God's love and blessing to you all. Julie and I had a wonderful time with some of our dear friends tonight. I always cherish our times together because I can share my heart and soul and my brothers and sisters. They listen with open and nonjudgmental hearts and then share what God has put on their hearts as food to feed my soul. It reinforces to me how wonderful it is to have dear friends.
My mother told me that if I could count my true friends on one hand in my lifetime I would be lucky. Mothers are so loving and wise. My time with my friends tonight and that wisdom from Mom sparked me to share with you tonight.
If you have read all or any of my other writings then you know how dear my walk is with Jesus. Christ is my best friend, as well as my Savior. I have shared this before but I will say it again, He wants to be your best friend too. I state this again because I believe too many of you get religion and a relationship with Jesus confused.
Now I personally have no problem with religion as the structure for relationship with God. We need good, solid, loving people to help guide us. It is good for us to have a congregating place where we can, as a family, sing praise to God our father. I know I love having a place of peace and refuge where I can escape and fall to my knees and cry to God.
While these are all wonderful, they are not the solid foundation on which my faith is anchored. You see my rock and faith are with Jesus Christ. I state this because as I said there is a difference and I see too many people that have issues with " the Church" or religion. Once you open the door to a relationship with Jesus you may look at some of your perceptions in a different light.
I would like to put aside a discussion about the church for now because with all the good that has been done in it, unfortunately selfish people have misused their power in the name of God and the church and the debate would be much too lengthy. I feel empathy for any and all that have been wronged and hope that the words God puts on my heart may help you.
I speak of a relationship with Jesus because that is what I read of in the New Testament. Love and friendship is what Christ preaches all through His ministry. My dear friend Matt shared something tonight that I had never pondered in one of my favorite scripture verses. In 1st Corinthians13 it says, " 1If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love , I am nothing. 3If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. Please read the rest for yourself for it is beautiful for its message and poetry.
Now what Matt shared is to insert the name of God every time it says love. Please stop now and read the previous paragraph and say God instead of love. It really doesn't matter because the two are interchangeable. It was so amazing to me because that chapter is so very special to me and yet I had not before seen that connection. I wont speak for others but I as a passionate Christian have too often somewhat separated the two. I know that God loves but Matt reminded me that God is love. That is why He sent His Son to die for us and to be the sacrifice for our sins.
When Christ was sacrificed there was a large earthquake that shook all of Jerusalem. When this happened the curtain in the temple was torn, from top to bottom. This curtain separated the Holy of Holy's where the Spirit of God dwelt in the temple from the rest of the temple. Before this only the consecrated priest could enter. With Christ sacrifice God tore the curtain so that there would no longer be any separation from He and His people that He loved so dearly.
If you have had a bad taste of religion I pray for you to find Jesus and get to know Him. Read His words of love and acceptance and you will know that He desires all the lost sheep to come to Him. I go to an evangelical church but if people ask I just tell them I believe in Jesus Christ. I hope and pray that as your walk with Christ deepens He will set your feet at a place of worship. Most churches are good loving places filled with people like us all, just trying to find their way and helping others as they go.
I pray my words have been worthy for you to read and helpful. A dear, dear friend of mine once shared this with me, No God No Peace No Love: Know God Know Peace Know Love. He is no longer with us but his love and words stay in my heart. I pray they will find a way into yours. Yours in Christ
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