These days are, indeed, concerning. I continue to give thanks to little spaces on the internet where voices like yours and many others can, for now, speak to the love of Jesus. The love that will not fail us. Will not leave us. Will comfort and guide us.
I know over the last 2000 plus years there have been many eras when those who follow Christ have been vilified and silenced. There are countries today where it is not just illegal to be a Christian, there is a choice, denounce Christ or leave taking nothing with you. Christians are slaughtered while gathering to worship in third world countries but now it is rising in a country close by. It feels like something wicked this way comes. Of course, the good news is, God always keeps a remnant. Choosing to be one of those might not be an easy road but it is ultimately the best.
I expect it to get so much worse before it gets better and I agree the day might come, even in what is left of my life, that we have to keep our words to ourselves. The good news is, of course, He will show us the way. The devil is not smarter than God.
I always wondered, to myself, if Y2K wasn't a test, both to see how the world would react and to give us fine tuned senses. Both physical and spiritual.
When the time comes for an underground church in America, God will supply the courage and stamina we need (Philippians 4:19). May we trust in Him and all his promises!
So beautifully written! I agree completely. Having a deep personal relationship with Jesus...having Him in our hearts. Praying individually and praying together. And not being led astray by false religion and even even a foundation of religion that has organized God out of the mix. Praying for God's hands on our broken world.
Raised Catholic I understand why some people are appalled by the sacrament - we must believe in transsubstantiation (and that is partially why I left catholic church). In doing so, they believe the bread and wine are really body and blood and then, it becomes a canniballistic ritual.
The fact that almost all pastors obeyed to shutdown, and some even put up jabbing stations at the church, made me wonder how many true believing pastors there are!
The words of the Bible have been translated from one language into another into another, and there are lots of presumed errors there. That is bad enough - and then come all the interpretations! Why not go to the ONE and have a personal relationship? Then there ARE two. There is no need for the misinterpretation of all these pastors, most of them do not even realize you can have a personal relationship with the ONE.
It is nice to gather - when you are with like minded people. But when everyone masked up, the like mindedness ended for me. I still go occasionnally, like I will do on Easter, but my heart is no longer in it. I prefer to go to HIS church, into the woods with the creatures that did not object to me being unjabbed, unmasked, un-gloved. Where no pastor says we did not give enough money.
In my 68 years I might have met a handful of people with true faith. They are seldom, and far apart, unable to gather. But I hold them dear to my heart. I am sure the ONE will not object to that, either.
Hello fellow One-on-One Christian! Isn't it interesting that God can and does use all things, even things satan uses for nothing but evil - like the internet for example. This is where I have met the most real and honest surrendered Followers of The Way (which is what the first Christians were called). We may be cancelled, vilified and even slain for the true Word, but what evil does not understand, however it comes disguised, true followers are not as interested in the moment as they are in serving Him because He is worthy to be served.
Glad to have found you indeed without the internet I do not know how I would have come through these horrible 5 years! We will survive. With God's help!
Great and timely post! The church of my childhood in the country did not close, the church I attended in the city did. The city held the strings to it being able to stay open or not due to occupancy permits, etc. which says something when other things were open. No need to figure that one out as you said. I went back for a time when it opened for some things, but it wasn't the same.
I came to the same conclusion - a building is not the only place He can be found.
I have so many stories!! You know this was the one I wrestled with. I'd go to bed at night with doubts, then pray for guidance. The next morning - boom! - there it was. I am not an influencer. I am not a preacher/teacher. I am a sower. I plant seeds and then let God decide if someone who is a harvester can do the rest. Or not.
Though I am not a teacher, I am a learner. I started reading the Bible when I was nine. Of course I did not understand but I kept reading. Over and over, Genesis to Revelation. As I matured in the body I also matured in the spirit and I could read a verse for the tenth time and suddenly the spirit of the Word would shake me and I would usually gasp. What this process did for me was to open my eyes to the corruption that satan has planted in what we call religion. Humans are so easily led astray.
BTW, when I see you have a note I can heart it but it won't let me comment. Not sure why. But just so you know, I do appreciate your notes.
A fellow plant seeder - exactly! Yes, me too, and it is not easy to put them out there so I appreciate this one of yours made it!
I wondered if I’d missed the one you had mentioned. Sometimes I get to read a lot, and then others its a hit and miss. There was another one you replied to that I haven’t gotten to look at to go listen to, hope to do that today.
Thank you about the comments, I was trying to remember what the issue was. I’m going to have to do some digging to see if I can figure that one out!
It might be my personality type but I way prefer to plant seeds and move on. I'm not good with debate or contention. That said, however, age has toughened my skin somewhat so I am committed to pleasing God more than people.
Knowing God truly is such an intimate journey. He knows i’ve always longed for a church family, and after years of trying different places, I definitely found my place!
When I miss going, I feel like I miss the reset of my week.
I literally love this song! It was so beautiful! All He wants is for us to trust Him and allow Him to lead us all of our days 🙌🏼
God knows what we need and what He wants for and from us. He makes the way for us when we are surrendered. We each are all differently and wonderfully made. The feet cannot do what the eyes do, the hands cannot do what the ears do. If we are listening we find out what we, as individuals, should do. ❤️
These days are, indeed, concerning. I continue to give thanks to little spaces on the internet where voices like yours and many others can, for now, speak to the love of Jesus. The love that will not fail us. Will not leave us. Will comfort and guide us.
