I am so sick of people mistaking my kindness, for weakness and trying to walk all over me, does...

[Neogaia777]

I am so sick of people mistaking my kindness, for weakness and trying to walk all over, use, and abuse me, does anyone else, especially Christians who always practice kindness regardless of how they really feel inside, feel this way?

I have to work very hard at being kind to people all of the time, it's not easy for me, but I do "do it", some it is easy for, almost nothing seems to "bother" or provoke them, so they can easily be kind, it is not this way for me, deep down inside a lot of things bother me and provoke me, I get angry and frustrated and wrathful and want to lash out, but no one would ever know it by meeting me, I have learned, through much practice how to bury those feelings and not let them surface, but there still there, practicing kindness toward everyone is not something I do by instinct, but is something I have learned to do over time by exerting my will over those feelings, I used to have an anger problem as a youth and teenager and some remnant of that is still with me, but I don't act on it anymore...

If you met me in person you'd think I was a most loving, caring, kind, meek, mild, gentle and humble person, but some of it's a front, I act this way and behave this way toward people because I know IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO, and I want to do what is right and follow Jesus example, but people try to walk all over me and think I am weak... Well, I tell you you it takes a great deal more strength to have these feelings, but not act on them and always try to do what is right and good, regardless of those feelings, but sometimes I get tired and it seems that no one else in my life is doing this and trying as hard as I am to always do what is right and good and be kind...

So, sometimes, I lose hope and think to myself, "Why, oh why in hell am I doing this when no one else around me is?" Most of them act like a^sholes all of the time, like unreasoning animals, when they feel something, they instantly act on it with no regard for the consequences or who they hurt... Sometimes I wonder if there is a time and place when acting on those feelings is appropriate, a way to stand up for and defend yourself when you or the innocent, or others like you are being abused or mistreated, Sometimes I wonder if "always" stuffing those feelings is healthly, because it really, really "hurts" a lot, I wonder if I would feel better if I acted like them?

I wish it were easy for me to loving, gentle and kind all the time, like it is for some, but truth be told for me, it is not... Is it more loving to take the pain caused by others, and not do anything in return, or should you sometimes put a^sholes in their place, in a tightly controled, brutally honest manner? Either way it really hurts and it seems as if you can't avoid or get away from the pain... If you really care about them should you call them out, perhaps with a brutally honest sharp cutting rebuke, or do you let it go? If you do let it go, do you really care about them, since your not saying or doing anything to correct them and are basically letting them "get away with murder", and if you don't do something to stop it, how many other people will they hurt down the line, and what about their etrnal soul?

If you really care about their soul and eternal existence, shouldn't you do something? What if they go to hell because you never warned or rebuked them? Are you then partially responsible, for who they are or who they become or how they turn out or where they end up? What if it turns out that you were the only one in the world who "could" do something about it, but didn't? Are you weak or strong? Good or Bad?

I feel like Paul, "miserable man that I am..."

I'm confused...

Comments?

God Bless!

 

[Neogaia777]

A song for me and others like me who feel like I do...

God Bless!

 

[razzelflabben]

I don't know that it is kindness that causes people to mistreat me, but maybe it is. I could tell you all kinds of horror stories. Sometimes, when I am yielded to the HS it is easy to be nice, other times when it is just my power, I too really struggle.

I would like to leave you with this thought, a passage for you to consider and pray about and even take some time to meditate on it. John 15:18-25

That being said, I cannot say that being mistreated for Christ likeness is easy, but I will declare to the world that it is a great honor and if we would learn to understand it that way, it would bring us the kind of peace that God promised.

May you find peace as you set your mind and heart on HIm. May you always be a light in the darkness no matter how hard it becomes.

 

[Neogaia777]

I don't know that it is kindness that causes people to mistreat me, but maybe it is. I could tell you all kinds of horror stories. Sometimes, when I am yielded to the HS it is easy to be nice, other times when it is just my power, I too really struggle.

