that he wanted to bring our children up Catholic.
Now to be honest, I went to church with him at his insistence. I hated every moment of it, and for all that good that my attendance did, I got nothing out of church but learning how to kneel and stand and sit at the right moments and the hand gestures. Since crossing yourself was an occult practice, I had to unlearn the direction of the crossing and cross the correct way. But resentment did not make for much worship of God at all. In fact I can safely say that I only said the rote prayers, no heart behind them, no talking with God any other time. In fact I never gave God even a second of my spare time. I am sorry to say that I did not treat God with the kind of respect He deserved, and that I squandered so many years in my anger at God. If there was anything I could take back, this is one period of my life I wish I had used more wisely.
Unfortunately, my husband did and does not have much patience with the rigamarole of dealing with religious ed classes, bad guided meditations, paper work, and keeping the kids up to date with the homework and prayers and practices, so that fell on my shoulders. I sat through so many meetings that literally drove me up a wall.
During this time a priest convinced me to convert to Catholicism since I was learning about the stuff at the same times that the kids were. as I had been a Luthern it was not much of a stretch. So I did that to keep family as all one religion, but at that time I was still pew sitting and stewing.
My husband, was literally the one who began to bring me back to church. During this time I sat through an atrocious Bible study given by the priest, which was more like a travel log of his trips around the Holy Land, not much about the Bible. A friend recommened her Friday Bible study. So I started going, and it was there that I met Pastor Don. I sat in on his study for about two years. The first year was the book of Romans. Let me tell you that when you are angry at God, Romans is a very difficult book to study.
Sometimes in those two years, Pastor Don and I started talking. It took me two years of talking with him (not that he didn’t encourage me to say the sinner’s prayer) before I dared say the sinner’s prayer. I know that at times my posts still show doubt, and at times some sort of outrage for some things in my past, but compared to what it was like, it is very watered down now. Pastor Don promised me that he would be consistent with me, unlike those who hurt me so much in the past. He has been very consistent and loving. His wife and children show me that he is honest in his walk with the Lord, and he loves his wife and children very much. His consistency, and the fact that he never let the other shoe drop, finally began to penetrate some of the anger that I had. We started seriously going over things in my past. Fortunately Pastor Don is also a counselor, so a lot of garbage got cleared up, still more to go though. I began to see God in a very different light. The several times I have read through the Bible began to show me a God who is way more loving, and now I have a hunger to know him as Abba. Had Pastor Don attacked my beliefs directly I would have labeled him a hypocrite or worse and walked away. Instead he lovingly showed me in the Bible and through other literature exactly how satan tricked me in the ways that I was thinking and believing.
After about two years I was able to say the sinner’s prayer and in obedience to God got baptized. Well, over time my life has changed dramatically, and I asked Pastor Don what should I do about my husband who is Catholic. My sister-in-law is born again and she, her husband, and kids are very confrontational with my husband about his faith. So much so that my husband started mocking born again’s. He stopped listening to them and ignored what they were saying. Not much fruit in that.
Pastor Don told me to be an obedient wife, go to church with my husband, raise the kids as he directs and let my life be an example, but to not preach. So I continued Bible studies and when we moved from Romans into Corinthians and Galatians, I told my husband that the Bible says that he is the spiritual head of the family, and as such I must obey him, that Pastor Don says that a wife must submit to her husband. I realize that that is submission in the sense of the husband must love the wife the way Christ loves the church, but my husband then said, “I like this pastor.” When questions about religion came up, I turned them over to my husband, and he answered the kids very Biblically. Sometimes I would share something I learned at Bible study with my husband, but never in a preachy or condemning manner. Another year or so, and I kept inviting my husband to the Friday Bible studies, but never pushing, never preaching. Still went to mass with my husband, and just loved him. My husband came to Bible studies, and for over a year has consistently attended and insisted the kids attend. At some point he decided to do CD’s of the studies for people and Pastor Don mentioned Brother Jim’s CD ministry. Jim took it seriously and then found out that there was a Tuesday Bible study and has added that to his ministry. Last Tuesday Pastor Don lead the sinner’s prayer and my husband prayed the prayer, not up at the altar, but standing by me in the first row of the church. I was so overjoyed.
