Your ideas are pretty much aligned with my own I am happy to say as I was disturbed by the response to my quest that I received form the representative of the Pope.
Maybe I am not so far adrift in my thinking after all.
I am not really sure of your question to me, but I think you are seeking knowledge about heaven and what it will be like for us believers. I am glad that you have the hope of heaven in you and so it awaits you and I when we die.
The Scriptures does not describe our heavenly existence in much detail, probably for good reason on God's part.
But Jesus said that He was going to prepare a place for us in John 14:2. He says that in our resurrection, our bodies will be reunited with our souls and spirit, but in a glorified way whereby our we will be immortal and incorruptible. So sin will no longer be found in us and we will live forever with God ( 1 Corinthians 15:35-58; 1 Thessalonians 4:17)
In heaven we will be completely satisfied with God has in store for us there. Our existence will be glorious, wanting for no good thing. We will not be solitary or alone, but have eternal fellowship with other believers and with God in Jesus Christ. We will see Jesus, and thus, since the Father and the Spirit dwell in Him, we will see God and worship Him in Spirit and in Truth.
GiGi this is a second reply and addresses a different subject entirely - this concerns the concept og heaven and eternal life. We I try to get my head around this my mind boggles and my thoughts become more and more confused. I have reached out through the internet toward the offices of the leaders of the Church of England and to the Pope and the responses I have receive have been decidedly undefective and not in the least helpful.
Until I receive a rather airy fairy response from someone in the Roman Catholic Church I had a partially formed (but still very confused) image of something a kind to Old Testament drawings of GOD in his heaven surrounded by all the souls of mankind and I mean all the countless billions. In some way I would join this host and there I would again be united with all of the people that I loved on this earth and in some other unclear manner we would continue to "live" in total harmony with all every other sole in heaven in a wonderous existence of no stress and no pain, total equality under the blessing of OUR FATHER WHICH IS IN HEAVEN and this in my mind would be represented on absolutely heavenly existence that would be infinite. It is because of this and my hope that GOD will forgive me my sins that I do not fear what happens after I die.
I have been received some great guidance from people since I started using this app to read the bible after very many years of not even thinking about the bible in my life.
I am now intrigued as to how you would classify yourselves in terms of a denomination, as in roman catholic, Protestant, Methodist, Baptist etc,?
Chris thank you taking the time to provide such a long and profound explanation. I had not considered faith as being the prime subject but with that in focus it all makes sense.
Hi Roy. I assume the passage you refer to is Matthew 6:25-34. I don't believe that the subject here is specifically on prayer, though that is certainly a part of it. In my understanding, the subject is rather on 'faith'. The examples that Jesus uses are that of the birds & the lilies, which are cared for & adorned by God, so that they can have no concern about the future.
In like manner, even though our physiology, our needs, & our responsibilities in this life are far more involved & advanced than birds & plants, the same principle should be applied: the principle of leaving our matters, of which we have no control, to God, the One Who has all things responsive to His Command. This is not to say that we sit by idly & await for blessings & provisions to fall to us - that won't happen, but that we work with our hands, see to the needs of the family & others, & if the Lord Will, to "establish the work of our hands upon us" ( Psalm 90:17): i.e. that God would fulfil our plans we make in accordance with His Will.
When work is going on well & a regular salary is coming in with debts being paid off, there seems no need to have faith, in light of the Matthew passage. Yet we understand that faith is expressed continually towards God, for the required health & strength to perform our work, for safety, for understanding, & for wisdom in correct apportioning of our resources. And for those with very little resources, or even none, God will reward their faith in Him, by providing their necessities in the right way at the right time. This Truth has been proven by many over the years, whether by those struggling in society, on the mission field, or being left destitute because of thieves or job loss. And here is the conflict: when such evil befalls us & we're at our lowest ebb, would we still "seek the kingdom of God & his righteousness" first? Ordinarily, No. But with the Spirit's Help, we can rise up above the misery & still demonstrate unflinching faith in a faithful God.
Reference to Mathew 28 to 34 - puzzling? what was the original intent her, if read literally Mathew is reporting JESUS to be telling the Jews that there is no need for them to do anything other than pray - surely not?
Then again how do we fit this into life two thousand years later?