I would like to leave you with this thought, a passage for you to consider and pray about and even take some time to meditate on it. John 15:18-25

That being said, I cannot say that being mistreated for Christ likeness is easy, but I will declare to the world that it is a great honor and if we would learn to understand it that way, it would bring us the kind of peace that God promised.

May you find peace as you set your mind and heart on HIm. May you always be a light in the darkness no matter how hard it becomes.

I heard that people who are kind and gentle and loving (and always absorbing the pain and hurt and mistreatment of others) actually "attract" and draw these kind of people into their lives, are we really always to absorb the pain and mistreatment by others, doing nothing about it in return? Aren't we doing them a great diservice, by not doing anything about it? What if were the only ones who "can" do anything about it, and we choose not to, is that really loving them? What about their eternity? Shouldn't we care about that? What if you rebuke them and save their soul from hell? In that case, and under these motives, is it not the "right" thing to do, or not?

P.S. As for me the pain is equally yoked either way, and I cannot get away from it or escape it... I just want to do the right thing, and know what is right to do...

I am tormented by this all of time and would like to settle this... Is this what Jesus and those who truly followed him and were like him and had the weight of the responsibility of telling others the "truth" about the things of God, especially his judgments and justice, felt inside? Is this really the way it feels when you care and accept responsibility for other peoples eternal souls? If so, I gotta tell you it really "sucks" bad and I don't know if I want it...

Can you "help"?

God Bless!

 

[Winken]

In loving kindness, Neogaia777, who is in the driver's seat? Those of us who have been Spiritually birthed have instantaneous contact with the Holy Spirit, 24/7/365. The only thing that gets between us and Him is doubt. That's when you do battle with that old sinful nature. It tells you to forget these Christians, these nay-sayers, go your own way, do it your way. The Spiritual Nature that inhabits you says "Peace. My Peace I give to you. Trust me. Believe me. Let's pray together. Let's rejoice in the Lord."

To do that you have to override the sinful nature. Guess what? You can't do it. He can. He will. He is aways in you, always with you. He is the Great Comforter. He is the One with all the answers.

Someone wrote, "Lean on me when your'e not strong, I'll be your friend, I'll help you carry on." HE IS your Friend.

 

[razzelflabben]

I heard that people who are kind and gentle and loving (and always absorbing the pain and hurt and mistreatment of others) actually "attract" and draw these kind of people into their lives, are we really always to absorb the pain and mistreatment by others, doing nothing about it in return? Aren't we doing them a great diservice, by not doing anything about it? What if were the only ones who "can" do anything about it, and we choose not to, is that really loving them? What about their eternity? Shouldn't we care about that? What if you rebuke them and save their soul from hell? In that case, and under these motives, is it not the "right" thing to do, or not?

P.S. As for me the pain is equally yoked either way, and I cannot get away from it or escape it... I just want to do the right thing, and know what is right to do...

I am tormented by this all of time and would like to settle this... Is this what Jesus and those who truly followed him and were like him and had the weight of the responsibility of telling others the "truth" about the things of God, especially his judgments and justice, felt inside? Is this really the way it feels when you care and accept responsibility for other peoples eternal souls? If so, I gotta tell you it really "sucks" bad and I don't know if I want it...

Can you "help"?

God Bless!

First, the answer to most of these questions is LOVE. One thing that most people don't know about Love (Biblical Love) is that it has a goal. The goal tells us when to speak and when to keep silent. The goal is reconciliation/restoration first to God then to man. IOW's if you are speaking because you are hurt, not a good reason. If you are speaking because you seek reconciliation then it's good. I know that might not sound like a lot of help, but it really does go along way when you pray first for God to show you what you need to know.

Second, the core of Love is humility, humility like that of Christ. Pride is part of the old man that dies very slowly, give yourself time to learn to be humble like Christ. Just for the record, humility isn't putting yourself down, rather it is thinking about the other person more than you think about yourself. When we learn to put that other person first, we discover that humility is growing and in that, the new man is taking more and more control over our hearts and desires.