I know over the last 2000 plus years there have been many eras when those who follow Christ have been vilified and silenced. There are countries today where it is not just illegal to be a Christian, there is a choice, denounce Christ or leave taking nothing with you. Christians are slaughtered while gathering to worship in third world countries but now it is rising in a country close by. It feels like something wicked this way comes. Of course, the good news is, God always keeps a remnant. Choosing to be one of those might not be an easy road but it is ultimately the best.
it might be necessary to go undercover, just like the first believers gathered in houses, and then catacombs, hiding for the Romans.
I expect it to get so much worse before it gets better and I agree the day might come, even in what is left of my life, that we have to keep our words to ourselves. The good news is, of course, He will show us the way. The devil is not smarter than God.
I always wondered, to myself, if Y2K wasn't a test, both to see how the world would react and to give us fine tuned senses. Both physical and spiritual.
When the time comes for an underground church in America, God will supply the courage and stamina we need (Philippians 4:19). May we trust in Him and all his promises!
They cannot stop us!
AMEM, Meema! They've never been able to snuff out Christianity before, and they never will!
They keep trying though!
Yes they do!
So beautifully written! I agree completely. Having a deep personal relationship with Jesus...having Him in our hearts. Praying individually and praying together. And not being led astray by false religion and even even a foundation of religion that has organized God out of the mix. Praying for God's hands on our broken world.
Deliver us from evil, protext us from tragedy and open eyes, Lord!
Raised Catholic I understand why some people are appalled by the sacrament - we must believe in transsubstantiation (and that is partially why I left catholic church). In doing so, they believe the bread and wine are really body and blood and then, it becomes a canniballistic ritual.
The fact that almost all pastors obeyed to shutdown, and some even put up jabbing stations at the church, made me wonder how many true believing pastors there are!
The words of the Bible have been translated from one language into another into another, and there are lots of presumed errors there. That is bad enough - and then come all the interpretations! Why not go to the ONE and have a personal relationship? Then there ARE two. There is no need for the misinterpretation of all these pastors, most of them do not even realize you can have a personal relationship with the ONE.
It is nice to gather - when you are with like minded people. But when everyone masked up, the like mindedness ended for me. I still go occasionnally, like I will do on Easter, but my heart is no longer in it. I prefer to go to HIS church, into the woods with the creatures that did not object to me being unjabbed, unmasked, un-gloved. Where no pastor says we did not give enough money.
In my 68 years I might have met a handful of people with true faith. They are seldom, and far apart, unable to gather. But I hold them dear to my heart. I am sure the ONE will not object to that, either.
Hello fellow One-on-One Christian! Isn't it interesting that God can and does use all things, even things satan uses for nothing but evil - like the internet for example. This is where I have met the most real and honest surrendered Followers of The Way (which is what the first Christians were called). We may be cancelled, vilified and even slain for the true Word, but what evil does not understand, however it comes disguised, true followers are not as interested in the moment as they are in serving Him because He is worthy to be served.
Glad to have found you indeed without the internet I do not know how I would have come through these horrible 5 years! We will survive. With God's help!
Yes we will!
Great and timely post! The church of my childhood in the country did not close, the church I attended in the city did. The city held the strings to it being able to stay open or not due to occupancy permits, etc. which says something when other things were open. No need to figure that one out as you said. I went back for a time when it opened for some things, but it wasn't the same.
I came to the same conclusion - a building is not the only place He can be found.
~ Rosie
I have so many stories!! You know this was the one I wrestled with. I'd go to bed at night with doubts, then pray for guidance. The next morning - boom! - there it was. I am not an influencer. I am not a preacher/teacher. I am a sower. I plant seeds and then let God decide if someone who is a harvester can do the rest. Or not.
Though I am not a teacher, I am a learner. I started reading the Bible when I was nine. Of course I did not understand but I kept reading. Over and over, Genesis to Revelation. As I matured in the body I also matured in the spirit and I could read a verse for the tenth time and suddenly the spirit of the Word would shake me and I would usually gasp. What this process did for me was to open my eyes to the corruption that satan has planted in what we call religion. Humans are so easily led astray.
BTW, when I see you have a note I can heart it but it won't let me comment. Not sure why. But just so you know, I do appreciate your notes.
A fellow plant seeder - exactly! Yes, me too, and it is not easy to put them out there so I appreciate this one of yours made it!
I wondered if I’d missed the one you had mentioned. Sometimes I get to read a lot, and then others its a hit and miss. There was another one you replied to that I haven’t gotten to look at to go listen to, hope to do that today.
Thank you about the comments, I was trying to remember what the issue was. I’m going to have to do some digging to see if I can figure that one out!
Love your wisdom and perspective ~ Rosie
It might be my personality type but I way prefer to plant seeds and move on. I'm not good with debate or contention. That said, however, age has toughened my skin somewhat so I am committed to pleasing God more than people.
I love the sweet calm of your substack. ❤️
Knowing God truly is such an intimate journey. He knows i’ve always longed for a church family, and after years of trying different places, I definitely found my place!
When I miss going, I feel like I miss the reset of my week.
I literally love this song! It was so beautiful! All He wants is for us to trust Him and allow Him to lead us all of our days 🙌🏼
God knows what we need and what He wants for and from us. He makes the way for us when we are surrendered. We each are all differently and wonderfully made. The feet cannot do what the eyes do, the hands cannot do what the ears do. If we are listening we find out what we, as individuals, should do. ❤️
Amen!