Sat, Sep 26th - 8:23PM
our mouths will tell on us
PART SEVEN Yes, my dearly beloveds, since the Lord had allowed this, I knew I was on a deep learning curb and so was this sister, who was more like an enemy than a friend, and perhaps was her own worst enemy. I knew I did not have the luxury of feeling resentful towards her for failing to reciprocate the friendship and love that I had towards her. Honoring God’s will in all matters is what counts above all, not any wrongful emotions flowing out of my flesh. With all my heart before the Lord, I stamped “FORGIVEN, PERIOD, CASE CLOSED” on this matter, without any resentment or condemnation for my sister. Our Lord had done this for me and for you and commands us to forgive one another even as we have been forgiven. Mt. 5:46For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? 47And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? 48Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. Perfect: Telios-meaning in the Greek: complete, complete (in various applications of labor, growth, mental and moral character, etc.); neuter (as noun, with G3588> (ho)) completeness :- of full age, man, perfect.—Strong's Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary Dear saints, I felt such thankfulness and gratitude towards our Lord, as He reminded me of how at the beginning of my salvation in Him , being found as a rough stone myself, He had dropped me into the midst of His saints, who did not distain, but LONG SUFFERED ME and had mercy on my roughness, and instead loved me and taught me, and greatly aided my growth by the grace of God. I finally “GOT IT” I truly realized how great a blessing this sister was and is in my life. By the grace of God, He had given me the understanding of how He would allow me to be a blessing in this sisters life also. Through His love and power, He is more than able to help me and you to greet with EQUAL JOY, both rough and seasoned saints!!! We know dearly beloveds, maturation is an ongoing process until the day of our Lord’s return, He is both the author and finisher of our faith in Him, Lord Jesus. I thank my God and yours for all the saints, no matter what their state of growth, each and every one is to be loved, and cherished greatly and equally, without partiality, for God is no respecter of persons. Prayerfully I awaited to be taught of the Lord and to co-operate with the Holy Spirit, and God willing will continue to do so as all the saints, and He began to teach me: resist resentment for it is based on the false belief that real love can be withheld. He had shown me that the love that can be withheld is not (agape) love at all. Although the person is not less valued, this kind of love is to be neither desired nor sought after. King Jesus had shown me through His love, and the love through His people over the course of my life in Him what real love truly is. A love that was not blind, but had the courage to see me and others in the light of truth, the good, bad, and ugly and yet still love, even when it was necessary to correct and discipline, in the Lord‘s timing, in the spirit of restoration. He warned that no one should dare to think that God was not perfectly able to teach, discipline and correct His children, unaided by man, or woman even though He can and does teach, discipline and correct through His word, the body of Christ or another person, as well as allowing consequences of our decisions and actions to teach us. I love my Lord as do all the saints, I did not want to fail Him by not loving my sister, and trusted Him to give me all that I needed to please Him, and do my best for my sister. I began to feel a deep sense of compassion for this sister, thanks be to God. God’s love, undeserved, but as necessary as the air we breathe flows down from Him and through His saints like a gentle rain, giving continual replenishment to the souls of His people. I had and all the saints have and will continue to drink of it freely, for it is freely given. Ro. 13:8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. Mt. 22:12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Mt 22:13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. No one can enter the kingdom, not having on the wedding garment of love (agape) through the grace of God. Herein is the very nature of salvation, that the Lord Jesus through the Holy Spirit has indwelt us, made us new creations and given only to His people the capacity to (agape) love, and display this same in our behaviors and interactions with others. We love Him, because He first loved us. This will be continued, God willing. Let us give thanks to the Vine that bares us branches, without whom we can do NOTHING, and all that we ever shall do is because of Him, by Him and through Him. Love serola
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Wed, Sep 23rd - 7:49AM
OUR MOUTHS WILL TELL ON US
PART SIX Blessed be the name of the Lord, for He alone is worthy of our worship, adoration and praise. He is altogether lovely, the Pearl of great price, Prophet, High Priest, King. He ever sits upon His throne, His grace and righteousness is indwelt with mercy. He ever liveth to make intercession for His saints. His hand rules throughout the earth. His will shall be done. There is neither foe nor power that can thwart His will. All that He saith it shall come to pass, His will shall be done in heaven and in earth. He is ever and always sovereign, He will not share His glory, nor give His praise to idols. In the mean time, dear friends of Jesus, I had invited this same sister to my home. She, in a very arrogant and harsh tone, immediately proceeded to note flaws in my home, she did not like my curtains, did not like the way the table was set, did not like the way my bed was made, and finally she went into a long diatribe about why she did not like the way I smiled, and how any sickness in my life had to do with my lack of faith, while any sickness in her life was always divinely healed. She boasted how her good health was also due to her faith. She extolled herself as a model of excellence in all these areas: her expertise in housekeeping, divine health, and never smiling,” to keep people in their place.” To all this I said nothing, but continued to treat her cordially. I ponder if some might wonder if my silence was giving her license to carry on in this way. It is true, the Lord does not want us to allow anyone to abuse us. Certainly I could have confronted her, Yet, I felt led of the Spirit to hold my peace, and my mouth and pay it no mind. I admit my beloveds, I much enjoy those abundant, seasoned mature saints that pour out God’s love from every pore and are so refreshing to be around. Even every remembrance of them is a joy to the spirit. But God for His own greater purposes had sent this sister into my life and visa versa. No Christian matures over night, growth takes time, we do not all grow at the same rate, no matter what the rate, it is God who produces it in His timing, through out our lives, until the day of His coming. Through our relationships, the waters of the Holy Spirit can smooth and shape rough stones, and also use these same rough stones to smooth and shape other stones to His will, to be of even better use. He had put a rough stone into my life, a stone that belonged to Him, and I knew I had to tread carefully, for even a stone can be broken, and this is God’s job, and not mine, although I might be a tool, I had to be a tool IN HIS HANDS, and not my own, by secretly holding a need for revenge, retribution or pay back out of hidden anger or spite at my sister.. No, God’s hand rules and not mine nor any other being. Lets stop here for now. God willing, until next time, I pray that our God will always be with your mouths and mine, that we will liberally pour out libations of love and praises out of grateful hearts, to Him who first loved us. Love serola
