markdohle Posted August 19, 2016 Group: Senior Member Followers: 11 Topic Count: 77 Topics Per Day: 0.03 Content Count: 641 Content Per Day: 0.22 Reputation: 328 Days Won: 0 Joined: 06/16/2016 Status: Offline Share Posted August 19, 2016 (edited) The meeting of a wise gentle man I had a doctor’s appointment yesterday. As I was sitting in the office reading, a man walked in, I guess he was a little younger than me, but in his 60’s. He seemed weary and brought in with him a cup of coffee. After a while we started talking to pass the time, for the Doctor was running late. He was a man who for the past ten years has had many serious, chronic, medical conditions that he has had to endure. Yet as he continued speaking he brought up his faith. He spoke in simple terms about how he has never lost trust in God even in the worst of times. As he talked he brought up ‘trust’ and how it is never too late to begin again, even after a life that has been wasted on activities that have been self destructive. He spoke with such gentle compassion that I felt in some way he was revealing some of his past to me. Yet in all the time he did not feel the need to quote scripture. He just talked about his personal experience of the love and mercy of God. I found it very powerful and when I got up to go to the back office, I shook his hand and told him that he has given me quite a bit to meditate over. He seemed surprised, for I suppose he was not telling me anything new, since for him that was the world he lived in. In such a quite gentle way he touched me at such a depth that I will never forget him. The way to touch another heart is to be gentle, loving and respectful. This man was all that, though I doubt he was conscious of the fact. Perhaps it was because of that childlike unconsciousness that allowed me to listen so freely and openly. My only regret is that we did not have more time to share. However, I think I needed to be ministered to by him. People don’t understand the power of their personal experiences when spoken in simply loving language. We each have a way with words, just as this beautiful soul did…he showed me how to embrace my own life on a deeper level and taught me the power of gentle speech. In all of my years, when someone talks to me about their faith, when they start coming from "I am Infallible in my own private interpretation of scripture" and then starts preaching or talking down, he or she has little or any impact on me. Scripture can be used to back up pretty much any position. I think it has got to the point that everything is really an opinion. So many disagreements and each feels that the Holy Spirit is enlightening them. Edited August 19, 2016 by markdohle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markdohle Posted August 20, 2016 Group: Senior Member Followers: 11 Topic Count: 77 Topics Per Day: 0.03 Content Count: 641 Content Per Day: 0.22 Reputation: 328 Days Won: 0 Joined: 06/16/2016 Status: Offline Author Share Posted August 20, 2016 I pray for the "Mind of Christ", the flesh can manifest in many ways. Peace Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wayne222 Posted August 21, 2016 Group: Worthy Ministers Followers: 32 Topic Count: 476 Topics Per Day: 0.17 Content Count: 6,559 Content Per Day: 2.28 Reputation: 7,638 Days Won: 9 Joined: 06/12/2016 Status: Offline Share Posted August 21, 2016 We can lose sight of having the mind of Christ who through he was rich he became poor for us. We need to become poor in the same way so we can serve and uplift others. God loves them and knows them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markdohle Posted August 21, 2016 Group: Senior Member Followers: 11 Topic Count: 77 Topics Per Day: 0.03 Content Count: 641 Content Per Day: 0.22 Reputation: 328 Days Won: 0 Joined: 06/16/2016 Status: Offline Author Share Posted August 21, 2016 8 hours ago, Wayne222 said: We can lose sight of having the mind of Christ who through he was rich he became poor for us. We need to become poor in the same way so we can serve and uplift others. God loves them and knows them. Well said. Peace Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Teditis Posted August 21, 2016 Share Posted August 21, 2016 Yes! Loved it. Many Christians today have lost sight of simple, direct speaking about one's own life and love of God. They want to show others their knowledge of Scripture but do so in a way that shows that Scripture has not made much of an impact on their lives. I prefer to listen to a persons stories and struggles/victories through life than a litany of Holy Writ. It shows how we have a personal God that tends to us as loved individuals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Behold Posted August 21, 2016 Group: Mars Hill Followers: 7 Topic Count: 87 Topics Per Day: 0.03 Content Count: 3,795 Content Per Day: 1.34 Reputation: 6 Days Won: 3 Joined: 07/30/2016 Status: Offline Share Posted August 21, 2016 On 8/19/2016 at 7:56 AM, markdohle said: The meeting of a wise gentle man The way to touch another heart is to be gentle, loving and respectful. This is "witnessing".......which not the same as preaching or teaching. When we witness we share God's love. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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