It should have for believers, but with all things involving people change was difficult and many Jews had difficulty leaving it behind. Social pressures, rejection by families and being put out of the synagogues brought challenges and the temptation to go along to get along. That is why the book of Hebrews was written. The author was trying to prevent Jewish believers from turning back to the sacrificial system and showing them Jesus was superior in every way to that system.
Here is my attempt to summarize Hebrews:
Jesus superior to the prophets: Hebrews 1:1-3
Jesus superior to angels: Hebrews 1:4-14, Hebrews 2:1-8
Jesus able to represent humanity: Hebrews 2:9-18
Jesus superior to Moses: Hebrews 3:1-6
Warnings about hardening our hearts to God's calling: 3:7-19
Warnings about missing God's rest provided by faith in Jesus: 4:1-13
Jesus provides bold access as our high priest: 4:14-16, Jesus meets high priest requirements: Hebrews 5:1-10
Warning about being dull of hearing and unprepared for a deeper teaching: Hebrews 5:11-14, 6:1-8
Encouragement to believe that they are ready for deeper teaching: Hebrews 6:9-12
Teaching about the importance of God giving His oath to Christ He would be a priest forever: Hebrews 6:13-20
Teaching the superiority of the order of Melchisedek that Christ belongs to over the Levitical priesthood order: Hebrews 7:1-28
Christ's priesthood serves the heavenly reality that the law only was an earthly copy of: Hebrews 8:1-5
The superiority of the New Covenant over the Old: Hebrews 8:6-13,
The superiority of Christ's complete sevice over the incomplete Levitical service: Hebrews 9:1-28
The superiority of Christ's sacrifice: Hebrews 10:1-22
Warnings about drawing back: Hebrews 10:23-39
Importance of and examples of faith: Hebrews 11:1-40
Exhortation to submit to chastisement: Hebrews 12:1-29
Exhortation to practically live out their Christian faith and benediction: Hebrews 13:1-25
Hi Delores Keeping it simple if genuinely born again i.e. saved meaning confessed[ Romans 10:9+10 and believed i your heart] we will see you upstairs so to speak.
Thank you Brother Carleton, now I understand what you are asking or saying.
Where do we as bearers of light start. We can not TRULY start anywhere until we ourselves know TRUTH.
Matthew 23:15 Woe unto you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him two fold more the child of hell than yourselves.
Mark 8:15 And he charged them saying, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and the leaven of Herod.
Galatians 5:9 A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.
Our churches send out men that have no spiritual knowledge and make converts like themselves, converts with no spiritual knowledge.
We as light bearers are to start with those God places in our path. If someone ask you for money give it to them, with no expectations. If they are hunger fed them, with no expectations, if they steal you coat give them also your cloak, with no expectations, if they physically abuse you lift not your hand, if they verbally abuse you lift not your voice.
People see more than they hear.
Doing these things on a day to day basis will cause them to ASK concerning your actions, now you can plant a SEED, and that may be all you ever do, but God will CAUSE that seed to be watered by someone else.
Ephesians 1:10 That in the dispensation of the FULNESS OF TIMES (more than the lifespan we live) he might gather together IN ONE all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth, IN HIM.
My two grandmothers were exact opposites of each other, one PREACHED heaven and hell to me on a daily basis, the other never said a word but live a visible life of Christ, guess who impacted my life the most.
Brother Earl, The thought that I wish to convey since we know that the Bread of Life which came from Heaven, can we as commanded teachers of the Gospel say to the hungry go and be fed (fulfilled) or should the teacher help turn the hungry to the ingredients by the needed recipe to be fed?
For the thought of an example lets say the hungry in a particular case may be a 14 year old boy in Haiti. What ingredients of the recipe might we supply to this youth or would we just say Jesus is the Bread of Life, You must know Him and go our own way?
What is the order in earth for the one who knows Jesus Christ to teach?
There is no way in the order of this earth meaning my flesh for me to end up with a finished product without preparation and following the instructions and the sweat of the brow.
Brother Carleton, I'm not quite understanding. We can not teach from heaven as we are out of order, we teach in earth where our daily walk remains in order.
You are correct God's word is the recipe, and all the ingredients are there, but the finished product want come until we leave this flesh.
We eat the bread and drink the water every day.
Are you saying there is no way of knowing what will take place when we leave this body of flesh.
I BELIEVE we can know and God wants us to know and has revealed it in his WORD.
