Boanerges

I understand what you are saying my sister. I am not here to heap condemnation on anyone. Trust me when I say I know that nobody can rip your heart up like your children. My daughter was raised to know , love and serve Christ, yet at 17 she threw herself into the world. Her life went down some terrible paths and I was crushed. Until that time I only thought I understood what pain was.
It took years for her to realize that she was going in the wrong direction and turn her life around yet turn it around she did. Praise God. I remember the day she came to me and said " dad you were right about everything". It wasn't me being right that caused my heart to sing but it was seeing my precious daughter committing her heart to Christ once again. That was one of the greatest days of my life. So yes my sister I know what you are saying.
Through those trying times I clung to this:
Pro 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
Train them as a child and when they get older- this scripture (wisely) never tells us what will happen in the middle years. God knows the heart of a young person can be very foolish indeed yet if those seeds of loving God are planted in their hearts they will eventually bear fruit.

Much love and many blessings in Jesus wonderful Name, your b(r)other Larry.

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Anything that dims my vision for Christ, or takes away my taste for Bible study, or cramps me in my prayer life, or makes Christian work difficult, is wrong for me; and I must, as a Christian turn away from it. – J. Wilbur Chapman

Dusty

Larry.... Thanks for that . You know that we all know .... train up a child...... but it is when you actually see the prodigal come back that must be the greatest joy in mom and dad's heart.

Still I am holding my son up in prayer knowing that I brought him up right and also knowing that he is rebelling because of a lot of bitterness in his heart. I also know that their friends infuence is greater sometimes than the parent's and growing up in this world is so different than when I was young with all the pressures.

I will never understand though , Christian parents who took their kids to S. S. and church and paid extra for them to go to Christian school taught them at home and for them to turn their backs on God like four of the five in my brother's family and one is gay.

I also know in my own life how I strayed from the Lord for over 15 yrs but was drawn back to Him because of trouble and hardship in my own life. Praise be to His Holy Name.

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Boanerges

Amen Mom- I am believing for your family as well.

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Anything that dims my vision for Christ, or takes away my taste for Bible study, or cramps me in my prayer life, or makes Christian work difficult, is wrong for me; and I must, as a Christian turn away from it. – J. Wilbur Chapman

andiclare

Boanerges: I have known people like you're describing. It is very, very difficult situation...particularly if you care for the person, or if they are simply obstinant in their erroneous belief. Like I was saying before-- You hope and trust in God's mercy, but you don't presume His mercy when you're openly disobeying his commandments. Seems like that's almost thumbing one's nose at God. The parable of the sheep and the goats comes to mind...The goats confessed faith in Jesus as Lord, didn't they...? But they were still lost because they absolutely failed in mercy.

I truly believe that one cause of this attitude is the erroneous doctrine of "Once Saved, Always Saved"...the notion that once you are born again--that's it! Your salvation is a done deal, so why not give in to this sin or that? Why not take the easy way out, and put yourself before others? I've seen how this justification can creep in and start to erode a conscience very, very sublty.

The Apostle Paul tells us to persevere till the end. There is no free ride.

For all those who have been lost down this path, the loved ones that have inspired some of the posts in this thread...I pray that with God's grace they will find their way back to Him.

Peace,
-andiclare

Boanerges

Amen, as do I.

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Anything that dims my vision for Christ, or takes away my taste for Bible study, or cramps me in my prayer life, or makes Christian work difficult, is wrong for me; and I must, as a Christian turn away from it. – J. Wilbur Chapman

Dusty

Amen and amen for me as well. God promises household salvation. We just have to be patient. It is all in His timing.... not ours.

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LOTRgeek

Lots of wisdom in this thread.

SweetSurrender

So sorry, not meaning to be mean or anything, Kitsapgirl, but that was the funniest video I've ever seen! Where did this guy come from? He was such a character! It made me smile. Was this in the oldie but goodie days? Please don't take offense, I am not meaning it in a bad way. The words were not funny. They were very true. It was just the singer, and the band. There was a song that faded off at the end that sounded good too. Did you recognize that song? Thanx for sharing.

The message was so right on though. I guess I never thought about abortion as being a sin. But that's another subject. We will stay on the subject.

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SweetSurrender

I had my Mon. night Bible study tonight with two, new Christians who I knew God wanted me to show them what the Bible says about fornification. They are both in totally different situations; one is married with two kids, the other single. The one who is divorced with two kids is living with a man who is a very good father to her children and is just a wonderful person, but won't come to church with her because he has tattoos all over and doesn't think anyone in the church would like him. God will change that.

Tony is single, never been married, living with a man who accepted Christ with her, on the same day, but continues in his abusive ways. Tony feels obligated to his needs because they have lived together for over 17 years. No children. But, they both needed to know that what they were doing was not productive to their growing in Christ. I prayed that it would not be coming from me, but that the Holy Spirit would guide me in what to say. I just relied on what the Bible had to say about it and they were both really receptive to it.

They both kinda knew it was wrong, but had been told by another Christian that God would not condemn them because he was a God of mercy. But, I told them that He is also a just God and has to abide by His word because that is the only way to be complete in Him. It is the only way to be fully happy and joyful because it is living a life of obedience, which He honors.

I told them that it may be the hardest thing to do in their whole lives, but they are on a different path now and that God did not promise it would be easy, just that it would be productive and in the end, rewarding. I also told them that God would deal with the guys in His own way, but that it was a personal thing between them and God and that their relationship with God is a personal thing and they would have to work out their own salvation. I hope it was the Holy Spirit that said that because I really can't explain it. We prayed and agreed to hold eachother up and encourage one another. We all work at the same day care.

I just praise God that it worked out OK and I think it did because I obeyed. Thank you, Jesus.

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Who am I

I don’t know if I can help with it all, but you can tell the one that you know a guy in Minnesota who has a bunch of tattoos and is accepted at Church. I’ve even been to a Church where most of the people had tattoos and rode motorcycles. In the first picture below, I’m on the left. My left arm is almost one big tattoo. And the line of motorcycles? All Christian men, and two women, who go to different Churches in town here. (there are about 2 dozen more bikes behind the camera)

And the second picture? That’s how I am dressed when I travel to go to a different Church just to check it out. (I don't bring the knife though ) No one knows me, but I’ve always been accepted. And in my old Church, it was a big Lutheran Church with about 400 people on any given Sunday, I was an usher. They trusted me to handle the collection plates. I’d say I was accepted. I’m sure there were some who didn’t like the fact that a guy with a bunch of tattoos was handling all that money, but you’ll have that just about anywhere.

What I look like isn’t who I am. If the people at a Church are not judgmental, they know that about everyone.

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Blessings to all

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD,
thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.