I spoke with my pastor recently and he told me that my husband is close to a breakthrough, to keep doing what I am doing (or not doing as it is) that the Holy Spirit is working mightily. My kids have all said the sinner’s prayer. Now my husband does not pray to statues, does not agree that Mary is to be worshipped, and is beginning to be upset with the fact that communion is only the bread, not the bread and wine. He has begun to look at things Biblically. I listen, but still make few comments, (he is the spiritual head of the family). Sometimes it is hard to do this, but at the same time I do not want to have to answer to God for putting a stumbling block of offense in front of my husband and driving him away. God is attracting him. I know it took me over two years before I could say the sinner’s prayer, so I assume that it is fair that I wait for my husband.
This said, there is a belief in some church circles that there are not many spirit filled Catholics. I beg to differ about that as I have met some. I think that in every church, even those claiming to be spirit filled, that not every member is spirit filled. They may act like they are, but only God knows their hearts. I think that in each and every church and tradition there are some believers that are spirit filled and that God is bridging the gap between churches and denominations and looking for people to worship him in Spirit and truth. Not necessarily any denomination. I would also venture to say that every single denomination has some traditions that have grown up with that denomination, and some misinterpretation of the Bible. I suspect we will never know the whole truth until our whole fleshly bodies are gone and we are before the throne. Then we will see the whole truth of God clearly, not through a glass darkly.
As far as winning souls, I don’t think Jesus ever came point blank to a sinner or a mis-directed person in ire to convert them. Instead he loved them, led them, and gently ministered to them. The ones he came down hard on were the scribes and pharasises and priests who should have known better. Who should have recognized him as Messiah. Jesus won people over with love. That does not mean that he tolerated sin or wrong thinking, but at the same time, he enticed people through his parables and stories and his way of life to begin to become more aware of the truth. The truth is way more powerful than lies, and more souls are won with love than are ever won in debates, arguments and disrespect.
This may not be a popular concept to some, and I have to say that for me and my situation the way I have been dealing with this is producing fruit. If confrontation produces fruit in another person, that is fine too.
Now another statement that is shared is to not be unequally yoked. We studied that once in Bible study, and at one point my husband and I were unequally yoked when he was practicing his faith and I was fuming. The scales are shifting now, but I would never ever consider leaving my husband because of his beliefs. He is faithful, true, and a loving husband and father. I would rather fight by love to win him than to leave him because we disagree.
There are so many Christian churches out there that believe that there is only one right and true way, their way. And all others are false. We have so many enemies that are not Christian that it saddens me to see that we tear each other apart. The enemies tear us apart and we sometimes cause more harm to each other than the enemy does to us. The enemy can sit back and watch us take pot shots at each other. Why not study and read the Word. The Spirit of God will lead us to truth as we keep pursuing Him. If we seek ways to teach and share in love I think a lot would be resolved.
I wish I could be clearer on this, for I feel that I am not sharing all my thoughts on this. But I don’t know how to express more. I was saddened reading another site I used to subscribe to and saw such vitriolic anger at Catholics. And it was that kind of anger and animosity that caused me to realize that I wanted to let you know that I can’t feel that way, and why.
Each is entitled to handle their situations the way they see fit, but I would suggest to check the fruit. If the fruit is salvation that is good, if it hardens a person’s heart and causes them to stop listening, perhaps a different tactic would be helpful if the real purpose is to reach the lost.
Heather
Here is the website for our church. If you live in the east he is on TBN at 12:30 in the afternoon on Thursday. Pastor Don is working on getting his tape ministry up and running and thru this website you could get tapes. My husband has been putting teachings on CD for our Friday and Tuesday Bible studies. Right now my husband is Catholic, so we do not attend services on Sunday, but my husband is becoming addicted to Bible studies, praise God for that.
http://www.livingwordchapel.com/LWC_pastormsg.htm
Heather
I am chuckling. I just finished working with 11 Junior Girl Scouts helping the make their own pillows. They had fun, and as I was the instructor, I had to ask evaluations. One girl responded that one new thing she learned was that basting was not permanent. The biggest complaint of the group was pricking of fingers in sewing. I had a few spare minutes so let them make bath salts as a change of pace. They loved that. They all want to come back and take another sewing class.