Brother Earl, God bless our conversation. You would agree that God has provided a recipe to know Him. The finished knowledge of the recipe will not be fully known until the work of the recipe is completed in the order of the instructions and ingredients provided. Jesus says he is the Bread of Life, we can be ingredients to His work but our order is important. To teach the Gospel for fullness of Truth it cannot be taught just know the Bread of Life, while it is true, it is not in order. I know you make liberty for this order to come to pass and all will be well. It might not work that way. An important ingredient may be left aside or some other mode of preparation. By revelation we may see past the mixing bowl, usually it is for our own saving grace so that we ourselves remain in order, so that as you describe, we will know the fullness of Christ in due time. We cannot teach from heaven as we are out of order, we teach in earth where our daily walk remains in order.
Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?
Brother Earl, If today, a lamb rests by the still water from it's labors (burdens) is it not in the chosen fast? What would hinder this continuing fast of Jesus's little lambs?
Ask God to help you make a comprehensive list of your sins.
Confess every sin that the Holy Spirit calls to your remembrance and accept God's forgiveness ( 1 John 1:9).
Seek forgiveness from all whom you have offended, and forgive all who have hurt you ( Mark 11:25; Luke 11:4; 17:3,4).
Make restitution as the Holy Spirit leads you.
Ask God to fill you with His Holy Spirit according to His command in Ephesians 5:18 and His promise in 1 John 5:14,15.
Surrender your life fully to Jesus Christ as your Lord and Master; refuse to obey your worldly nature ( Romans 12:1,2).
Meditate on the attributes of God, His love, sovereignty, power, wisdom, faithfulness, grace, compassion, and others ( Psalm 48:9,10; 103:1-8, 11-13).
Begin your time of fasting and prayer with an expectant heart ( Hebrews 11:6).
Do not underestimate spiritual opposition. Satan sometimes intensifies the natural battle between body and spirit ( Galatians 5:16,17).
If you're married with kids, you'll still need to care for them. Attend to your duties, then excuse yourself back to your "closet".
I fast from food and ALL MEDIA. The idea is fast from food, AND feast on the Word of God. Ask the Holy Spirit to shield you from interruptions, like phone calls, people who drop in unannounced or uninvited.
Have on hand, bouillon, fruit juice, lots of water. Jesus hungered after his fast. (he drank water.)
If you are diabetic or on serious meds, check your blood sugar if you feel bad. Dehydration will stop a fast.
Read the Gospels. Spend time in praise and worship. You can do this at work with headphones on. Whatever you do; no long faces. Bathe and dress normal.
Write Eph. 6 on a piece of paper and keep it before you. Don't tell anyone you're on fast. Just your husband. Satan will try to make you mad, feel unspiritual. Jesus used SCRIPTURE to counter attack satans attacks.
It's good to read aloud. We have gates: ears, eyes, mouth, a heart of joy. The Word goes in through all gates.
Isaiah 58:1-14, Daniel 1:5-20, Daniel 10:2-4, Matthew 6:16-18, Matthew 4:1-2, Exodus 34:28, Judges 13:1-5,7,14,
I hope these scriptures give you some insight on a few perspectives, examples related.
I have heard many fast by not eating meat or sweets, mostly vegetables. Some turn off T.V., radio or other habits. Some have done all liquid only, such as broths, juices etc. Most people won't recommend a total fast, but some will do a 3 day no food or liquid fast.
I personally recommend you seek GOD fully before you do any fast. If you feel led by the HOLY SPIRIT to fast HE will help you. It is a very personal thing & if you don't feel personally led, I recommend you wait. Matthew 23:1-4,
There are moments to humble yourself, seek GOD's face in a powerful way, to teach yourself submission, break stronghold habits, difficult choices, impossible situations, etc. Trust the LORD to lead you, sustain you & keep you.
More scriptures to consider. Matthew 17:14-21, Mark 9:16-29,
What Makes Us Really Beautiful - In Reply on Matthew 6 - 2 years ago
I think Proverbs 31 is a model of a godly woman, wife and mother.
Ruth and Esther are women of God with books in the Bible for us to study.
Song of Solomon's, Shulamite woman: is a study into the bride of Christ or, the Church of Christ. I once thought it quite scandalous, but it's explained in Psalm 45:11 and Galatians 2:20
I think our understanding the strength of love, is imperfect. I will tell you a dream I had. After I was born again, people said to my face: that anyone who had been as evil as me__could not possibly be saved!! Then they laughed.
