"Don't use church scandals to justify why you are not a Christian or don't go to church.They didn't die on the cross for your sins, Jesus did."
this is sooooo true !!!
ReplyDeletetoo many people turn their back on God because of someone in the Church
or a church that hurt and decide to say no to God all together ! instead of seeking God for themself..
I can definitely speak to this as I've experienced and walked through this personally. I left church for six years because the church turned their back on me when I got pregnant at 18. I have never felt so rejected in my life. But I thank God for my foundation because when I was ready to make positive changes in my life, I knew God and the church was my starting point. And because I followed my heart and God's direction, He led me to my husband :) God is good all the time and all the time, God is good. Bless you Heather, keep up your great work in Christ!
ReplyDeleteYes, it is so important that we remember our own imperfections before we allow the imperfections of others to break us down. We have all said the wrong thing, been less than the best friend we could be, or misused our authority in some way...we must extend the same grace Christ extended to us to others :-).
ReplyDeleteThank you for this post Heather, I am dealing with that right now at the church I go to. I have been going there for three years and God has been changing me from the introverted/shy person that I thought I was into this bubbly loving person who just wants to shower real genuine love on others. Unfortunately, that has not been received well and often times I feel rejected when I try to be friendly and form relationships with others in the church, I feel like there is an impenetrable circle and it hurts. In an effort to not live on feelings, I have decided to stay and learn the lesson that God wants for me to learn which is forgiveness, acceptance and contentment despite how others act toward me. Only challenge is that I no longer go to their social gatherings so I don't endure that pain of rejection, working on it. But thanks a ton for this perspective!
ReplyDeleteYou are speaking the straight up gosepl truth! There is nothing like Church hurt and I have experienced it first hand. But God used that hurt to draw me closer to Him and as I look back I am grateful for what I went through because I would not be the woman that I am today if it has not been for that hurt I experienced. Out of our greatest pain comes our greatest testimony!
ReplyDeleteHello Heather, thank you for this message. I was just speaking to my cousin about forgiveness and I believe I've forgiven the people who've hurt me (and I pray to be forgiven for those I have hurt). I don't generally like to hold on to stuff because I don't like the negative feelings associated with that. BUT the pain is still there. I can still feel the hurt from years ago to something someone may have done even yesterday and it's VERY tender. How can I replace the hurt with joy? I know that this is something I ultimately need to take to Jesus :), but I would like to know your thoughts.
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