Quote from Forum Archives on June 16, 2000, 3:40 pm

Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>

Dear friends,

I keep certain messages, things that I either want to remember,
or might want to share again. The following letter comes from
one of my friends on the Internet. I took out (hopefully all) of
the identifying things in the message. But I thought that the
message was moving enough that I would like to share it with all
of you today.

What a wonderful Lord we have, who can break down all ways and
change our hearts... from the Inside Out...

Brother Brian

"But you know, it really gets me to thinking, wouldn't it be nice
if our love for one another were so obvious that people would see
it, and want to have that for themselves? That's EXACTLY what
the Word tells us. To summarize what it says, for some, when we
are followers of Jesus Christ, we are automatically HATED,
because those same people hate Jesus Christ. But for many
people, especially those who have never heard or understood
before, they identify only with the way we act. To act in
appropriate love, that is, patient, kind, self controlled, full
of joy, peace and goodness, and gentle in our ways, the vast
majority of people WILL respond to such a person."

Brian...in deeper response to the above quote from you
yesterday...I wanted to share with you a letter that I wrote last
weekend to Dr. Larry Crabb who wrote many books, one of which is
entitled "Connecting". I went to an all day seminar about his
book last Saturday. Brian, I was amazed at what I learned about
God. It has very much to do with what you refer to above. The
letter is more about me and my life, but how it pertains to what
Larry proposed at his seminar and through his book. Though I do
not know you well, and have never heard of your life
experiences...here is a peek into mine. The premise is about
"knowing" one another and seeing one another as God sees us. It's
all about creating a safe community...read on...

Dear Larry,

March 7, 1999

I was at your seminar on Saturday. I met you at the water
fountain. (the symbolism is enormous to me.) I was the woman
drinking from the "well". My name is . God
has been piercing my heart over these past few years as a
Christian. On March 31, it will be 6 years for me. My life has
been filled with suffering and anguish. Physically abusive,
alcoholic father - My virginity "seized" away at 14 yrs. old by a
17 yr. old boy who monstrously manipulated my broken soul for his
own gain-many more after him. Emotionally abusive, alcoholic,
drug addict first husband- whom I demanded leave after 7 years of
"sobriety" in AA-he got sober-it wasn't good enough to fill the
hole inside of me. After he left, I became a Christian-I invited
him to come back-he declined.

I found God through a Christian man who took a huge risk to date
me-I had three daughters, and he conveniently used them to excuse
himself from our VERY GODLY relationship. He was the only man
who I had ever dated in a healthy way. I was so in love-maybe
too much in love. (You taught me yesterday, that he was an idol
for me-God would not have that.)

For the next few years, my "single" walk with the Lord was not a
model for others to look up to. I went wild and allowed satan to
dally with my soul. I was looking for love everywhere, but to
God. It was so very unfulfilling-The hole was still there.

Almost 3 years ago, I met my present husband. He has 2 sons-12
and 16-I have 3 daughters-15, 10, and 10-(yes, twins). My
husband is not a Christian-He is not abusive-he is not an
alcoholic, or a drug addict-He is a widower and former 4th
generation Christian Scientist who lost his beloved and devout
wife and mother of his sons to breast cancer 8 years ago.
(Christian Scientists do not believe in going to doctors.) My
husband is a broken man who feels God has deserted him. He hates
the God he believed in and trusted. He is searching for another
God. I pray he will find the only true God, Jesus Christ. I
have two (step)sons that I don't know what to do with-no one has
grieved this loss. One of the boys (the oldest) has thoughts of
suicide. Two weeks ago, he spent 6 days in a psychiatric
hospital. My hole was getting biggerL.

I have been learning of God's unbelievable love for me. He has
been so gracious, and merciful to me-it is incomprehensible why
He would do that-for me! I don't deserve it! I should have AIDS
right now-or be in the ground for my disobedience! I have
recently come to the conclusion, that God did not save me because
He loves me-He loves me because He loves me-The hole is FILLED!!!
He saved me to do work for the glory of His name. He intends to
use EVERY SINGLE trial of my life to draw others closer to Him.
What could I possibly offer to anyone-! Nothing.

Nothing-because I was trying in my flesh to save these boys, and
this man-to make them feel better-It will not be me-it will be by
God. Moreover, it will be in His time-AND if He so chooses.