It cut me to my fragile heart and spirit.
I decided I would make Jesus despise me. When Jesus love knocked on my door I would slam the door shut and the pain of self-hate grew huge.
In the Dream, I saw Jesus laying stretched out on the Cross. He looked in my eyes with all the love within Him. I got angry! How dare He love The Unlovable?! I saw rocks. I picked one up and hit the nail in his hand. I felt sure I could make him sorry he had ever met me.
But he looked in my eyes and said, I LOVE YOU. I hit him again and again, and each time He said he loved me. Something inside of me broke open. I dropped the rock and lay on his chest and wept. His arms held me close. Then I woke up.
When I read Song of Solomon later: 2:19, 6:3, 7:10, 8:7; I knew I was loved. I forgave all those who cursed me. I learned how to give love to those who were like me. It's not carnal.
Only God can heal a human heart; and cause it to beat for others who have not heard Jesus say, I Love You.
The ability to love without judging, speaking curses or rationing is valuable. Love like Jesus.
Maybe I am not so far adrift in my thinking after all.
Best regards
Roy
I am not really sure of your question to me, but I think you are seeking knowledge about heaven and what it will be like for us believers. I am glad that you have the hope of heaven in you and so it awaits you and I when we die.
The Scriptures does not describe our heavenly existence in much detail, probably for good reason on God's part.
But Jesus said that He was going to prepare a place for us in John 14:2. He says that in our resurrection, our bodies will be reunited with our souls and spirit, but in a glorified way whereby our we will be immortal and incorruptible. So sin will no longer be found in us and we will live forever with God ( 1 Corinthians 15:35-58; 1 Thessalonians 4:17)
In heaven we will be completely satisfied with God has in store for us there. Our existence will be glorious, wanting for no good thing. We will not be solitary or alone, but have eternal fellowship with other believers and with God in Jesus Christ. We will see Jesus, and thus, since the Father and the Spirit dwell in Him, we will see God and worship Him in Spirit and in Truth.
Until I receive a rather airy fairy response from someone in the Roman Catholic Church I had a partially formed (but still very confused) image of something a kind to Old Testament drawings of GOD in his heaven surrounded by all the souls of mankind and I mean all the countless billions. In some way I would join this host and there I would again be united with all of the people that I loved on this earth and in some other unclear manner we would continue to "live" in total harmony with all every other sole in heaven in a wonderous existence of no stress and no pain, total equality under the blessing of OUR FATHER WHICH IS IN HEAVEN and this in my mind would be represented on absolutely heavenly existence that would be infinite. It is because of this and my hope that GOD will forgive me my sins that I do not fear what happens after I die.
What is your view?
Roy
What is your view?Roy
I am glad that you are benefiting from this site so much. I am, too!
To me, it does not matter what denomination we are here. What matters on this site to me is that we study the Scriptures and
learn from it with the help of the Holy Spirit. We also learn from bible study with friends or church groups, from our pastors and
teachers in our church. We also learn from sites that explain Christian viewpoints about Scripture. So, this is one avenue for us
to learn and share Scripture, spurring one another on in faith and knowledge of Christ. We come from varying denominations.
We don't all agree on all matters, but we try to understand each other and present our views as clearly as we are able from a
biblical perspective. We also pray for one another and build one another up with encouragement and sincere concern for one
another. It is a blessing to have this venue. Past generations lacked this but still were maintained in the true faith by the Holy
Spirit, as we are.
Glad to have you among us, Roy!
I am now intrigued as to how you would classify yourselves in terms of a denomination, as in roman catholic, Protestant, Methodist, Baptist etc,?
Regards
Roy
In like manner, even though our physiology, our needs, & our responsibilities in this life are far more involved & advanced than birds & plants, the same principle should be applied: the principle of leaving our matters, of which we have no control, to God, the One Who has all things responsive to His Command. This is not to say that we sit by idly & await for blessings & provisions to fall to us - that won't happen, but that we work with our hands, see to the needs of the family & others, & if the Lord Will, to "establish the work of our hands upon us" ( Psalm 90:17): i.e. that God would fulfil our plans we make in accordance with His Will.