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Sat, Sep 12th - 7:34PM
OUR MOUTHS WILL TELL ON US
PART FIVE Bless the name of the Lord, who is our Saviour, Redeemer, Deliverer and King, who has, and who always will keep us His children by His love and power, and nothing shall by any means be able to pluck us from His hands, for He is ever faithful, holy and true. Dear brothers and sisters this is a true story as told by a man who had been an alcoholic. He said he would drink to such excess, that when he got home he would just vomit, usually in the bed he shared with his wife, she would clean it up and be solicitous of his well being. In the morning he would be unable to go to work, as he suffered hangovers, and felt too sick. Without him asking his wife would call his boss and make an excuse for his not being able to come to work that day. He would arise to recuperate from his hangover, and enjoy time off from work. One night, dear brothers and sisters, he returned home drunk, vomited in the bed as usual, waited for his wife to clean it up so he could go to bed, but she did not come. He got really angry and started to slam doors, and make a lot of noise in the kitchen banging pans, opening and shutting drawers. He often employed this technique to get her to come and see what he needed to mollify him, but still she did not respond. Finally he went into the living room to find her asleep on the couch. He awakened her and told her that there was vomit in the bed, she responded in a matter of fact way, that she did not vomit in the bed, turned over and went back soundly to sleep. He tossed a sheet on the bedroom floor and went to sleep himself. In the morning he arose to an empty house to answer the ringing telephone. It was his boss , angrily calling to find out why he was not at work. His wife had not called his employer, and now, for the first time, he was left, very anxiously trying to come up with his own excuses to his employer, to explain why he was not at work that day. He returned to the bedroom, and the bed still covered in vomit, feeling sick at the odor of it, now smelling even more foul. It was so bad, he took it all out to the garbage, he could not even consider washing it, and wondered how his wife had been able to. He now began to understand how his wife felt, and she never made excuses for him or cleaned up after him again. His tantrums of slamming doors etc. to get her to see what he wanted no longer worked. He finally saw himself and the trouble he was making for himself and his family. He went to get help and stopped drinking. He noted that his wife finally saw herself as an enabler gaining satisfaction from him needing her. She also admitted she enjoyed being in control of most things in the home, including, their finances, and him not questioning her about anything. Upon self examination, she came to her senses, and while not being responsible for his alcoholism, and not condemning herself or him, she had to correctly deal with her situation in the right way. She found work, focused on caring for her children and herself, and accepted that even though she loved him, she could not rescue him from himself, and stopped prolonging the inevitable creeping downward spiral he was on. He finally was galvanized to get help to gain recovery. After his recovery they joyfully began to amend their fractured relationship and to learn to be a married couple with the common interest in protecting and maintaining the family as a whole. Dear children, I think we can see that true helping must lovingly allow another the possibility of growth, and the benefit of learning through experience, and any direct help must promotes these things. Of course there are a multitude of God’s people who know how to help and do help many in a godly way. Let us continue next time, and I pray, God willing we will meet here again. May God our Father and the Lord Jesus keep your minds stayed on Him and in perfect peace. Love serola
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Sat, Sep 5th - 12:29PM
OUR MOUTHS WILL TELL ON US
PART FOUR Saints, I ponder that some might find it hard to believe that there are unacceptable ways of giving, and helping, but it it true. Some do give and help in the wrong way, while they might not be without care or concern for the one in need, their helping and or giving is born out of pathological need and functions to control another person‘s behavior to meet their own needs and serve their own purposes of control, or domination of another person, etc. Such persons attach themselves to some one not out of compassion and concern although it may be present. They will not assess how much to give or to help, and not be aware of the limits in these areas. In fact they will help or give when it is not necessary, and they will help or give without regard to whether it is appropriate or not. This kind of “helping” will serve to increase dependency in those being “ helped”. Ultimately trying to control another person to use them to meet one’s own inner needs is neither loving nor caring. God instructs us to help others not seeking repayment or gain. We must allow God’s love to fill those deep inner needs, that only He can fill, all else is a temporary and destructive, poor, hurtful stop- gap in trying to fix only what God can heal.. Dear children, on some levels the person given to or helped inappropriately, feels neither gratitude nor respect for such “helpers”, but resentment with emotions, perhaps vague, of having been “used“ in some way. Help, given in the wrong way can weaken and even deprive a person of the consequences of learning from their mistakes. The most important thing of all is that when any saint operates out of wrong motives, God does not accept his or her work. The Holy Bible says: 1co.13:3And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. The bottom line, my beloveds no work of ours given without love will count with God, although in the eyes of men we might appear to be great benefactors towards others. Jesus taught me, along with all the saints to help others in need out of love, not expecting any payment in return. He had also taught me that there were times to lovingly step out of the way, mind my own business and allow some people the benefit of learning, from receiving the consequences of their behaviors or not, leaving them in God‘s hand. Let's stop here for now. God willing I look forward to seeing you here again next time. Until then love and trust God, according to His word rightly divided for your labors and mine He shall richly reward. love serola
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Name: Dolores serola Rutherford