I have been praying about my inability to close my mouth, and
stay out of the way so that God can do things in these boys and
this man. I have been struggling. Blending a family is so very
difficult-and with these obstacles...one might just go "mad!" I
believe I have-I have again allowed satan to have a foothold on
me. I have been wrestling to get away from him and fall into the
arms of God. I have been crying out to the Lord-How! How! How
do I LOVE these people-!!!! Lord, you have to show me-because, I
don't love them. I don't understand them-they won't let me
in-. WHY WON'T THEY LET ME IN!!!!!!!!!!!

Yesterday, I learned why they won't let me in-

As non-Christians, they may not be able to reproduce spiritual
relating-But, they can see it when it comes out of me-they can,
and they will benefit from that. And I just want to tell you,
Larry-I praise God for you! I believe you have uncovered
something BIG. I know and understand that God has put something
into us. That new covenant-He has put the law within me-He has
given me a NEW heart!. I knew it before, but, I didn't
understand it, or believe it. God has used you to help me
understand that I CAN trust Him. (Trust comes long and hard for
many that have suffered-until they realize the reason for
suffering. "I am not an abuse victim-I am a saint who has been
abused".) I can trust Him! Because you have shown me that I DO
indeed, have His power-in the "upper room". God can love these
people through me-if I am willing to be an open vessel. "God can
sing His song through my lips!" I am amazed. When God can touch
them with His love-through me-it will be deeper than when they
were touched by hate-or consumed with it. I am praying for God's
continued revelation and comprehension of these concepts for
me-and for you and your family-for all of us-and that He will
bless others through me as I continue the walk down this dusty,
yet glorious road of my life.

Because He lives,

After writing that letter to Larry, I was able to verbalize a
burden that had been on my heart for such a long time...and then
I wrote to my pastor and his wife...I share this with you to
illustrate the fact that YES!...what you said above...IS
important. And we must DO something about it!

Dear Scott and Carrie,

I've been praying about this matter for a long time. Scott, you
know it has been on my heart to teach. However, as we have
discussed before, I don't have the ability to commit to EVERY
Sunday. Carrie, I have shared with you before about the burden on
my heart for women. Young girls, single women, and the unequally
yoked. It has taken me so long to write and explain it to you
because it has been so difficult to put into words. Until my
prayer life exploded, and my connection with God is strong, I
didn't have the words. Today, I think it is time to communicate
it to you both.

I have a vision of women mentoring one another. I want so
desperately to equip the young girls, and the single women to
remain chaste and pure for their husbands, if they are to be
married someday. I have life experiences...I have painful
snapshots of memories whose only purpose is to remind me to help
those who come after me.

I see this beginning small...with our own girls and women...and
eventually to evolove into a community outreach of some sort.

I attended a seminar by Larry Crabb yesterday. He was speaking
primarily about his book "Connecting". I don't know if you are
familiar with it, but, he illustrated, through his talk, that we
can create a community of spiritual relating where we would
become equipped to really be there for each other. To throw off
our fleshly ways of relating, which are usually to hide things
about ourselves...and/or be selfish in our relating, such as the
battle within to get our own needs met.

To create and maintain an environment where superficiality does
not exist. That is to equip our people to become "safe" so that
God can work through each one of us to build one another up and
have vision for one another. That would be the first step.

To be sensitive to pain, BUT, not built on the sole basis of
mutual pain.

(I believe this ministry could diminish, (not eradicate) the need
for counseling. Of course, to refer people to counseling when
neccessary.)

The idea would be to have a vision for the person we are working
with by showing them who they are in Christ. This would be the
next step.

Then, the person would have a safe place, where they know they
are loved (vision for who they are is revealed)...where they know
that God loves them...then,the person we are working with has an
open mind and heart toward God. That is the time for showing
them what God's Word has to say about their lives. Then...

The final outcome: When this "community" stirs it: The person's
passion for "good" becomes stronger than her passion for "bad".
His commandments become an opportunity, rather than the burden we
thought they were all along!

Well, these are some of my first verbalized thoughts...I wanted
to share them with you. Perhaps they will be relevant to more
discussions in the future. Please share with me your thoughts.

Thanks,

So, Brian...just thought you might want to "know" a little bit
more about the people you minister to DAILY! AND what's going on
in our little corners of the world. If you could pray that God's
will be done in my life...in this potential new ministry...that
if we could reach out to one another as Christians...we could
reach out to the world and make difference.

In God's Grace AND mercy,

=====
--
Brian Masinick, "The Mas", mailto:[email protected]
Home page: www.geocities.com/masinick/
The Rules Have Changed...Get Paid to Surf the Web!
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