Persecution

[Estera]

 

We send newsletters privately to supporters, not on the internet.  But that’s not why I’m here.  I’m not here asking for anything for our organisation. I’m not advertising, or fundraising.  Sometimes it’s ok to not give details.

Matthew 6

Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 3But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

I came here primarily because I’m hurting because of what our family in Christ are enduring and  personally need somewhere to share. Not to talk about my work or the organization. I don’t have anywhere I can just talk… or say “I could use a friend over here”.  I’ve spent a long time trying to find anywhere that offers a free Christian counseling service online, so I can just have somewhere to offload a bit and feel supported.  It doesn’t exist.  

(And no I’m not trying to get money for that, I don’t care about money.  I have given up everything I had to walk this path.  I don’t even live in a house, I live in a tent, and yes I am vulnerable so please forgive me if I don’t want to give info that has even a remote possibility of being connected to me or those I’m working with.  I choose to have nothing to serve my King.  He takes care of me.  I have no need to go scamming anyone for money.  I don’t want any money.   I don’t want or need anything for myself except some kindness, a friendly ear sometimes and perhaps a bit of loving support.  Even if someone offered me money I couldn’t take it.  Who Me, you even suggested wanting to send money in your first post to me… if that’s what I was here for, don’t you think I’d have jumped on that?).

So I thought maybe a Christian forum might be a place where I can find some friends.  I guess I made a wrong assumption that a Christian forum would be a safe place without fear of being attacked. 
 

I guess I’ve learnt a painful lesson.  The only true safe place to share my heart is with my King.  I’m grateful to those of you who have defended me and been loving and welcoming to me in this thread.  Thank you. I would like to  stick around and keep trying but this experience in this thread has made me feel worse, not better… made me feel more alone than I did before. 

[Estera]

20 minutes ago, JohannPretorius said:

2Ti 3:11  persecutions, and  sufferings that happened to me in Antioch, in Iconium, and  in Lystra, what sort of persecutions I endured, and the Lord delivered me from all of them . 
2Ti 3:12  And indeed, all those who want to live in a godly manner in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. 
2Ti 3:13  But evil people and imposters will progress to the worse, deceiving and being deceived. 

1) "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus" (kai pantes de oi thelontes zen eusebos en Christo lesou) "And indeed all those willing to live piously in Christ Jesus," whose will is to live godly, Act_14:22; Mat_5:11-12.
2) "Shall suffer persecution," (diochthesontai) "Will be persecuted;" Joh_17:14. We are appointed to them, Joh_16:2; 1Co_4:9; 1Pe_2:21.

In fact, if we are not persecuted, eating sumptuously, there is a problem.

Shalom.

Yes this is an important point.  And a comforting one, when in the midst of such things.

The western church sees itself as blessed because it is not persecuted.  But perhaps it also suggests that there is a problem… just as you said.  If our King, the Son of the Most High, was persecuted and killed, why should we presume we won’t be? Is the western church really blessed, or is it a sign of something not being right?  

Matt 5:10-12

10Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. 

12Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets before you.

[kwikphilly]

16 hours ago, Dave-regenerated said:

Don't be naive either.

Blessings Brother

One thing I am not is naive and to God be the Glory,Holy Spirit Discerns,Leads,Guides & Directs....as long as we let Him we need not worry about such trivial things.

I have been bountifully Blessed and Blessed bountifully as a result and in very lean times but my Provider Gives all I ever need....all the time

I never question when Moved to Give,the recipient is accountable for what they've been Blessed with,it is not my concern- even if I know they attempt to deceive when Almighty God Tells me" Give'- it is Him they Will have to answer,not I

Now if one trusts their own judgements only,well that presents a problem- I don't & if for that I'm thought to be naive- so be it.

I cannot count the times I have wanted to reach in my pockets & the Lord Told be not to,to bring someone clothes or a meal instead and even a Bible with a Word....

I'm not given a spirit of fear but of a sound mind and courage- in Christ Jesus .I'm truly Grateful for the Wisdom imparted .Don't you know many fall from greed & the love of money& sometimes they fall to their knees as a result of their sin and Conviction.....

Many years ago someone cost me thousand upon thousands ,they fraudulently signed my deed and I was in court for 7 yrs facing homelessness - In the year of Jubilee it all came back and then some.   It's a long story but not important,what's important is that when God is for you who can stand against?

Right now times are a little tough financially but I lack nothing,a Sister in Christ right here on Worthy offered me a sizeable amount of cash - Her Obedience is all God Requested,God Knew I would not accept.... It was confirmation for both of us that we need only to Trust & Obey Him

Hope this helps some one to understand how unimportant money really is.....not really directing this at you Brother Dave but I'm sure it's for someone who might be a little too concerned with the cares of this world

Enough said - Praise Jesus!

With love in Christ, Kwik

[kwikphilly]

3 hours ago, Estera said:

Yes this is an important point.  And a comforting one, when in the midst of such things.

The western church sees itself as blessed because it is not persecuted.  But perhaps it also suggests that there is a problem… just as you said.  If our King, the Son of the Most High, was persecuted and killed, why should we presume we won’t be? Is the western church really blessed, or is it a sign of something not being right?  

Matt 5:10-12

10Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. 

12Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets before you.

Blessings Beloved

Please,try not to become caught up in divisive thinking..... I'm from the West,"western church'- is that even such a thing or are we One Body,the Church?

I can understand that it might be easy for someone who lives in an impoverished country or militant ,3rd world or from a place where Christians are tortored and brutally persecuted to think Americans or whomever else is without sympathy,understanding or compassion....and perhaps weve not experienced such living conditions and perils but that does not make us separate from the other members of our same body who suffer.This is why many from the West leave their own homes to go and help or do whatever they can do.