I have been walked on my whole life, even had a knife pulled on me without me knowing about it at the time. Through a miracle, God intervened and nothing happened that God didn't use. Point being, you are in no danger when others abuse you for your kindness. This too is in God's capable hands and as such He will use it for your good, the trick is trusting God with His promise to use it for your good.

One of the things that happened to me as a young kid, was that I was ignored when I showed severe allergy to certain foods. This has (long story) escalated into a very difficult and painful life in which I am basically struggling to move at all. Every single day of my life, every single moment of the day I am reminded of the depraved indifference of people that are both close to me and not so close to me. I can't escape the reminders, I can't escape the results of others abuse on my life. Yet I will tell you without question that God isn't about to allow their evil to overtake me unless I push God away.

So, third thing, learn to trust God, learn to allow HIm to show you what you cannot see in your flesh.

Finally, it is worth every single moment of endurance when we do it for God and not for ourselves. I know that sounds hollow when one is in the middle of suffering. I am having issues right now myself that I want someone to "pity" me for and yet that doesn't make me happy either because Christ came to break the power of sin and death not allow it to overcome us. Let God break the hold others evil has over you and the struggle you are having and in that discover the power of God to overcome even this.

 

[Neogaia777]

First, the answer to most of these questions is LOVE. One thing that most people don't know about Love (Biblical Love) is that it has a goal. The goal tells us when to speak and when to keep silent.

So, pick and choose your battles very carefully under the guidance and direction of God/Jesus/Holy Spirit, right?

The goal is reconciliation/restoration first to God then to man.

I feel pretty good about my reconciliation to God (now, for there were times in my past that I did not), what I'm working on now, and what is hard for me, is my reconciliation with man...

IOW's if you are speaking because you are hurt, not a good reason. If you are speaking because you seek reconciliation then it's good.

Yeah, I am currently having difficulty with that, discerning the difference and not to speak just because "I" am hurt... As stated above I am now comfortable with my reconciliation with God, the problem for me is man... What if your angry and wish to speak because of the harm, not done to you, but done to your brothers and sisters by the wicked... those who are innocent, the weak, and those not as capable of standing up for or defending themselves as you might be...? And you feel a need to do it, is that "righteous"?

I know that might not sound like a lot of help, but it really does go along way when you pray first for God to show you what you need to know.

Yes, prayer is important and seeking God's guidance, direction, and advice through prayer, good point...

Second, the core of Love is humility, humility like that of Christ. Pride is part of the old man that dies very slowly, give yourself time to learn to be humble like Christ. Just for the record, humility isn't putting yourself down, rather it is thinking about the other person more than you think about yourself. When we learn to put that other person first, we discover that humility is growing and in that, the new man is taking more and more control over our hearts and desires.

I feel pretty good about that... (now in my life anyway)

I have been walked on my whole life, even had a knife pulled on me without me knowing about it at the time. Through a miracle, God intervened and nothing happened that God didn't use. Point being, you are in no danger when others abuse you for your kindness. This too is in God's capable hands and as such He will use it for your good, the trick is trusting God with His promise to use it for your good.

One of the things that happened to me as a young kid, was that I was ignored when I showed severe allergy to certain foods. This has (long story) escalated into a very difficult and painful life in which I am basically struggling to move at all. Every single day of my life, every single moment of the day I am reminded of the depraved indifference of people that are both close to me and not so close to me. I can't escape the reminders, I can't escape the results of others abuse on my life. Yet I will tell you without question that God isn't about to allow their evil to overtake me unless I push God away.

So, third thing, learn to trust God, learn to allow HIm to show you what you cannot see in your flesh.

Finally, it is worth every single moment of endurance when we do it for God and not for ourselves. I know that sounds hollow when one is in the middle of suffering. I am having issues right now myself that I want someone to "pity" me for and yet that doesn't make me happy either because Christ came to break the power of sin and death not allow it to overcome us. Let God break the hold others evil has over you and the struggle you are having and in that discover the power of God to overcome even this.

Thank You,

God Bless!