When work is going on well & a regular salary is coming in with debts being paid off, there seems no need to have faith, in light of the Matthew passage. Yet we understand that faith is expressed continually towards God, for the required health & strength to perform our work, for safety, for understanding, & for wisdom in correct apportioning of our resources. And for those with very little resources, or even none, God will reward their faith in Him, by providing their necessities in the right way at the right time. This Truth has been proven by many over the years, whether by those struggling in society, on the mission field, or being left destitute because of thieves or job loss. And here is the conflict: when such evil befalls us & we're at our lowest ebb, would we still "seek the kingdom of God & his righteousness" first? Ordinarily, No. But with the Spirit's Help, we can rise up above the misery & still demonstrate unflinching faith in a faithful God.
Then again how do we fit this into life two thousand years later?
Thanks for your help
Roy
Here is my attempt to summarize Hebrews:
Jesus superior to the prophets: Hebrews 1:1-3
Jesus superior to angels: Hebrews 1:4-14, Hebrews 2:1-8
Jesus able to represent humanity: Hebrews 2:9-18
Jesus superior to Moses: Hebrews 3:1-6
Warnings about hardening our hearts to God's calling: 3:7-19
Warnings about missing God's rest provided by faith in Jesus: 4:1-13
Jesus provides bold access as our high priest: 4:14-16, Jesus meets high priest requirements: Hebrews 5:1-10
Warning about being dull of hearing and unprepared for a deeper teaching: Hebrews 5:11-14, 6:1-8
Encouragement to believe that they are ready for deeper teaching: Hebrews 6:9-12
Teaching about the importance of God giving His oath to Christ He would be a priest forever: Hebrews 6:13-20
Teaching the superiority of the order of Melchisedek that Christ belongs to over the Levitical priesthood order: Hebrews 7:1-28
Christ's priesthood serves the heavenly reality that the law only was an earthly copy of: Hebrews 8:1-5
The superiority of the New Covenant over the Old: Hebrews 8:6-13,
The superiority of Christ's complete sevice over the incomplete Levitical service: Hebrews 9:1-28
The superiority of Christ's sacrifice: Hebrews 10:1-22
Warnings about drawing back: Hebrews 10:23-39
Importance of and examples of faith: Hebrews 11:1-40
Exhortation to submit to chastisement: Hebrews 12:1-29
Exhortation to practically live out their Christian faith and benediction: Hebrews 13:1-25
Jesus superior to
1 John 3:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
Where do we as bearers of light start. We can not TRULY start anywhere until we ourselves know TRUTH.
Matthew 23:15 Woe unto you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him two fold more the child of hell than yourselves.
Mark 8:15 And he charged them saying, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and the leaven of Herod.
Galatians 5:9 A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.
Our churches send out men that have no spiritual knowledge and make converts like themselves, converts with no spiritual knowledge.
We as light bearers are to start with those God places in our path. If someone ask you for money give it to them, with no expectations. If they are hunger fed them, with no expectations, if they steal you coat give them also your cloak, with no expectations, if they physically abuse you lift not your hand, if they verbally abuse you lift not your voice.
People see more than they hear.
Doing these things on a day to day basis will cause them to ASK concerning your actions, now you can plant a SEED, and that may be all you ever do, but God will CAUSE that seed to be watered by someone else.
Ephesians 1:10 That in the dispensation of the FULNESS OF TIMES (more than the lifespan we live) he might gather together IN ONE all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth, IN HIM.
My two grandmothers were exact opposites of each other, one PREACHED heaven and hell to me on a daily basis, the other never said a word but live a visible life of Christ, guess who impacted my life the most.
For the thought of an example lets say the hungry in a particular case may be a 14 year old boy in Haiti. What ingredients of the recipe might we supply to this youth or would we just say Jesus is the Bread of Life, You must know Him and go our own way?
What is the order in earth for the one who knows Jesus Christ to teach?
There is no way in the order of this earth meaning my flesh for me to end up with a finished product without preparation and following the instructions and the sweat of the brow.
In meditation...
You are correct God's word is the recipe, and all the ingredients are there, but the finished product want come until we leave this flesh.
We eat the bread and drink the water every day.
Are you saying there is no way of knowing what will take place when we leave this body of flesh.
I BELIEVE we can know and God wants us to know and has revealed it in his WORD.
Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?
Brother Earl, If today, a lamb rests by the still water from it's labors (burdens) is it not in the chosen fast? What would hinder this continuing fast of Jesus's little lambs?
Study Isaiah 58, you will find the way God wants you to fast very different from the way man says you are to fast.
