A lot of people I meet and share Jesus with for the first time who don't know the concept of salvation are turned off by "religion," or refuse to go to church because of all the so called "hypocrites" that go there...
One of the things I tell them is "Yes, there are sick, sad, people out there who go to church-but there are even more in the world-and with all intents and purposes some have issues, however, look at the church as a hospital for those very people in the world and in the body of Christ who are trying to do better and who need to get it right. And at least they are going to God as remedy, I assure you if you do, You won't be left broken for long!"
Come to me, all that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest
-Matthew 11:28
...Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.
– Isaiah 1:18
I can attest to this fact because I was one of them. Me, who was one of the most imperfect people (and still a definite work in progress-lol), sinful; broken people, realize I am NOTHING without God and absolutely HOPELESS, HELPLESS without Him and this is not just a concept I've learned through trial and error or because I've gotten old enough to fall down, or have lived life (or sown my royal oats-lol) to where I think I miraculously need religion now, No! I needed God then and I still need Him even more now! And anyone on their high horse thinking they can make it on their own or don't need Him, is sorely mistaken! This concept is universal, collective and ageless! JESUS SAVES, JESUS LOVES YOU, and NOTHING else can compare-This is just FACT! Its not just something that worked for me-but its a ONE SIZE-FITS ALL concept for EVERYONE!
The church is just not in a building or religion...Real church, TRUE church, and the COMPLETE church is by believing in the loving Savior Jesus Christ and having Him-His church in your heart! Its NOT about religion-its about having a REAL, TRUE relationship with God and allowing Him to change your heart and mind! That's where it starts!
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:The old has gone, the new is here!
-2 Corinthians 5:17
This even I had to learn. Your talking to a girl who knew all about getting hurt, hypocrites and all about the evils that can manifest themselves not only in the church, the world; but life in general.
If rejection had a name on it, my name would have been it...But to God be the GLORY because where many rejected me-God ACCEPTED me! And He is ALL that matters! (That my story/name no more!)
I accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Personal Savior in my life when I was about 13 and I tell you it WAS the ABSOLUTE, BEST decision I ever made in my life! Jesus not only saved me for all eternity, but He saved me from others-including myself!
No-Believing in Jesus didn't make all my problems go away, Nor did it make me rich overnight and never have anything bad happen to me, No-It didn't cause me to gain tons and tons of friends, fortune, and notoriety, (FB doesn't count lol)-If anything it made me lose many friends/acquaintances (the little I did have), was an outcast, and had go through even more in life! But I tell you that by being obedient to Christ and His call on my life was better than ALL the sacrifices and pain! Because God, through it all showed me just who He was in all this; He helped me to overcome so much! He blessed me-giving me the strength to go on, and He became the BEST, most faithful, kind, and loving friend I could have ever asked for or wanted in my life and then some!
For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
-Phillipians 1:21
As I grew stronger in my walk with Christ, I realized that people are just people and that people will hurt you, disappoint, and come at you in all kinds ways (whether valid or not)...but in spite of you have to
FORGIVE, LOVE, LET GO...and LET GOD!!! That concept was very hard for me to wrap my head around because even in all the mistakes I made, or pitfalls I experienced, some of those same people were less than compassionate, and unforgiving to me when I was hurt or had slip ups. However, in spite of I still had to love and forgive and as a result, God took care of me and placed others, even strangers, in my path to make up for what I didn't have as it was only by God's grace and strength that I was able to pull through! And, God in all His perfection, through His Son
forgave me and loved me, seeing the best in me, seeing my finish! And thanks be to God that Jesus is not like man, as He is
ALWAYS the same yesterday, today, and forevermore! (Hebrews 13:8)
In the world and even within the church I dealt with much abuse, disrespect, ridicule; feeling like an outcast even among those who I thought were supposed to be my own brothers and sisters in Christ. I had my relationships and personal life exploited and encountered people who took my kindness for weakness, dealing with people who turned on me and seemed to get joy out of my sorrows. I dealt with people who thought they knew me but who didn't have the slightest idea or who could relate to what I was going through. Was judged and criticized when half the people judging me had no heaven or hell to put me in and had no real place in my life to begin with. With some "friends" like this, why on earth would I need enemies!?
Throughout my life, I was lied on, talked about, misunderstood, mistreated, had to deal with prideful, arrogant and brash people who had no real compassion or understanding for me as a person, friend, etc. and at times I was introduced to some of the worse in people even though to everyone else they were a "super saint/sweet"-lol. For all I know my name may have been dragged in the dirt and for really no reason that I can think of. I had people try and compete with me-going out of their way to try and tear me down and hinder my progress, exclude me, and try to break my character and gifts without ever really getting to know who I was, my situation, or even having given me a chance. I showed love, and received hate. I gave encouragement, I got back discouragement. I lent out a hand to help and got dirt thrown in my face. I opened my heart-and got it broken. Was told on several occasions that I had a good heart, yet eventually came to resent it because I had allowed people to trample on it time and time again-my fault, my bad, my mistake yet all I wanted to do was show love.
Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
-Proverbs 4:23
I mean it was like the enemy literally tried to put people-even my own fellow christian brothers and sisters, in my path to destroy, ridicule or challenge me, my faith, gifts and heart and to try and oppress me and hinder my potential to climb higher. I found myself having to make more excuses for who I was and apologies to the very ones trying to tear me down, and some of these same people never saw or even humbled themselves. I was left to make my own way and do things on my own with little to no help from others and for a while that was all I knew. It took every ounce of my being to not succumb to their negativity or become bitter. To many my best was never enough, even though deep down inside I felt that I was doing more than what was expected of me.