Well, sorry it took so long to get this to you, but this has been a crazy weekend. Snow tubing last night with boy scouts. Had to get my daughter to school by 6:15 this morning for science olympiad. Then my sewing class, but here is Friday’s Bible study notes (please know the disclaimer, any bad theology is probably poor note taking on my part.)
We were continuing last Friday’s Bible study about how God will never leave or forsake us, but our pastor wanted to remind us that we must have spiritual discernment, for not everything that is said to be Godly really is godly. We have to be fruit testers.
2 Peter 2: 1- end
We must be wise to devil’s devices. We usually let our baggage influence our theology. If we are disappointed we attribute the source of disappointment to God. God does not have human frailties.
Now many people are talking about how much the devil is influencing their lives, but truth be told, the devil cannot be everywhere.satan is finite, not infinite. He does have a military for when he was cast out of Heaven he took 1/3 of the angels with him.
(a note from a question: when we read the Bible we have to make a clear distinction between Bible theology and Bible speculation. If you are speculating on something, you must clearly state that, because we can only rely on the literal meaning of the Bible).
How does the devil work and who is he?
The devil is the father of lies. In his mouth there is nothing but deceit. If the devil does tell you the truth it is only to set you up for defeat. Devil has dominion of the first and second heaven, but that is on lease, he has limited authority. Adam gave over the lease of the earth to the devil because of his disobedience to God, but God worked out a plan to reclaim the earth for us.
In Second Peter, there are warnings about being careful of false teachers. Often, for example, in many of the new age teachings there is a lot of truth, and a lot sounds Biblical and positive, but there is a twist, or one small part that doesn’t line up with the Word of God, and it is that little bit that leads one astray.
Sometimes we hear a word from God, but forget that for everything there is a time and a season. You may hear that a particular person is the right one for you to marry, but it may be years down the road before it is the right time to ask that person to marry you. God knows when the best time is, so if you hear from God, be careful that you do not jump the gun and act before it is the right time to act. And not everything that you hear from God is meant to be shared with others. Sometimes God gives you a vision or a Word of knowledge about a person, but it is for your knowledge, not necessarily to share with others or even that person. When it is the right time to share a Word of knowledge, God will let you know. If you share it too soon, you may be putting a stumbling block in a person’s path. For example, if you see that someone is to be a minister, but they are still new born, they may need to have a lot of spiritual growth before they are ready to hear that part of their prophesy. If you tell them in advance, pride or taking on the role before fully grown into it might occur.
An example of how satan can twist the Words of God is when Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, and satan quoted scripture to Him, but it was quoted out of context. Only by knowing the Word of God can we be good fruit testers to know if what is being said really aligns with the Word of God.
Even angels leave the judging up to God, we are not to judge others. Jude 9, Michael contends with the devil when he disputed about he body of Moses, but did not bring against him a reviling accusation but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”. So, while we are fruit testers, it really is the province of God to judge.
If a person is teaching wrong doctrine, you must let them know the doctrine is wrong, not buy the lie, but we cannot say they will be condemned to hell, we have to let God take care of the judging. Some are deliberate tools of satan, others are misdirected. God will know their hearts.
One thing that seems to be a factor in many churches today is a big focus on church growth, on quantity, not quality. It isn’t always about numbers. Our church is growing, but it is also important to take care of those who are new converts, to make sure they are well grounded in faith and the Word of God. Better a slower growth with a good foundation than a rapid explosion but people are lost in the mix.
Then we talked about James 2:14-15 about Balaam.
Numbers 22 is the story about Balaam. Balaam lived before the Law was implemented. He was a prophet of God, and heard from God. This is a story of how satan can work in the life of a powerful believer. If God blesses, then you must be careful not to curse the people. Balaam ignored God’s directive to not bless the person.
After three times of questioning, he finally broke down. And God even told him that he could go V.20 ” And God came to Balaam at night and said to him, “If the men come to call you, rise and go with them; but only the word which I speak to you–that shall you do.”
Balaam jumped the gun, in V21 it says “Balaam rose in the morning, saddled his donkey, and went to the princes of Moab.”
If you note, Balaam did not wait for the men to come to him like God instructed, he went on his own.
This, v23 angered God and the Angel of the Lord (a christophany- an appearnce of Christ before he was born of a woman) came and stood in the way.
Sometimes when we act in disobedience God will send us a voice of warning, usually from someone that we have to humble ourselves to hear it. If we listen to the voice and repent, we are back in alignment, but often we look down on the voice. Balaam had to hear his news from a donkey, but if you think about it, sometimes a word from your child or some other person might impact you.
Don’t judge the message by the messenger, judge the message based on if it lines up with the Word of God.
We are working hard to take our thoughts captive and become obedient to Christ.
We had to stop, we spend about 2 hours in Bible study, and our pastor had an appointment. Hopefully he will continue this next week.
Hope you enjoy.
Heather
Marginal Notes
I am thinking I am going to have to get a new Bible as there is little room in my margins for more notes. I like taking notes in my Bible so that when I re-read a passage I am reminded of what I have previously learned. These notes are from several teachers and what struck my Spirit. This afternoon is our Friday Bible study. I am hoping it is Pastor Don. So later you will get a fresh, hot off the press, Bible study. For now, notes on my morning reading. The kids have a two hour delay so I am using the quiet to read and study.
Matthew 17: 1-13
This is the Transfiguration of Jesus.
Jesus had three disciples who he took with him into special situations. Beth Moore explained that Jesus had various circles of disciples, the multitude that followed him, then the 72 (I think it was that number) that got sent out to heal, then the 12, and then the three who were his closest, Peter, James and John. Those three saw more than the 12.
Jesus took them into three special situations:
Jairus’s daughter – the disciples saw Jesus victorious over death, raising her from the dead.
Garden of Gethesemene- Where they saw Jesus praying and then submitting to God regarding His death
and now here- where they saw Jesus glorified
Why these three disciples- they all had to have great courage in the face of death.
James was sawed in half lengthwise, a very slow and painful death (tradition has).
Peter was the first disciple Jesus informed that following Him would mean sacrifice of thier lives. Peter asked about others and Jesus pretty much told him that it was more important about his relationship with Jesus.
John they tried to kill (tradition was the boiling in oil), and he got exiled to Padmos where he wrote Revelation. ((Heather’s note, I often wonder how he felt seeing his other friends (the disciples) being martyred, and he was such a sociable person, it must have been so hard on him being the last to die, and then being isolated for so long – but then he did get to see that awesome vision).
Transfigured – Greek word metamorphosized (kind of like a catepillar turns to butterfly). Note that I need to check out, is that a caterpillar turns to a gooey mess inside that cacoon, then when completely broken down from caterpillar it is reformed into butterfly. If so, (Heathers thoughts) that is an awesome reminder of needing to be broken to be fully used by God.
Verse 4, Peter speaks impulsively, offering to make three booths, one for Jesus, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.
This verse is a good verse to use when people speak about reincarnation. Moses and Elijah had been dead or removed form the scene thousands of years earlier, and here they come in the same form as their earthly lives. They did not come as someone else, and the three disciples recognized them instantly, there is no record of Jesus saying, “Peter, James, John, meet Moses.” etc. And remember there were no graven images so there were no pictures of these men.
Now God spoke from Heaven saying, “This is my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him.”
If you think about what Moses represents – the law, and Elijah represents – the prophets, it is a very potent statement, that you cannot come to God by the law and the prophets, only by Jesus.
Peter would mention years later of this transfiguration. Jesus was called the 2nd Adam
Now Adam was on the earth and failed temptation, Jesus spent 33 years on earth, and faced every temptation we face, and did not slip into sin. He proved that it was possible to live a sin-free life. Jesus glowed, the divinity within Him shown out through His earthly body. A proof of the teaching that what is in a man will shine forth. If we defile our bodies that shines forth, if we glorify God, that shines forth.
Moses also glowed when he went up in Mt. Sinai, and then would wear a veil. In the New Testiment it is said that the glow would fade over time and the veil hid that fact, but with Jesus the glow never failed.
Now Jesus does say that Elijah came before him in the form of John the Baptist, but it was the spirit of John the Baptist. Elijah and Moses could be the two witnesses in Revelation, coming before Jesus’ second coming.
One other cool thing, this transfiguration takes place near Jerusalem, in the Promised Land. God let Moses into the promised land in spirit, even though he was not allowed to go there in the flesh.
***These are a few notes taken over a few years, any errors are probably in my disciphering the notes.
Hope you have a blessed day.
Heather
Help!!!!!
Tomorrow night is my Girl Scout meeting if we don’t get snowed out. I am wondering if you have any tried and true homemade personal care recipies that are simple to make and safe for girls who are in 6th and 7th grade.
I found a bathsalt recipe and a few skin care recipies such as oatmeal scrubs on the web, but if you know of any, please share. I could not find the lip gloss recipe made with pixie sticks and I think vasaline, if you know that one, please share. Tomorrow night we are going to talk about body image, and how we can look pretty without looking trashy, how we have to take pride in ourselves. We are going to look at fashion magazines and try to find out what angle they are trying to play to get you to buy their merchandise, and we are going to make these skin treatments. I am planning a trip to a local women’s gym so they can try out the equipment, and we are going to talk to the local vocational school so they can go and check out different hairstyles (but those are future meetings).
This badge is one that they are working on in preparation for their silver award. They chose to ultimately earn their award by going to a local family shelter and giving the women a day of beauty. They plan to invite in hair dressers, contact a clothing bank for work clothes, some are going to work with the children and do arts and crafts and they want to do a luncheon for the women and children. I am so proud of this group of girls. Last year they earned their bronze award by making five quilts for the battered women’s shelter. They love doing community service work.
Thank you for your ideas.
Heather
Last Night’s Bible study was awesome, Ephesians 2. Our pastor preached the salvation message, pointing out that we are saved by grace through faith. And the Greek meaning of grace implies God-given power to help turn our lives around.
We were laughing as he got the idea of bench pressing. Saying that our sins can kill us much the same way as a person who cannot bench press 500 pounds could sufficate under the weight of the barbells. He said that Christ will come close to you when you are struggling under the weight, if you refuse his help, he will step back for we have free will to choose. But if we keep struggling and start suffocating, and call for His help, he will come forward and lift the weight of sin off of you. That he is capable of doing it with one hand tied behind his back.
Net result of the analogy is that five guys (burly ones at that) got saved on Tuesday Bible study! It always amazes me how our pastor is led by the Holy Spirit to use the exact words that will reach the hearts of those who need help. And it is wonderful to hear the salvation message, never can hear it enough.
He also pointed out that he can take no credit for anything that he does as a pastor because it is only through the grace of God that he is a pastor. He grew up in a Baptist home with a father who was a pastor, so he had biblical upbringing, and turned his back on this for years and years, a professional musician, drugs, etc. and then he talked about how satan tried to tell him that he had squandered his life away, and would be of no use to God. But fortunately, our pastor chose to listen to the Holy Spirit and God, and became a pastor. He is mightily used by God.
Another analogy he used was a person struggling with an addiction, and trying to find one that no one in our church had, he came up with scratching addiction (turns out someone in the congregation was cured of that). He pointed out that when we get saved, our flesh can lag behind our spirit which is new. That we have to take our mind, emotions, and will and link them to the spirit. It is a deliberate choice on our part. As a new believer, and even him and us at times, sometimes chooses to listen to the accuser and act on that. And then there is a need to repent and again choose to link to the Spirit. With scratching addiction, he pointed out that your flesh will try to tell you it is a good thing, feels good, relieves stress, etc. Your spirit will tell you that you can be healed of this. And he was going back and forth on the altar, sort of like having an angel on one shoulder and a devil on the other, and the dialogue with the self. Once the person has enough of listening to the devil, then turns to the Spirit and asks for help, the Spirit will say let’s link your faith to the Spirit and the Grace of God will give you the power to overcome this scratching addiction. He says that at times you may have to make this choice a few times, if you backslide, but over time the spirit will become stronger than satan. That we must work at feeding the Spirit with the Word of God and the spoken Word of God.
I am writing this from memory, so if I got an analogy wrong, forgive me, and please feel free to correct an error. Any error is mine, not my pastor’s.
Heather
Tonight is another Bible study. I have been going over old Bible Study notes to look for things that will help me research what my pastor asked me to work on. I came across this gem of a study (a sort of oldie but goodie).
Matthew 16: 13-19 The Keys of the Kingdom.
This is where Peter recognizes Christ as Messiah and Jesus tells him that upon this rock I will establish my church. And says that he will give Peter the Keys of the kingdom.
Now Keys unleash power so with receiving keys comes responsibility. Peter showed he was responsible when He recognized Christ for who he was, the Messiah.
Our pastor pointed out that we all have spiritual key rings with keys that we can use, although often we do not use them. He gave a list of five keys. I am curious if you can come up with other keys because this is by no means an exhaustive list. It would be cool to discover others.
1. NAME OF JESUS – John 16, ask in Jesus’ name and receive, that your joy may be full. We unlock and unleash God’s power in prayer. Act 3 – Peter says silver and gold I have not, but such as I have, I will give to you, In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up. Our pastor pointed out that Jesus probably walked past this same crippled man, and Peter probably passed him often going to and from the temple, but at this particular moment it was the right time to release the name of Jesus. Often we say at the end of prayer, “In the Name of Jesus,” but it is said sort of unthinkingly. That when it is the right time, right place, then the name of Jesus has the power to free.
2. WORD OF FAITH – Romans 10, the word is nigh, even in the mouth and heart. Heb. 11:1 Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. The word of faith for creation. Many live in negativity, depression, despair,. How do we get the word of faith, from hearing. Heb 4:12 the written word of God is the sword, we must speak the word of God for it to work. Shouting releases power, example Gideon and his battle when his troops brook the lamps and shouted, confusing the enemy. The enemy does not like to hear the word of faith, it leads the enemy into confusion.
3. BLOOD OF THE LAMB- Revelation 12:10-11, talks about satan, the accuser of the brethren, accusing us day and night, and Rev. 12:11 satan is overcome by the blood of the Lamb. Leviticus 8 talks about the high priest going into the Holy of Holies, before going in he had to put blood of the sacrificial lamb on his right thumb, right ear, and right big toe. so that he was cleansed of what he did (thumb) heard (ear) and the places he walked (big toe). We have to remember to plead the blood of the lamb on our situation. Many Christians fall short, repenting of their sins, and being sorry, but not letting the blood of the lamb cleanse them.
4. PRAYING IN TONGUES OR PRAYING IN THE SPIRIT- I know this one is a bit controversial to some. Our church does pray in tongues, based on the following scriptures, I Cor 12, 14, Acts 2, 4, 8, 9, 10, 19. Paul stated that he prayed in tongues more than all. In our private prayer life tongues can be edifying, but in church they must be done in order. Please do not turn this post into a debate about tongues. Many very spiritual people do not pray in tongues and work very effectively in the Kingdom, some do. I think that it has to be done in order, not disruptively. If this is not a key for you, ignore it. When we pray in the Holy Spirit, the Spirit knows what to pray when we are confused, hurting and don’t know how to pray. Praying in the Spirit is able to release so much bondage.
5. PRAYING WITH FASTING – The demons that Jesus said needed to be cast out with prayer and fasting. Fasting can focus our energy towards God and things spiritual. As with any tool it can be overused or used wrongly. But if the focus is to be ready spritually and worship God fasting is a powerful key.
Now to be perfectly honest with you, I fall very short on using these keys. I am familiar with them, and often find myself in the midst of a crisis and forget that I have these keys dangling from my belt. I pray that as time goes on I wield them a lot more than I do. Hope this is helpful, and I would love to learn of any other spiritual keys you know of.
Heather
Well the kids have a day off from school. We have had fun, as we have received about 6 inches of snow. It has stopped but they are speculating about possible 2 hour delays tomorrow. My oldest son, 16 did get his learner’s permit, so now he is finding renewed interest in accompanying my husband and me on trips to stores, just for the possibility that he will be allowed to drive. Kind of fun, and a good way to get some talking in.
Pink eye has finally seemed to stop. My daughter graciously shared it with me, but now we are both recovered, but I have two more days of eyedrops.
Currently reading: abba’s child by Brennan Manning
This book really impacts me. He has a chapter entitled “The Imposter” which covers the false fronts we tend to put on to impress others. Those who have been abused tend to put on more false fronts than others.
On Page 34 he says, “Living out of the false self creates a compulsive desire to present a perfect image to the public so that everybody will admire us and nobody will now us. The impostor’s life becomes a perpetual roller-coaster ride of elation and depression.”
I think that a bit of the above applies to me. I am constantly trying to people please, to make people like me. If I feel that I have offended anyone I tend to get very upset, to try and figure out where I went wrong. It is tough.
Since coming to Christ, I have ceased to be as much of an impostor. In fact, I have tried my hardest to be as honest as possible, not pretending a religiousity that is not there, sharing openly the doubts and fears, the anger and hurt. Trying to not lie to God, who I don’t think you can lie to in the first place.
But there is a part of me that feels like I am on the outside looking in, a part that still feels that nothing I can do can be right, and that maybe one day I will be kicked out of the Kingdom. I know this is not true, but the fear is there nonetheless.
Bible study on Matthew 16:13-20
3 reasons why the Church is essential.
1. Jesus takes pride in his church. He speaks in v. 18 of MY church, with a possessiveness and intimacy Hebrews 2: 11-12 he who sanctifies us, is not ashamed to call us bretheren. Jesus sees our potentiality, he sees us prophetically in what we are going to be, and positionally, robed in His righteousness. In our dealings with others we must striave to see others as Jesus sees us. It is our tendency to judge people by their actions and ourselves by our Intentions. We really need to reverse this and see the intentions in others and judge our actions more strictly.
2. Jesus prevails through his church v.18 gates of hell will not prevail against it. We used to think of our church as a fortress. But this passage implies that Jesus wants us to storm the gates of hell, to release those in bondage, kind of like Jesus’ army , he will use us.
3. Jesus protects his church v.19 binding and loosing, keys of the kingdom. Just like a husband and wife usually share the same sets of keys, each with a key ring of the house key, car key, etc. while the husband is head of the household, the wife also has the same keys of authority.
Any Christian who ignores the church is vulnerable, subject to bruises and hurts. We need the church and each other. For the Church to do well Jesus must be the priority.
The question is, “Who do we say that Jesus is?”
Have a great day,
Heather
Our sermon today was on the transfiguration on the Mount. Our pastor shared a Ben Franklin essay with us, where he was going to report on a sermon, and had in his pocket coppers, silver and some gold. At first he was not going to contribute anything, but as the sermon progressed, he decided copper, then later on silver, then later gold, then later all the contents of his pocket. Our pastor said, “I would like a copy of that sermon!”
But he pointed out that the disciples went through a process of growth too. At first, when they met Jesus and saw the first miracle, the wine at the wedding, they were willing to invest the copper. As time went on, and the tansfiguration occured, they then decided to give the silver of their lives. After the crucifixion and the resurrection, then the disciples gave their all (they were martyred, except John who also faced severe torture).
And our pastor went on to point out that we, in our spiritual walks also begin to invest more and more of ourselves, and hopefully at one point we will grow to where we can give all to God. And that is when we realize just how much we are getting in blessing by giving our all from our hearts.
Kind of cool. Here is a site that has that essay, it is about 2/3 of the way down the page:
http://www.geocities.com/fdocc/b-franklin.htm
Heather