Not everyone in the West thinks " we" are Blessed because we are not persecuted in the same way that others are for Christs Sake..... I could go on about American History but it's senseless because what this Country was founded on is falling to the wayside- one Nation UNDER God ???

Sister,the rain falls on the just & the unjust,we all live in a corrupted ,fallen world - God is Vindicator.The True Church is not Divided - we would lay down our lives for Christ Sake if & when given the " opportunity"..... My heart aches for my Brothers & Sisters who experience atrocities such as you witness and we are here for you.....with the Love of Christ

Your Sister,Kwik

 

.

[Estera]

13 minutes ago, kwikphilly said:

Blessings Beloved

Please,try not to become caught up in divisive thinking..... I'm from the West,"western church'- is that even such a thing or are we One Body,the Church?

I can understand that it might be easy for someone who lives in an impoverished country or militant ,3rd world or from a place where Christians are tortored and brutally persecuted to think Americans or whomever else is without sympathy,understanding or compassion....and perhaps weve not experienced such living conditions and perils but that does not make us separate from the other members of our same body who suffer.This is why many from the West leave their own homes to go and help or do whatever they can do.

Not everyone in the West thinks " we" are Blessed because we are not persecuted in the same way that others are for Christs Sake..... I could go on about American History but it's senseless because what this Country was founded on is falling to the wayside- one Nation UNDER God ???

Sister,the rain falls on the just & the unjust,we all live in a corrupted ,fallen world - God is Vindicator.The True Church is not Divided - we would lay down our lives for Christ Sake if & when given the " opportunity"..... My heart aches for my Brothers & Sisters who experience atrocities such as you witness and we are here for you.....with the Love of Christ

Your Sister,Kwik

 

.

Yes, you are right sister, I’m sorry for generalizing like that.  Yes, we should all be one body, and there are people from over there who leave everything behind to go and serve. 

I guess I was expressing how it feels and what I frequently hear. 

I long for us all to be united as one body.  Sometimes the disconnects between us make that challenging to achieve.  How can we become more united and more aware of the other parts of the body?  
 

I guess also, I was trying to express (badly) the idea that there’s a huge disconnect that seems to exist.  We all need each other… wherever we are from or wherever we are living. 

[kwikphilly]

12 minutes ago, Estera said:

Yes, you are right sister, I’m sorry for generalizing like that.  Yes, we should all be one body, and there are people from over there who leave everything behind to go and serve. 

I guess I was expressing how it feels and what I frequently hear. 

I long for us all to be united as one body.  Sometimes the disconnects between us make that challenging to achieve.  How can we become more united and more aware of the other parts of the body?  
 

I guess also, I was trying to express (badly) the idea that there’s a huge disconnect that seems to exist.  We all need each other… wherever we are from or wherever we are living. 

Blessings Dear Sister

I don't exactly have the answers but we can start right here just as we are,being aware of the enemy always trying to divide & we just have to take captive our " thought" ,subjecting them to the obedience of Christ---- and we will be in One Accord,One Head!!!!

We can only begin to make it better with ourselves! A big part of staying unified requires exactly what we are doing,talking & desiring to understand each other.... And always putting away " pride".

God is no respectorr of persons & so we ought not to think ourselves any higher( or better ) than anyone else.I Know I am His Beloved daughter & you are too-no matter where we live,no matter what environment we are in right now either ( rich,poor,safe or perilous)

I can only imagine what you must feel and that you must also feel very alone at times,telling you" the Lord is with you" is something you already know - that's not what you need from me,you need " me" just as I need you..... I'm here to listen,I'm here to encourage what you need be encouraged and to pray with you and for you .... I'm just here to love you Sister.

That's a start,we can show others WHO we are in Christ..... Just my little 2 cents,lol. 

Yes Sister,there is a huge disconnect,maybe we just need to lead by example

With love in Christ,🙏❤️😘Kwik

[NCAP]

5 hours ago, JohannPretorius said:

She is not asking for money @Starise

WE know that in a way. But it was whome that brought up the issue of money, not Starise. And Estera said "I appreciate that", whatever that refers to.

 

[Estera]

51 minutes ago, NCAP said:

WE know that in a way. But it was whome that brought up the issue of money, not Starise. And Estera said "I appreciate that", whatever that refers to.

 

I appreciated the sentiment and what I thought was care.  But I very clearly said thanks but no thanks by that post. 
 

Im sorry to have unwittingly made an issue by posting here.  It was never my intention.  I never expected to be judged harshly.  It’s ok…  it just shocked me that anyone would think I would be here scamming anyone.  It’s so far off my radar that it never occurred to me that sharing would prompt that kind of assumption about me.  
 

anyway.. blessings and peace to all of you.  

[NCAP]

7 minutes ago, Estera said:

I appreciated the sentiment and what I thought was care.  But I very clearly said thanks but no thanks by that post. 
 

Im sorry to have unwittingly made an issue by posting here.  It was never my intention.  I never expected to be judged harshly.  It’s ok…  it just shocked me that anyone would think I would be here scamming anyone.  It’s so far off my radar that it never occurred to me that sharing would prompt that kind of assumption about me.  
 

anyway.. blessings and peace to all of you.  

I never assumed you came here to scam anyone. That is why I said and still hold that you are coming here is in good faith.

[Estera]

2 minutes ago, NCAP said:

I never assumed you came here to scam anyone. That is why I said and still hold that you are coming here is in good faith.

Thanks NCAP, I appreciate that. Blessings