For years I ran away from people, even the church, and those closest to me, because I felt betrayed, like I could've gotten better treatment in the world, living for me and separating myself entirely. I backslid and had a taste of the world but it did nothing for me, nor would God allow it to corrupt me entirely-as He preserved me in spite of. I searched and searched to find myself because so much of who I was had been suppressed or stripped from me because I had allowed, people, family, the church, the world, etc., and the enemy to rob or control my life, due to my own ignorance. As a result I had to push because more often than not, the only one fighting for me was myself (and God of course even though I hadn't even known it at the time). I had to learn to survive and be resilient all on my own.
Even in recent years I met people who smiled in my face in phoniness, only to behind my back try to interfere or rob me of my relationships, blessings, reputation, and life, all for their own selfish gain and deceit. I mean the lengths people go, I've seen it all. And though I'm no narcissist, I'm a realist-I have learned to rise above, stay strong in the Spirit, and still love them even though I know what people are coming at me with and what their about even before they open their mouth. (With help from the Holy Spirit, God-given discernment and prophetic giftings-the truth usually comes out in the end ;).
But I say all this to say, this is no hash fest, but a revelation to me that God allowed me to go through these things to tell this very thing to you! That no matter what-God will NEVER leave, fail you and will He will NEVER-EVER forsake you! (Hebrews 13:5) He knows all about your situation, your tears, your struggles and He can bring you UP and OUT! If only you just believe. Man can't bring me down! I know if He did it for me! He can do it for you!
If God is for us, who can be against us?
-Romans 8:31
I questioned Lord, if You really do love me, Then why would you allow me to go through the things I've been through? But then He tells me its because He believed that I was strong enough to go through these things in hopes of helping others who are going through much less the same thing if not worse. It was to share my testimony with you so that I could tell my story that yes I went through it... But God brought me out! He turned things around, brought me up from down and He made a way out of no way!
And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.
-Luke 18:27
Yes, even in all my mistakes and imperfections. And yes, even what others; the enemy, may have done or said to me was meant for my harm-God made GOOD out of it! (Genesis 50:20) He gave me the ability to stand on my own, leave the past behind, to make it in life with His help and to be solely dependent on Him so that I wouldn't rely so much on other peoples thoughts, opinions and actions toward me. He taught me to see my faults and how to fix them-He did an ENTIRE clean sweep! He helped me to realize my own abilities, giftings and strength to be used for His kingdom and glory! He made ALL things NEW! And He EXCEEDED my expectations and gave me the VICTORY over every single situation and enabled me to TRIUMPH over my enemies! He set me on the course for GREATNESS!!!
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you...
-Matthew 5:44
...For the battle is not yours, but God's.
-Chronicles 20:15
But most importantly the Lord taught me to LOVE, FORGIVE, LET GO... and LET GOD! And of all, God helped me to understand that Jesus in all His perfection and glory experienced all that I went through-and worse. He was rejected by His own people, called a liar, ridiculed, betrayed and shamed-Yet He still kept pressing on in, even sacrificing His own life out of love for us-so that we could be saved, experience real love, and hope! And that if I'm to live this thing called life and fulfill the call and anointing on my life, and though I will never be perfect, I have to learn to stand tall and strong in my faith-no matter what life throws at me!
But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.
-Mark 11:26
Sometimes God has to break you to make you so then you can get to your BREAKTHROUGH! For the sake of others who are broken, rejected, even those who "think" have it all together but are just as empty inside-for them there is a God who cares about everything regarding you-Who is ALWAYS there and there is a PURPOSE in your storm! I was REJECTED for a PURPOSE!
If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.
-John 15:18-19
As a result of all I went through, The Lord put a radical spirit within me and a special robe of protection that no matter what people tried or may attempt to do, that it can't penetrate the
GREAT covering He has for my life! That no weapon formed against me will prosper and that no matter what people say to me or about me-That every tongue that rises up against me in judgement shall be condemned! (Isaiah 54:17) Allow me to encourage you! I'm not cocky when I say this or even acting as if I'm something special, As I am but filthy rags-but by the
PRECIOUS BLOOD of Jesus has called me for a purpose-He has a plan for my life and has made me
ROYALTY! And if He can take me, someone who was a nobody and make her a
SOMEBODY, and make me
BRAND new-He can just as surely do it for
YOU too! To God be the
GLORY!!!
Don't let people, circumstances and situations keep you from believing and trusting in Jesus salvation! Don't allow things to discourage you from going to church and growing in God and living for Him. The relationship you establish now will not only
COMPLETE your life but will be a
BLESSING to you in the end!
Yes people may hate, yes they may talk, lie on you, or even conspire-but if you accept and
TRUST Jesus-God
CAN and
WILL protect you and give you
FAVOR! Allow God's church to live on the inside of you! There is nothing you or I go through that Jesus hasn't went through-but even
WORSE (Acts 4:11). Just know when God wants to use you and has
GREAT purpose for your life, you may get a bruise or two, or even many-lol, but He will
ALWAYS be with you, help you, and in due season and exalt you! People may even turn their back on you, family, friends, loved ones, enemies, the world, and the church-But be of good courage you will end up with the
VICTORY! You will win if only you continue to believe and put your
TRUST in Him as there is nothing
GOD can't do!
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
-John 16:33
Be blessed, not stressed-TRUST in Jesus! He will make a way for you!
LOVE, FORGIVE, LET GO...and LET GOD!!!
-CE CE ;)
(AKA: Name Meaning: Anointed Covenant of God on the Beautiful Mountain-I know who I am-Do you!? He has a great plan and can make ALL things NEW!!!)
