Adam and Eve - Curt Thompson md

Anatomy of the Soul - Curt Thompson md

One wonders how the story would have unfolded differently in the Garden had Eve and Adam, instead of hiding, been more attentive to their fear, more willing to turn toward their own shame. What if, when God sought him out, Adam had said, “Here I am, over here! And I’m in quite a state. I feel really bad about this . . . and in fact it terrifies me to tell you what I’m about to say, and I’m really, really embarrassed. As you can see, wearing these rather odd, um . . . clothes, I believe?” “Yes, I see. Go on,” God might have replied. “Well, the tree you said I couldn’t eat from, well, Eve, well . . . that’s not important. I mean, I know you probably have to talk with her about her part in this, but let me just say . . . I ate from the tree. Okay, there. I said it. I blew it. I hate that snake, but it’s my fault. I’m really sorry. “I know Eve may be in big trouble too, but really, don’t take it out on her. Just do with me what you will. . . .” Who’s to say God’s response would not have been, “Well done. I know it’s been painful for you to take responsibility for your and her behavior. But well, well done. Now there is more for you to learn. . . .” Although this is an imagined outcome, it reflects how we are encouraged to embrace confession. Epistle writers of the New Testament go further. In his first letter, the apostle John writes, If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 JOHN 1:9) John does not write, “If you confess your sins and then ask God to forgive you, he will.” There is no middle step. It is as if forgiveness fills the room, waiting for us, and confession merely opens our hearts to receive its flood of relief, joy, and freedom. God is not waiting for us to grovel. He’s not into groveling. He does not need or want us to remain in the shame of our sin (though some of us live as if this were the case). Shame merely gets our attention—if we are alert. However, God does wait for us to be real about our shame so he can meet us in it and then rewrite our narratives. Given that God is the author of forgiveness, can we assume that confession should be made to God alone? John neither says that nor, I think, does he imply it. There is a reason for this. It is in the physical, bodily sensations of being mindfully mentalized that we sense, experience, and truly internalize forgiveness. It is not enough simply to hear the words or take in the fact that we are forgiven. That would

Anatomy of the Soul Curt Thompson md

- forgiveness,

Only one life, twill soon be past - CT Studd

Two little lines I heard one day,
Traveling along life’s busy way;
Bringing conviction to my heart,
And from my mind would not depart;
Only one life, twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Only one life, yes only one,
Soon will its fleeting hours be done;
Then, in ‘that day’ my Lord to meet,
And stand before His Judgement seat;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, the still small voice,
Gently pleads for a better choice
Bidding me selfish aims to leave,
And to God’s holy will to cleave;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, a few brief years,
Each with its burdens, hopes, and fears;
Each with its clays I must fulfill,
living for self or in His will;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

When this bright world would tempt me sore,
When Satan would a victory score;
When self would seek to have its way,
Then help me Lord with joy to say;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Give me Father, a purpose deep,
In joy or sorrow Thy word to keep;
Faithful and true what e’er the strife,
Pleasing Thee in my daily life;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Oh let my love with fervor burn,
And from the world now let me turn;
Living for Thee, and Thee alone,
Bringing Thee pleasure on Thy throne;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one,
Now let me say, "Thy will be done";
And when at last I’ll hear the call,
I know I’ll say "twas worth it all";
Only one life, 'twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last. ”

— extra stanza —

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
And when I am dying, how happy I’ll be,
If the lamp of my life has been burned out for Thee

Belovedness by Sarah Kroger

Sarah kroger Belovedness

You've owned your fear and all your self-loathing
You've owned the voices inside of your head
You've owned the shame and reproach of your failure
It's time to own your belovedness

You've owned your past and how it's defined you
You've owned everything everybody else says
It's time to hear what your Father has spoken
It's time to own your belovedness

He says, you're mine, I smiled when I made you
I find you beautiful in every way
My love for you is fierce and unending
I'll come to find you, whatever it takes
My beloved

You've owned the mess you see in the mirror
You've owned the lies that you're just not enough
You've been so blinded by all you're comparing
It's time to own your belovedness

He says, you're mine, I smiled when I made you
I find you beautiful in every way
My love for you is fierce and unending
I'll come to find you, whatever it takes
My beloved

You are completely loved and fully known
Beloved, believe He died to make your heart His home

And He says, you're mine, I smiled when I made you
I find you beautiful in every way
My love for you is fierce and unending
I'll come to find you, whatever it takes

He says, you're mine, I smiled when I made you
I find you beautiful in every way
My love for you is fierce and unending
I'll come to find you, whatever it takes
My beloved
It's time to own your belovedness

When I saw him he was my brother - African Proverb

 

African proverb: 

"When I saw him from afar, I thought he was a monster.

When he got closer, I thought he was an animal.

When he got closer, I recognized that he was a human.

When we were face to face, I realized that he was my brother."

Not of Christ - Boston history from Christian History Institute

A SOUR GREETING FOR TWO QUAKER WOMEN

[19th century Quaker woman—Charles Frederick Holder, Quakers in Great Britain and America (New York: Neuner 1913)]

TWO QUAKER MISSIONARIES, Ann Austin and Mary Fisher, arrived in Boston harbor on this day, 11 July 1656, the first of their sect to reach New England. They were greeted with cruelty. The Puritans who ruled Massachusetts regulated religious teachings and behavior. News from England had prejudiced them against Quakers, whom they classed with heretics.

Deputy Governor Richard Bellingham boarded the ship Swallow, ordered the women to remain aboard until further notice, searched their belongings, and confiscated about one hundred books they had brought with them. According to Boston authorities, these “contained most corrupt, heretical, and blasphemous doctrines, contrary to the truth of the gospel here professed amongst us.”

The Boston council met at once. Deploring the women’s “dangerous, heretical, and blasphemous opinions” which “they came here purposely to propagate,” the council ordered their books burned, the women imprisoned with no opportunity to speak to anyone, and the Swallow’s owner, Simon Kempthorn, to give security that he would transport the women back to Barbadoes, or cause them to be transported.

The authorities then forced Austin and Fisher to strip and examined them closely for signs of witchcraft. Austin claimed that one of the searchers was “a man in womens apparel.” To prevent anyone seeing or speaking to them, the window of their cell was boarded up. No arrangement was made to provide them with food.

Nicholas Upsall, an innkeeper with a Christian heart, offered to pay the women’s fines if he could speak with them. His request was denied. Indeed, Bostonians were warned that anyone attempting to speak with the heretics would be fined five pounds. Upsall then bribed the jailer five shillings a week to take food to the prisoners, who otherwise might have died of starvation. 

Boston held the women five weeks, until another ship owner, William Chicester, agreed to take them back to Barbadoes. During those five weeks, the pair were permitted neither candle nor writing material in their darkened cell. When they left, the jailor kept their Bible and bedding as his payment.

Shortly afterward, Upsall, an elderly man, was banished from Massachusetts for protesting the treatment of a second group of Quakers. Although Upsall was a blameless Puritan and a faithful churchgoer, the authorities showed him no leniency. He found shelter with an Indian chief in the area now known as Rhode Island.

https://christianhistoryinstitute.org/it-happened-today

The Scariest Verse of the Bible Matt 7.21

Matt. 7.21   “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

Clearly Jesus is here saying people might think that they know what they are doing, serving the king, they are not just pew warmers but active in the church, believing all the while they are serving the king of kings and yet when they stand before the king it is evident that they never knew Him. Some people think the solution is to follow the commandments apparently, but God wants a relationship, not obedience.