August 28 2014

August 28 2014 Greetings My Friend, Yesterday’s Sunday school lesson is still playing around in my mind. It is a thought I tend to have often. The thought/lesson is “ It is not the denomination but the heart of the believer.” At times I enter into fellowship with people of different denominations on a deeper level and I find a connection I can’t put into words. Our teacher also made a comment that God’s church body will draw closer and become more involved as Christians continue to be persecuted around the world. It won’t be a denomination but the denominations will draw closer and begin to work together to reach out to those that are being persecuted. I could see the logic in her comment and I must admit I felt that her comment was right on the mark. The more I ask God to open my heart as I read and as I pray the more His voice is entwined into my being. I have never been Catholic but I must admit I love some of the rituals. I love watching people go forward for communion in a prayerful stance. I love watching the people kneel on their kneelers. I love the way so many parts of the service speaks to me. I am not Catholic today I am Baptist. This church tends to line up with God’s Word in a way I can understand and worship God. It isn’t the only denomination but this one is where I can grow my faith journey deeper. For another person a different denomination may do the trick. Does this church have its own flaws of course it does. Again I hear the refrain “I don’t like all the hypocrites I meet in church so I won’t go.” Again my heart responds with “ a church is a hospital for sinners and of course the hypocrites are there.” For me I know for the longest time I was in a church where I was more of a hypocrite than a Bible believing woman. Today though because many people kept reaching out to me with Christ’s love I am now on a faith journey to follow Jesus as best as I can. I am reading the Bible and I often hear God’s voice and the Holy Spirit’s prompting to change to be more like Jesus. Some people may never get the “heart” message and walk along in trying to show the world they are Christian and some will go further opening their heart all the way to God. We never know which ones are going to go deeper and which ones prefer to look like they are believers so we love as God loves us. Jesus often talked rather frankly with the religious leaders of His day. He would say things like “the cup is clean on the inside but the outside is dirty” (paraphrased) This and many other comments teaches me that God knows our “true” intentions so for me I have finally gotten the message to open and honest with God in all areas of my life. I have also learned God sees me everywhere I may be and even knows each and every thought I have so that means if I would not want Him to know something then I should leave it at the cross. When God pricks my mind with a sin then I learn to confess for it is in confessing that I can begin the journey to let go and to find healing. God wants my best He does not want to lord it over me that I am a rotten person. He doesn’t enjoy beating me up but wants me to be all that I can be and in that I feel safe to confess and with God’s help I move away from sin more and more. I also know that I will never be perfect but that is okay because I am being made new all the time. In heaven I will then know full perfectness. Again I see that it is not the denomination but the deep heart love that will change me, mold me and begin to fill me. May God bless you and keep you make His face shine on you. Love Janet