 

[razzelflabben]

So, pick and choose your battles very carefully under the guidance and direction of God/Jesus/Holy Spirit, right?

exactly

I feel pretty good about my reconciliation to God (now, for there were times in my past that I did not), what I'm working on now, and what is hard for me, is my reconciliation with man...

that is part of it, but the other part is others reconciling with God and others.

Let me see, an illustration. In situations like this there are always at least two people...Love deals with both. So, Love asks you to be reconciled but it also asks the other person to be reconciled. In the case of my dad, that never happened, but in the case of my husband it happened beautifully. When you deal with others, keep in mind that Love isn't just for you, it is for you and for others.

Yeah, I am currently having difficulty with that, discerning the difference and not to speak just because "I" am hurt... As stated above I am now comfortable with my reconciliation with God, the problem for me is man... What if your angry and wish to speak because of the harm, not done to you, but done to your brothers and sisters by the wicked... those who are innocent, the weak, and those not as capable of standing up for or defending themselves as you might be...? And you feel a need to do it, is that "righteous"?

the same rules apply.

My husbands family were missionaries to Nigeria. The very people they served and lived with and taught and loved are being attacked by Boko Harm...the pain that causes our family is unbelievable, but we dare not speak to Boko Harm if we are not prepared to do so with the purpose of bringing them to a point of reconciliation to God and to man. That is the point, Love works on both people, you and the one who is living in evil.

Yes, prayer is important and seeking God's guidance, direction, and advice through prayer, good point...



I feel pretty good about that... (now in my life anyway)



Thank You,

God Bless!

May you find God's strength in your weakness and His peace in the midst of your greatest storms.

 

[Neogaia777]

All I know is that kindness, and a gentle, meek and mild humble example ISN"T WORKING, I am becoming increasingly more and more aware that it utterly fails and accomplishes NOTHING... Loving kindness is failing me... My only other option, become and [bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse] to confront the other [bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse]s, break others spirits, bring their pride down low, essentially murder and kill with words of a sharp, cutting rebuke, according to the Bible, myself and others like me must "warn" people, or we will be held responsible by God if we don't, especially if they end up in hell because we did not warn them, we may wind up there too...

With great Biblical knowledge and revelation comes great responsibility, if only I had known this before I passed the point of no return...

Does anyone else feel this way?

 

[com7fy8]

"swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath" (in James 1:19)

"Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you." (Ephesians 4:31-32)

Being kind is not only acting kind.

 

[razzelflabben]

All I know is that kindness, and a gentle, meek and mild humble example ISN"T WORKING, I am becoming increasingly more and more aware that it utterly fails and accomplishes NOTHING... Loving kindness is failing me... My only other option, become and [bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse] to confront the other [bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse]s, break others spirits, bring their pride down low, essentially murder and kill with words of a sharp, cutting rebuke, according to the Bible, myself and others like me must "warn" people, or we will be held responsible by God if we don't, especially if they end up in hell because we did not warn them, we may wind up there too...

With great Biblical knowledge and revelation comes great responsibility, if only I had known this before I passed the point of no return...

Does anyone else feel this way?

Please listen to me...what I "hear" in this post is emotion, justified though they are, emotions are seldom truth and rarely in line with God's word. Getting past emotions into trust in the Lord produces great wealth in heavenly treasures.

 

[Neogaia777]

Please listen to me...what I "hear" in this post is emotion, justified though they are, emotions are seldom truth and rarely in line with God's word. Getting past emotions into trust in the Lord produces great wealth in heavenly treasures.

You don't understand, I've denied my emotions, my feelings, my heart all my life, I used to think like you, thinking that logic and reason could solve everything, thinking there was no place or no good purpose to emotional considerations, but Jesus, the prophets, and the apostles, "felt" with their "hearts" and acted upon them, your "dead" without your feelings, your emotions, your heart, without heart a man is nothing... And I feel like I've lost mine and am wondering if I need to get back to it, how can one be righteous or take a stand for righteousness sake, without first feeling it in their heart in the form of an emotion and having an emotional response? Sure, emotions can be wrong, but they can also be right, (as is the case in men of God, who are my example) I desperately want to know the difference, and am hoping I can learn this from great men of God of old...

