tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1388370369187844627.post6863604234494320935..comments2024-03-12T10:35:54.578-05:00Comments on Homeward Bound: Saul of Tarsus Part 1Michael Boldea Jr.http://www.blogger.com/profile/09695469447648193872noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1388370369187844627.post-50804885649464581592008-04-25T09:01:00.000-05:002008-04-25T09:01:00.000-05:00It seems that when you desire to truly follow Jesu...It seems that when you desire to truly follow Jesus with all your heart, and begin a life of self sacrifice, that you can no longer find a safe lodging anywhere - the Lord knew this only too well, I expect, when he said: 'the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head'. By this I mean that it is hard to find fellowship, and any place where you are truly one in Spirit with others. It can be a lonely and even hostile walk much of the time. And yet through Paul, we know that even the most misguided or religious person is not beyond the mighty, saving arm of the Lord. Those who ignore or persecute us can be changed through an encounter with the risen Lord, and that gives me hope and compassion for those who don't yet truly know him, or who are in error. I was there once myself.<BR/>Great teaching, Michael, thanks!Bonnyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16861206381493071230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1388370369187844627.post-40259720567422503372008-04-24T08:29:00.000-05:002008-04-24T08:29:00.000-05:00Hello, Michael,Thanks for your insights about the ...Hello, Michael,<BR/><BR/>Thanks for your insights about the life of that amazing apostle Paul. You are a lot like him, as you continue to fight in the trenches on the front line of battle, braving the fiery blasts of the enemy. I pray our Lord will strengthen you as time goes by, and whenever you are feeling battle fatigue, I pray that He will supernaturally refresh you.<BR/><BR/>I have just emerged from my own "dark night of the soul", thanks be to God! After my husband pressured me to leave home several months ago, I seemed to lose my identity. As an estranged wife, what was I fit to do for the Lord? Day and night, horrible spells of anguish would grip me. Praying and reading the Word made life tolerable, but I felt so needy and disoriented. In desperation I would cry to the Lord, "I will cling to You with all the might I have left, no matter how bad I feel, because You are all I have to cling to. But please, HELP ME!"<BR/><BR/>Brothers and sisters, I want you to know that my prayer was answered in a wonderful and unexpected way several days ago! The Lord has led me to the KEY that unlocks His treasure house of joy. The key is - are you ready for this? - none other than PRAISE!!! Simple, sincere, grateful PRAISE, for every circumstance of life, is the way to overcome any kind of worry, pain, sorrow, or danger.<BR/><BR/>I discovered this key in the pages of two books by an author I hadn't known, Merlin Carothers: POWER IN PRAISE and PRISON TO PRAISE. As I read PRISON TO PRAISE, it was as if electricity leaped off each page, right into my soul, and I found myself weeping for joy over and over. The scriptural truths and testimonials are powerful! <BR/><BR/>Here is the way the key works: In order to have ongoing peace and joy in the Lord, I thank Him and praise Him for EVERY circumstance of my life, without exception. Irrational as it may seem, I can testify that this key has quickly banished my long-standing anguish. I feel as if an enormous boulder has been lifted off. Suddenly, I can SMILE again, from the heart and with buoyant lightness of spirit. I am ready to be a witness for Jesus again. He's more real to me than ever before! Now I understand what He meant when He said, "My yoke is easy and my burden is light."<BR/><BR/>I have ordered 50 copies of PRISON TO PRAISE to share with others, purchased at an almost give-away price from FOUNDATIONOFPRAISE.ORG. You can read book excerpts at the site. <BR/><BR/>I urge everyone to read this priceless book, which is only a little over a hundred pages even in large print. I found it a marvelous way to spend a Sunday afternoon. Anyone who is heavy-laden with troubles can easily find rest for the soul in this easy-to-read true story that's far more captivating than any novel. I will gladly send a free copy to anyone who asks.<BR/><BR/>Please excuse me for getting a bit carried away! I don't expect to write such long posts in the future! But I felt the Lord wanted me to share with you about my spiritual breakthrough.<BR/><BR/>The love of Christ to you all,<BR/><BR/>Melanie AKA "praisesinger"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1388370369187844627.post-29013396602378876612008-04-23T19:25:00.000-05:002008-04-23T19:25:00.000-05:00Amen. This religious spirit operates by following ...Amen. This religious spirit operates by following formulas and patterns and behaviors and requiring others to do so too. It is the opposite of the relationship with the Living God to which we were called. Instead of following a Person, talking with a Heavenly Father who delights to interact with His children and bless them, religious people follow rules and principles and steps and sequences of actions and repetitions of Scriptures and magic phrases which they believe are the key to unlocking a blessing or forcing away a demon or a curse - like cause and effect. "If I say this, that has to happen. If I do this just so, I get the prize." You know? False gospels based on fear of not doing it right.<BR/><BR/>I think it's not so much the carrying of the cross that religious people hate, as it is the childlike trust and freedom from religious bondage that enables true obedience from the heart. Inward obedience and surrender does produce righteousness outwardly, but not the kind of righteousness religious people want to see. They want to see you follow the same patterns they do - the traditions of men. That's what they mean by "carrying the cross." But it's not what Jesus meant. He meant to follow HIM, even if it means religious people putting you to death.Amyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12165608079884776359noreply@blogger.com