Stained Glass Masquerade

[tbpew]

Originally Posted by Pastor Poster

In fact, there is no real repentance apart from complete truthfulness with God. How can God forgive that which is not confessed?

How many Christians walk through life defeated because they do not trust a God who knows them inside and out?

A big loud AMEN.
thanks for the provoking to good works.

....
curious about what you feel the women at the well withheld as truth?

She was asked to "go call her husband" and she admitted she had no husband. Would you have expected that she should have replied, I have no husband and I am living with a man who is not my husband?

just wondering....

[Nahum]

Originally Posted by Barb

Looking inward is not an easy thing, especially when we set ourselves on a plain that it's not us "but them."

"To thine own self be true" should be the hallmark of the heart of every believer...

Romans 7:24
O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

[Nahum]

Originally Posted by Felicity

We may as well be REAL and honest with Him. He knows us anyhow - every detail.

I don't think it's so difficult to be transparent before the Lord ....... opening up our hearts and minds and souls to Him and just "baring it all" and laying there before Him. Part of the reason is because we know God loves us and isn't condemning. Sadly, others are. They'll strike, hurt and even kill even those who are wounded and justify it too.

It's 'others' that it's not so easy being so transparent with ..... and often wisely so.

TD Jakes series "Keepers of the Flame" is one of the most powerful tools I have ever viewed for ministry. In one of the sermons he states that "there are people dying to get close to you and to know you, and the minute they do, they will hate you".

I think part of the problem with keepin' it real is that we are an immature church at times. We all too often forget that "all have sinned and come short of the glory of God".

We worship what we THINK people should be, instead of accepting them for who they are.

[Nahum]

Originally Posted by tbpew

A big loud AMEN.
thanks for the provoking to good works.

....
curious about what you feel the women at the well withheld as truth?

She was asked to "go call her husband" and she admitted she had no husband. Would you have expected that she should have replied, I have no husband and I am living with a man who is not my husband?

just wondering....

She was not dishonest. She just withheld the gory details.

I'm sure she did so to protect herself.

We all want people to view us in the best possible light.

The thing is, God sees it all.

There is no thought, word, or action hidden from Him.

We would do well to confess that which he already knows.

[Nahum]

Consider Adam and Eve's response to the voice of God calling to them in the cool of the day.
Genesis 3:

8
Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden.

9 But the LORD God called to the man, "Where are you?"

10 He answered, "I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid."

[Barb]

Originally Posted by Felicity

We may as well be REAL and honest with Him. He knows us anyhow - every detail.

I don't think it's so difficult to be transparent before the Lord ....... opening up our hearts and minds and souls to Him and just "baring it all" and laying there before Him. Part of the reason is because we know God loves us and isn't condemning. Sadly, others are. They'll strike, hurt and even kill even those who are wounded and justify it too.

It's 'others' that it's not so easy being so transparent with ..... and often wisely so.

A BIG amen to that, sis...

Wow. There's a cynic feeling to this thread >_<.

[Scott Hutchinson]

I find it is easier to be honest with God,than it is with some church folk,cause if you admit you don't have it all nailed down they think you're backslid.