For example, "anger" is not always bad, anger over injustice can move one to do something about it, which may be needed and very neccessary, I would call this righteous anger, anger like great men of God "felt" in their "heart" that became fuel for them, and became their source of power that gave them the strength that it takes to change it forever, I admire this, I want this...

God Bless!

 

[razzelflabben]

You don't understand, I've denied my emotions, my feelings, my heart all my life, I used to think like you, thinking that logic and reason could solve everything, thinking there was no place or no good purpose to emotional considerations, but Jesus, the prophets, and the apostles, "felt" with their "hearts" and acted upon them, your "dead" without your feelings, your emotions, your heart, without heart a man is nothing... And I feel like I've lost mine and am wondering if I need to get back to it, how can one be righteous or take a stand for righteousness sake, without first feeling it in their heart in the form of an emotion and having an emotional response? Sure, emotions can be wrong, but they can also be right, (as is the case in men of God, who are my example) I desperately want to know the difference, and am hoping I can learn this from great men of God of old...

God Bless!

okay, how many years is enough? I am almost 56 years old and there hasn't been a single season of my life in which someone wasn't trying to take advantage of me and use me because of my faith.

I am not advocating that you don't "feel" or even act upon your feelings. I get angry all the time. But we are commanded to be angry but sin not. Emotions aren't bad, they are part of God's perfect design. Here is how I explain it to my children, see if that helps. We need to learn to control our emotions rather than to allow our emotions to control us. What did Christ do when He felt the strongest emotions known to man? Every single time He went to God in prayer and to scripture so that He controlled His emotions rather than allowing HIs emotions to control Him. that is all I am saying to you here. Feeling all you can and do, then pray and seek counsel in scripture and in godly counsel before acting on that emotion so that your emotions do not result in sin of your own making.

 

[Neogaia777]

okay, how many years is enough? I am almost 56 years old and there hasn't been a single season of my life in which someone wasn't trying to take advantage of me and use me because of my faith.

I am not advocating that you don't "feel" or even act upon your feelings. I get angry all the time. But we are commanded to be angry but sin not. Emotions aren't bad, they are part of God's perfect design. Here is how I explain it to my children, see if that helps. We need to learn to control our emotions rather than to allow our emotions to control us. What did Christ do when He felt the strongest emotions known to man? Every single time He went to God in prayer and to scripture so that He controlled His emotions rather than allowing HIs emotions to control Him. that is all I am saying to you here. Feeling all you can and do, then pray and seek counsel in scripture and in godly counsel before acting on that emotion so that your emotions do not result in sin of your own making.

It's walking a tightrope for sure, But Jesus did act on his emotions and feelings, including anger, in a tghtly controled manner, especially with the Pahrisees, "He" ALWAYS did it "right" and he is my example...

It's all too easy to wage war against feelings and emotions, and say that they are "bad" and deny them and become like Vulcans, I see the world headed this way/direction, but the consequences are that if no one really "feels" then no one really cares, and they don't really Love, and they become cold and cerebral, with no passion and are all but dead inside, leading to a lack of true compassion, that, all to often leads to selfish ways and self-centeredness... Love will die without heart...

Heart, emotions and feelings can be right or wrong, when they are wrong, they can lead to uneccessary pain, hurt, abuse and suffering and can cause a lot, a lot of problems in the world, and when they are wrong, they are sin, but, when they are "right", they can empower people to move mountians and be world changers and can set the world right and on the right track and can change peoples lives forever, in a good way, and is considered "righteous" instead of sin...

The problem is, we are flawed and imperfect and are incapable of always doing this right, no matter how hard we try, we are taking a risk and we are going to make mistakes and be wrong and sin by doing this sometimes... so, is it worth it? I guess that is the question we have to ask ourselves...

God Bless!

 

[Neogaia777]

Wrestling with an angel...

So, I got angry and asked the voice in my head "Are you actually saying to me, If you truly Love them, you must hurt them, in order to save them." How f-ed up is that? How can that be love? I must hurt and wound deeply and cause great pain to my family, friends, children, and beloved ones, the ones I love the most? I won't do it... Why do you ask this of me? Then he said "If you really love them truly selflessly and really do care about them and their eternal existence and not just your own, you will do it..." Then I said "I can't, I won't, I refuse..." Then he said "That's pretty selfish of you, isn't it?" Then I said "I don't care!" Then he said "Oh, but you do, which is why I ask this of you. I am asking you to the harder thing for you, the truly selfless thing, to not only do what gives you peace or peace of mind but to do what makes makes you unsettled and uncomfortable and sacrifice your own peace of mind and comfort and self-assurance in your own eternal soul, for theirs... I am asking you to take a risk and take a chance... Besides, you will not save your own soul by remaining "comfortable" in life and only caring about your own peace and eternal fate, very selfishly I might add, you expect God to "reward" for that and grant you eternal life in heaven? Tell me, how does that work?"

Then I said, "I'm not strong enough, it hurts to bad." Then he said "Stop making excuses, or I will have to slap you, I happen to know that you are strong enough, one of the few left in this world that is, "fear" is holding you back, fear of being hated, despised, rejected, forsaken, abandoned by men and living your life as an outcast, fear of being alone and lonely... You should fear God and not man... You have an advantage, you are no longer a part of this world system, as they are, you are an outsider and it takes and outsider to do this... Then I said, "But I was once just like them, I would be the worlds biggest hypocrite if I do what you ask." Then he said "But you are no longer that way, would you rather that the only way they be saved is to suffer greatly over many years and go through the school of hard knocks and lose everything and everyone and be destitute, abandoned, and alone and have nothing in life, as you have, when, even then, there is no real reassurance that they will learn, or would you rather rebuke them and cause them only a fleeting moment of pain and that mainly to their pride?"

Then I said "I don't know?" Then he said, "Well, know this: If you stand idly by and do nothing, neither them or you will go to heaven, you will all go to hell, is that what you want?" Then I said "So, your telling me I have no choice? I thought Jesus already settled this?" Then he said, "He did, but no one is really listening to him, and no one is paying attention to him, and no one can really "hear" him or even truly understand his words and what he is saying with accuracy, until they wind up where you are now, and, even then, there is no real reassurance that they will or can, like you do... With that understanding comes heavy responsibility, I appollogize, but that is the way of things... You must temporarily do what hurts you and them or there will be no hope for any of you..." Then I said, "even if I do what you ask, they may just get angry and not repent and not be saved anyway..."

Then he said "True, some will, some won't, but, if you choose to act, some will be saved along with yourself, but if you do not act, none will, neither them or yourself... And those who don't or won't be moved to repentance by your words and those that are or do, will be a separating work in preparation for the return of the Lord, when he comes to judge on Judgment Day and grant some eternal life in heaven, and some eternal suffering in hell..." Then I said "Just who are you? What is your name?" Then he said "Why do you ask for my name? Know that I am an angel of the Lord, and that is all that I am telling you..." Then he said "Look, I have told you the options, I have presented and delivered the choices to you and I have told you the truth, the rest I leave up to you..." Then he left me and I heard him no more...

And I wanted to curse him and I got angry and said "I am not responsible for the fate of other people!" "This is too much to take and bear, this is not my job, how can you do this to me, how can you put this heavy weight and burden upon me, I am nobody, I'm nothing, this is Jesus job and responsibility alone, NOT MINE, how can "I" be called to this? But there was no answer, for he was no longer there...

 

[Neogaia777]

I'm feeling... "Under Pressure"

 

[Far Side Of the Moon]

I understand this... Being too "nice" led me to stay longer than I should have have in a bad church thinking its "gods will" ...

I think you should show kindness to all people.. But if they repeatedly show you they dont appreciate you... Leave them be... Even Jesus shook the dust off his shoes in towns that wouldn't believe..

And we advise those in abusive situations to leave.

We teach people how to treat us...
As much as God wants us to be kind..he wasnts us to be strong and have some self esteem as well...that cant happen if you're being used as a doormat.

 

[Far Side Of the Moon]

Wrestling with an angel...

So, I got angry and asked the voice in my head "Are you actually saying to me, If you truly Love them, you must hurt them, in order to save them." How f-ed up is that? How can that be love? I must hurt and wound deeply and cause great pain to my family, friends, children, and beloved ones, the ones I love the most? I won't do it... Why do you ask this of me? Then he said "If you really love them truly selflessly and really do care about them and their eternal existence and not just your own, you will do it..." Then I said "I can't, I won't, I refuse..." Then he said "That's pretty selfish of you, isn't it?" Then I said "I don't care!" Then he said "Oh, but you do, which is why I ask this of you. I am asking you to the harder thing for you, the truly selfless thing, to not only do what gives you peace or peace of mind but to do what makes makes you unsettled and uncomfortable and sacrifice your own peace of mind and comfort and self-assurance in your own eternal soul, for theirs... I am asking you to take a risk and take a chance... Besides, you will not save your own soul by remaining "comfortable" in life and only caring about your own peace and eternal fate, very selfishly I might add, you expect God to "reward" for that and grant you eternal life in heaven? Tell me, how does that work?"

Then I said, "I'm not strong enough, it hurts to bad." Then he said "Stop making excuses, or I will have to slap you, I happen to know that you are strong enough, one of the few left in this world that is, "fear" is holding you back, fear of being hated, despised, rejected, forsaken, abandoned by men and living your life as an outcast, fear of being alone and lonely... You should fear God and not man... You have an advantage, you are no longer a part of this world system, as they are, you are an outsider and it takes and outsider to do this... Then I said, "But I was once just like them, I would be the worlds biggest hypocrite if I do what you ask." Then he said "But you are no longer that way, would you rather that the only way they be saved is to suffer greatly over many years and go through the school of hard knocks and lose everything and everyone and be destitute, abandoned, and alone and have nothing in life, as you have, when, even then, there is no real reassurance that they will learn, or would you rather rebuke them and cause them only a fleeting moment of pain and that mainly to their pride?"

Then I said "I don't know?" Then he said, "Well, know this: If you stand idly by and do nothing, neither them or you will go to heaven, you will all go to hell, is that what you want?" Then I said "So, your telling me I have no choice? I thought Jesus already settled this?" Then he said, "He did, but no one is really listening to him, and no one is paying attention to him, and no one can really "hear" him or even truly understand his words and what he is saying with accuracy, until they wind up where you are now, and, even then, there is no real reassurance that they will or can, like you do... With that understanding comes heavy responsibility, I appollogize, but that is the way of things... You must temporarily do what hurts you and them or there will be no hope for any of you..." Then I said, "even if I do what you ask, they may just get angry and not repent and not be saved anyway..."

Then he said "True, some will, some won't, but, if you choose to act, some will be saved along with yourself, but if you do not act, none will, neither them or yourself... And those who don't or won't be moved to repentance by your words and those that are or do, will be a separating work in preparation for the return of the Lord, when he comes to judge on Judgment Day and grant some eternal life in heaven, and some eternal suffering in hell..." Then I said "Just who are you? What is your name?" Then he said "Why do you ask for my name? Know that I am an angel of the Lord, and that is all that I am telling you..." Then he said "Look, I have told you the options, I have presented and delivered the choices to you and I have told you the truth, the rest I leave up to you..." Then he left me and I heard him no more...

And I wanted to curse him and I got angry and said "I am not responsible for the fate of other people!" "This is too much to take and bear, this is not my job, how can you do this to me, how can you put this heavy weight and burden upon me, I am nobody, I'm nothing, this is Jesus job and responsibility alone, NOT MINE, how can "I" be called to this? But there was no answer, for he was no longer there...

Wow...atleast he talked to you..if he told me all of that...id do it .

 

[com7fy8]

All I know is that kindness, and a gentle, meek and mild humble example ISN"T WORKING, I am becoming increasingly more and more aware that it utterly fails and accomplishes NOTHING... Loving kindness is failing me...

Peter says,

"nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock." (1 Peter 5:3)

So, yes example does work. But part of our example includes how we are committed to staying the right way and not allowing wrong people to have power over us to make us quit.

"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." (Romans 12:21)

And Jesus says,

"'Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.'" (Matthew 11:28-29)

So, yes Jesus wants to take care of us, emotionally and spiritually, while He has us serving Him by reaching others. Jesus is "gentle and lowly in heart" > the emotions of His love are gentle and humble. And we do have self control.

But yes there is rebuking. We need to first be with God, so we get this right. Part of this, I consider, is how when we become angry for a right reason, the wrong people do not have power to control our emotions. Also, when the LORD was angry, He also did what was creative to make things better. So, there is confrontation and bringing what is better.

"He can have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself is also subject to weakness." (Hebrews 5:2)

There is rebuking but also example ready, I would say. We confront while also encouraging all that is so better.

 

[razzelflabben]

It's walking a tightrope for sure, But Jesus did act on his emotions and feelings, including anger, in a tghtly controled manner, especially with the Pahrisees, "He" ALWAYS did it "right" and he is my example...

exactly...

It's all too easy to wage war against feelings and emotions, and say that they are "bad" and deny them and become like Vulcans, I see the world headed this way/direction, but the consequences are that if no one really "feels" then no one really cares, and they don't really Love, and they become cold and cerebral, with no passion and are all but dead inside, leading to a lack of true compassion, that, all to often leads to selfish ways and self-centeredness... Love will die without heart...

where I agree with the conclusion, my fear is that we are becoming a society that lives in the emotion. We see this in the social justice arguments on a daily basis. We see it in a vast number of churches where sensual experiences are all that matter. But the nasty little secret that we often forget is that Satan wants us to live in the sensual desires of the flesh rather than the victory of living for the sake of righteousness. IOW's where we cannot deny nor should be deny our emotions, like Christ we need to have them as you say above, "tightly controlled". In fact, one of the fruit of the Spirit is self control and it is seldom taught in our churches today. Rather we make excuses. My greatest fear in people who are abused because of things like kindness and truly my greatest battle in my own abuses, is learning to live above emotions by giving even the emotions to God and letting Him take them from me. Giving our emotions to God is an act of maturing in Christ. Living a self controlled life is an act of yielding to the Holy Spirit.

Now that being said, as I said, I agree with your conclusion. Love that is real Love, Godlike Love, Biblical Love is emotions, actions, attitude and more. It consumes the whole man and many people forget this. That is why many people try to dismiss emotions and try to assert that if you have forgiven or if you X, Y, or Z, you will forget or be emotionless. But God in His wisdom created us to have emotions and He did so with great wisdom for as you say, they can be wonderful allies but they can also be our downfall which is why we must always act not react when it comes to Loving others.

Heart, emotions and feelings can be right or wrong, when they are wrong, they can lead to uneccessary pain, hurt, abuse and suffering and can cause a lot, a lot of problems in the world, and when they are wrong, they are sin, but, when they are "right", they can empower people to move mountians and be world changers and can set the world right and on the right track and can change peoples lives forever, in a good way, and is considered "righteous" instead of sin...

The problem is, we are flawed and imperfect and are incapable of always doing this right, no matter how hard we try, we are taking a risk and we are going to make mistakes and be wrong and sin by doing this sometimes... so, is it worth it? I guess that is the question we have to ask ourselves...

God Bless!

The "flaw" of man is our greatest treasure if we allow it to be, because it should drive us to the Lord of Lords and King of Kings and there, we find the strength to endure, the peace that passes all understanding and the self control that leads to righteousness. With the HS in our lives, our only reason to fail is that we didn't yield to HIM the control that we should have. Christ's Love is a Love so complete that it leaves us without excuse.