Vine Abider Posted April 6 Group: Worthy Ministers Followers: 6 Topic Count: 200 Topics Per Day: 0.36 Content Count: 3,443 Content Per Day: 6.21 Reputation: 2,294 Days Won: 3 Joined: 10/25/2022 Status: Offline Birthday: 04/01/2024 Share Posted April 6 A few months ago I tuned into a TBN program where they were interviewing a sister in Christ, Jackie Hill Perry, who had been immersed in the gay thing. I was really taken with what a fresh testimony of Christ she had and how the Lord had (and still was) delivering her from the power of homosexuality! She mentioned that she'd written a book, "Gay Girl, Good God," so I got a copy from Amazon. Her writing is just as fresh as her speaking. The book describes how she grew up and was lead into same-sex attraction. She was in the "gay lifestyle" and community for about two decades, before the Lord saved her. The Lord's speaking to her was very tender, but it was also clear that she was dead to the old lifestyle and was now a brand new creature in Christ. This week I read something in her book that touched me, of how she was drawn to other Christians, even though she'd always had a serious distain for them. The Lord showed her that through the new birth, she was now a member of Christ's body organically. Here's a couple pages (pp 94-95) that convey some of her realization: So, to leave that community for another one was terrifying, especially when the transition was being made into a com- munity that seemed to be everything but safe. But the group of Christians I began to know and enjoy were ones that did more for me than the gay community could've ever done. They showed me God. The community I called home for a season of my life were all full of laughter and what I'd labeled "life." But the reality was that my gay community was indeed life- less. They were what I had been, dead. They were still image- bearers, still friends, they still mattered. I still loved them, but I loved God more. They could not help me love who they did not know themselves. The difference between the gay community and the Christian community was not skill, intellect, comfort, humor, or beauty; it was that in one and not the other, God dwelled. For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone. The whole building, being put together by Him, grows into a holy sanctuary in the Lord. You also are being built together for God's dwelling in the Spirit (Ephesians 2:22). A community of people who know God cannot be con- sidered regular. What I had once thought to be a collective of mundane and ordinary Christians had now become to me the miraculous in bodily form. Every conversation could, at any moment, be a prayer answered or a burning bush over dinner. They had been made alive by the same God I'd met weeks prior, and they taught me Him better than I would've known Him in solitude. God had put us together and in doing so He had provided the means by which I could learn how to unclothe all that my prior community told me to wear proudly. Isn't that good!?! WOW --> "They showed me God"! That's just so good - to read this is such an encouragement to meet with other believers. Not only are we one Spirit with one another, but we feed each other's spirits with life and faith and give the "knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ" in one another! As the song says, "No one, no one, absolutely no one - no one is too difficult for Thee!" 1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sower Posted April 6 Group: Worthy Ministers Followers: 14 Topic Count: 32 Topics Per Day: 0.01 Content Count: 5,259 Content Per Day: 0.97 Reputation: 5,866 Days Won: 1 Joined: 07/09/2009 Status: Offline Share Posted April 6 1 hour ago, Vine Abider said: Isn't that good!?! WOW --> "They showed me God"! That's just so good - to read this is such an encouragement to meet with other believers. And a child was born. Now that's good-WOW! "They showed me God"! That's just so good Kinda want to stop a stranger, smile, and say, Want to hear some good news?............ Real Thanks, VA (whatsoever things are praise worthy) ! 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vine Abider Posted April 7 Group: Worthy Ministers Followers: 6 Topic Count: 200 Topics Per Day: 0.36 Content Count: 3,443 Content Per Day: 6.21 Reputation: 2,294 Days Won: 3 Joined: 10/25/2022 Status: Offline Birthday: 04/01/2024 Author Share Posted April 7 18 hours ago, Sower said: And a child was born. Now that's good-WOW! "They showed me God"! That's just so good Kinda want to stop a stranger, smile, and say, Want to hear some good news?............ Real Thanks, VA (whatsoever things are praise worthy) ! Reading her book is expanding my horizon some, to realize that truly no one is too difficult for Him to save to the uttermost! I've experienced His rescue from things like drugs, homelessness, worldliness, despair, etc., but homosexuality is another huge area in which the enemy is degrading mankind. It's just good knowing that anything we get ourselves into, HE IS ABLE!!! 1 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vine Abider Posted April 11 Group: Worthy Ministers Followers: 6 Topic Count: 200 Topics Per Day: 0.36 Content Count: 3,443 Content Per Day: 6.21 Reputation: 2,294 Days Won: 3 Joined: 10/25/2022 Status: Offline Birthday: 04/01/2024 Author Share Posted April 11 This morning at the weekly brothers' breakfast, I read the quote I presented in the OP and we had some discussion around that. It was interesting in that a number of others then related occurrences they had recently had. One brother was just returning from the Key Largo (Florida) area and related that the whole blatantly public gay scene was so disturbing that he and his wife had to leave the area. Another brother related how just yesterday he had a brief encounter with a "trans woman" whereby he experienced the love of God for this person and she responded well. Another brother took home the page I had copied to read aloud, to share with his wife. This is because they have a granddaughter who is desiring to go through a sex-change and her parents have cut off any contact with them because they are not "completely all in" regarding the conversion. So we had some good fellowship around this matter, as the Spirit seemed to be directing us to discuss how the gay community just needs the love of God shown to them (and not our judgement so much). After all, Jesus said the world would know us by how firmly we judge other's sin . . . NOT! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marathoner Posted April 11 Group: Royal Member Followers: 16 Topic Count: 71 Topics Per Day: 0.05 Content Count: 10,168 Content Per Day: 7.07 Reputation: 13,139 Days Won: 98 Joined: 05/24/2020 Status: Offline Share Posted April 11 28 minutes ago, Vine Abider said: This morning at the weekly brothers' breakfast, I read the quote I presented in the OP and we had some discussion around that. It was interesting in that a number of others then related occurrences they had recently had. One brother was just returning from the Key Largo (Florida) area and related that the whole blatantly public gay scene was so disturbing that he and his wife had to leave the area. Another brother related how just yesterday he had a brief encounter with a "trans woman" whereby he experienced the love of God for this person and she responded well. Another brother took home the page I had copied to read aloud, to share with his wife. This is because they have a granddaughter who is desiring to go through a sex-change and her parents have cut off any contact with them because they are not "completely all in" regarding the conversion. So we had some good fellowship around this matter, as the Spirit seemed to be directing us to discuss how the gay community just needs the love of God shown to them (and not our judgement so much). After all, Jesus said the world would know us by how firmly we judge other's sin . . . NOT! A long time ago, the Spirit impressed the following upon me: How I conduct myself and treat others is all that matters. Never lord over others, claiming superiority in any way; He specifically addressed my abhorrence for anything I perceived as "religious" or pompous. Just as I would never treat someone dressed in rags with contempt, the same holds true for the well-to-do. Hypocrisy is what the Lord despises. Some struggle with treating the poor and the homeless kindly but I found myself inclined in the opposite fashion. I struggled with treating the well-to-do kindly! I would rather find myself among the destitute than surround myself with those who need nothing. "Love your neighbor as yourself" as the Lord commands, and He never mentioned an exception to the royal law. It was a hard lesson to learn, but the Lord is a patient (and consistent) Teacher. We should refrain from persecuting anyone for any reason, regardless of who they are. How we conduct ourselves and treat others is what matters. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sower Posted April 11 Group: Worthy Ministers Followers: 14 Topic Count: 32 Topics Per Day: 0.01 Content Count: 5,259 Content Per Day: 0.97 Reputation: 5,866 Days Won: 1 Joined: 07/09/2009 Status: Offline Share Posted April 11 2 hours ago, Marathoner said: Some struggle with treating the poor and the homeless kindly but I found myself inclined in the opposite fashion. I keep folding money in the door pocket of my truck for any spirit led moving to share. I can relate to having without but nothing like the homeless are today. And, It's amazing how the door pocket keeps getting filled up. Encouraging, empathy, thinking but by God's grace go I. I tend to gravitate to the less fortunate, and not just in worldly goods. I also believe our walk, witness, is very important to get an ear. But it is the word of God that saves and not my walk. I try to let people know the gospel is GOOD NEWS, and not condemnation. I have recently been reading a book, ck it out... The author, Matt Mikalatos emphasizes the gospel is good news, and the importance of telling/sharing it. Yes, there are consequences of sin, but man o man, there is also blessedness in the believing. That is what people are looking for but don't know where. Looking for something to ease the pain. Matt brings out to try and get on their level, what's bothering them, their need, listening to them. This can bring about my stored scripture memory verse applicable to their situation. In other words, I shouldn't just start off telling them they're sinners in need of a savior. But answer their questions first and how God loves them and wants what is best for them. Understanding that repentance is simply a change in thinking, which changes actions. Knowing truth, the word, changes things. And they listen. I've found witnessing daily to delivery drivers by talking about how blessed we are beats complaining about the insane government's. Good news is always welcome. Bing Crosby..... You got to ac-cent-tchu-ate the positive E-lim-i-nate the negative And latch on to the affirmative Don't mess with Mr. In-between You got to spread joy up to the maximum Bring gloom down to the minimum And have faith, or pandemonium Liable to walk upon the scene To illustrate his last remark Jonah in the whale, Noah in the ark What did they do, just when everything looked so dark? Man, they said we better ac-cent-tchu-ate the positive E-lim-i-nate the negative And latch on to the affirmative Don't mess with Mr. In-between No, do not mess with Mister In-Between Do you hear me? Oh, listen to me children and-a you will hear About the eliminatin' of the negative And the accent on the positive And gather 'round me children if you're willin' And sit tight while I start reviewin' The attitude of doin' right (I know, kinda dumb, but I like it:) "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things" 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vine Abider Posted April 12 Group: Worthy Ministers Followers: 6 Topic Count: 200 Topics Per Day: 0.36 Content Count: 3,443 Content Per Day: 6.21 Reputation: 2,294 Days Won: 3 Joined: 10/25/2022 Status: Offline Birthday: 04/01/2024 Author Share Posted April 12 3 hours ago, Sower said: I try to let people know the gospel is GOOD NEWS, and not condemnation. That's right - GOOD NEWS!!! Not condemnation. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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