Christianity Oasis Forum

[deetu]

I'm sorry, I know this is serious but I just wanted to share this.

When you said you tried discussing your new beliefs to your mother reminded me of when I tried to explain to my father how when Jesus died, the curtain was torn and we could receive the Holy Spirit.... he was staring at me like a deer staring at headlights. Honestly, picture a deer with headlights... that's my dad.

I have to tell you though, you are at a point where you should concentrate on yourself. Trying to change them too will only frustrate and hold you back. Once you are strong in your place in the Lord, then it will be easier because you will know to not listen to the enemy's lies.
I like to explain it to people like this. Remember the old cartoons where the devil is on one shoulder and angel on the other? It really can be like that where you hear and know the truth while the devil is trying to whisper in the lies. Don't listen to those lies.

[Mackenaw]

Hello Smalltowngirl

God bless you this day.

On the matter of forgiveness and your parents: all the responses were awesome. Amen, Amen and Amen.

I just wanted to add a couple things. You are a grown woman. We are to show our parents respect even though we are grown. The respect is not as some think of the word respect -- it doesn't mean we have to ask their permission or advice for the things we do, it means we respect that they are also God's creation and He chose them to parent us.

In the book of Timothy it says this:
I Timothy 5:1-2 (1) Rebuke not an elder, but entreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren; (2) The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity.

I have meditated on these scriptures a lot, because I'm a 55 year old woman and my parents moved in with my husband and I 6 years ago. It has been a real learning experience to say the least. Ok, so it says we aren't to correct them. Why would God tells us that? Because He knew we would be so tempted by the enemy of our souls, and the enemy of their souls, to do so. Look around this world, respect is missing everywhere, and mostly because of the butting of one's pride against another's pride.

Paul was writing to Timothy, who was being trained as an Apostle. Timothy was younger, so you can be sure there were going to be many occasions where older people were going to test him.

Well, same with you, Smalltowngirl. And believe me, you will be tested. But, smile within your heart knowing that God knows your heart and faith and reliance on His Word when you choose to hold tight to His Word, when you are put to the test and stand silent before your parents' disapproving sighs and comments. Ask Him to heal the stings.

I do want to address another element of this too. You are a grown woman. You may want to examine closely to see if there is a pattern -- a routine -- you've adopted when you choose to do something that is not the wisest. I do not know if this is the case with you or not. I have seen it in others. Do you feel like you need to be punished, therefore you tell your parents, so they will punish you? And then you turn it so then they are the bad guy, giving you some wiggle room, or a feeling of being off the hook -- so to speak? Jesus is our intercessor. Jesus is the blessed bridge that allows us to approach Almighty God. We need not confess every error we make to anyone else -- only to The Lord. His forgiveness is key.

By our acceptance of Christ Jesus as Saviour, we have the indwelling of The Holy Spirit of God. He is changing us from the inside out. His consuming fire within us is burning off the dross (sin) and the waywardness of our carnal mind, and purifying us to be more like our Saviour Jesus. He truly knows our heart and He knows which wayward things to correct and change within us -- even our "natural" desire to be approved of man -- which includes our earthly parents.

Pray for your parents.

I'm praying for you, Smalltowngirl. You are doing great with the steps. Continue on the path, and make way for the seeds of Truth to be planted deep within your heart. He loves you.

God bless you.
Love,
Sister Mack

[Christianity Oasis]

There it is ... The SPIRIT of TRUTH

Now ... Can we hear and adhere to it?

THAT is the tricky part.

We are such WEIRD creatures aint we?

So lil is asked of us to be at peace and yet it seems like too much to ask at times.


Our call tho ...

Luv all of ya

[Lani]

*Wave* Hey STG,

Glad to see you took another step forward...one step closer to healing girl. Awesome!!!!

Forgiveness will come, and doesn't mean forgetting; it simply means releasing the hurt associated with whatever pain they caused so that you are able to move on toward the healing you deserve.

Keep taking the steps sister, we are all here for you!!!

Luv Ya!!!

Lani