Confess every sin that the Holy Spirit calls to your remembrance and accept God's forgiveness ( 1 John 1:9).
Seek forgiveness from all whom you have offended, and forgive all who have hurt you ( Mark 11:25; Luke 11:4; 17:3,4).
Make restitution as the Holy Spirit leads you.
Ask God to fill you with His Holy Spirit according to His command in Ephesians 5:18 and His promise in 1 John 5:14,15.
Surrender your life fully to Jesus Christ as your Lord and Master; refuse to obey your worldly nature ( Romans 12:1,2).
Meditate on the attributes of God, His love, sovereignty, power, wisdom, faithfulness, grace, compassion, and others ( Psalm 48:9,10; 103:1-8, 11-13).
Begin your time of fasting and prayer with an expectant heart ( Hebrews 11:6).
Do not underestimate spiritual opposition. Satan sometimes intensifies the natural battle between body and spirit ( Galatians 5:16,17).
If you're married with kids, you'll still need to care for them. Attend to your duties, then excuse yourself back to your "closet".
I fast from food and ALL MEDIA. The idea is fast from food, AND feast on the Word of God. Ask the Holy Spirit to shield you from interruptions, like phone calls, people who drop in unannounced or uninvited.
Have on hand, bouillon, fruit juice, lots of water. Jesus hungered after his fast. (he drank water.)
If you are diabetic or on serious meds, check your blood sugar if you feel bad. Dehydration will stop a fast.
Read the Gospels. Spend time in praise and worship. You can do this at work with headphones on. Whatever you do; no long faces. Bathe and dress normal.
Write Eph. 6 on a piece of paper and keep it before you. Don't tell anyone you're on fast. Just your husband. Satan will try to make you mad, feel unspiritual. Jesus used SCRIPTURE to counter attack satans attacks.
It's good to read aloud. We have gates: ears, eyes, mouth, a heart of joy. The Word goes in through all gates.
I hope these scriptures give you some insight on a few perspectives, examples related.
I have heard many fast by not eating meat or sweets, mostly vegetables. Some turn off T.V., radio or other habits. Some have done all liquid only, such as broths, juices etc. Most people won't recommend a total fast, but some will do a 3 day no food or liquid fast.
I personally recommend you seek GOD fully before you do any fast. If you feel led by the HOLY SPIRIT to fast HE will help you. It is a very personal thing & if you don't feel personally led, I recommend you wait. Matthew 23:1-4,
There are moments to humble yourself, seek GOD's face in a powerful way, to teach yourself submission, break stronghold habits, difficult choices, impossible situations, etc. Trust the LORD to lead you, sustain you & keep you.
More scriptures to consider. Matthew 17:14-21, Mark 9:16-29,
Ruth and Esther are women of God with books in the Bible for us to study.
Song of Solomon's, Shulamite woman: is a study into the bride of Christ or, the Church of Christ. I once thought it quite scandalous, but it's explained in Psalm 45:11 and Galatians 2:20
I think our understanding the strength of love, is imperfect. I will tell you a dream I had. After I was born again, people said to my face: that anyone who had been as evil as me__could not possibly be saved!! Then they laughed.
It cut me to my fragile heart and spirit.
I decided I would make Jesus despise me. When Jesus love knocked on my door I would slam the door shut and the pain of self-hate grew huge.
In the Dream, I saw Jesus laying stretched out on the Cross. He looked in my eyes with all the love within Him. I got angry! How dare He love The Unlovable?! I saw rocks. I picked one up and hit the nail in his hand. I felt sure I could make him sorry he had ever met me.
But he looked in my eyes and said, I LOVE YOU. I hit him again and again, and each time He said he loved me. Something inside of me broke open. I dropped the rock and lay on his chest and wept. His arms held me close. Then I woke up.
When I read Song of Solomon later: 2:19, 6:3, 7:10, 8:7; I knew I was loved. I forgave all those who cursed me. I learned how to give love to those who were like me. It's not carnal.
Only God can heal a human heart; and cause it to beat for others who have not heard Jesus say, I Love You.
The ability to love without judging, speaking curses or rationing is valuable. Love like Jesus.
(or maybe the HS guiding me) Philippians 2 right after and thought it very fitting. God bless
Matthew 18:2 - 18:5
And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,
And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.
Philippians 2:1-15
Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: