Quote from Forum Archives on June 14, 2000, 9:08 am

Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>

Dear Beth,

You are absolutely correct, as far as I am concerned, in everything you
say. The church is one, if not the primary, favorite, tool of Satan. Yet
the church is an important place for all of us. Let's first pray for "the
church" --- all the churches across our land, that the power of Satan be
bound from each place and the Lord Jesus, and the healing love that He
teaches, be what identifies and binds us together --- with cords that cannot
be broken. I pray for your specific church, that they may become a sensitive
body of believers, caring for one another, encouraging, just as the Word
teaches.

Beth, I also pray for you. Just based on your past letters, I know that you
are a woman of faith and conviction. But I also know that you are someone
with deep needs, both physical and emotional. It is not wrong for you to
desire that those needs be met. I pray for the people on our mailing list
often, both the ones who "speak up", and the many silent ones. In a very
real and tangible way, your spoken needs well represent the cross section
of the needs of the 1 Corinthians 7 and Word for Today readers.

Thank you so much for your faithfulness. Do not give up hope. Continue
to lift your needs before God. Let us know how you are doing, too, so that
we know how to pray. The bible, in James, tells us that the prayers of
a righteous one are powerful and effective. Well, the only righteousness
any of us have is from Jesus Christ, but it is indeed powerful and effective.
Moreover, the apostle Paul reminds us in Ephesians 3:20 that God is able
to do "immeasurably more than all we can ever ask or imagine". Paul tells
us in Philippians 4:4 to "Rejoice in the Lord always", and in Philippians
4:6-7 "6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer
and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the
peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and
your minds in Christ Jesus."

I urge you, Beth, and every one of us, to cling to each of the promises
of God. For those of us who are able, I also urge you to make a difference
in your local communities. Be kind to one another, and lift each other up,
whenever possible. Always encourage, and wherever possible, make an effort
to help others. We cannot solve every problem, but we can love one another,
both with what we say and what we do. I am convinced that these are the
things that really matter. May every attitude and action come, not from
within our own ways and means, but from the Spirit of God, who actually
dwells within those who trust and believe in Him, and place their hope in
Him alone. My fervent prayer is that each one of us become that kind of
people, for the eternal glory of our God. Amen.

Brother Brian

--- Beth Fisher <designsbyfisher@inteliport.com> wrote:
> Hi,
> Brother Brian, and other faithful prayer partners.
> Please forgive me for not writing lately. Things here are still very
> trying and Satan is using his favorite tool once again to bring down a
> Christian. The church.
> I'm still having major health problems, and although I'm at church every
> Sunday, sometimes I have to make a quick exit for the rest room with the
> nausea I experience from my migraines. I also have 8 teeth that are
> broken and the nerves are very much exposed. Add to that the worries of
> financial problems (my husband is still only making $6.60/hr - 40
> hour/wk), and I'm always suffering from headaches (cluster and stress as
> well as migraines). Well, I heard several church members say, "If she's
> that bad off, why doesn't she just go to the doctor for help." That
> hurts. I can't afford to go to the doctor. I had called to make an
> appointment with one, and when they found out that I don't have
> insurance, they said I had to pay 1/2 of the $250.00 visit fee before I
> could even be able to see the doctor and I could pay the remainder in
> the next 2 months. I just don't have it. I feel like standing up
> before the church and saying, "Thank you for offering to pay for my
> doctor visit!" I'm still trying to be pleasant.
>
> Another thing that they don't understand is that I will not let my pain
> run my life. I still homeschool my kids, and take them to the park
> frequently to play, and take them down to the river here to swim now
> that it's summer. Because I don't stay in bed all the time, they think
> I'm not that bad off. My husband has even started thinking that way.
> I'm not going to stay in bed, drugged up. I'm going to live the life
> God gave me, and raise the children he entrusted to me to the best of my
> ability. I don't want them to remember the pain, but the good times and
> things we did.
>
> Please keep me in your prayers. I'm sorry to complain so much, but I
> don't have anyone here who will listen except for my children, and I
> don't want to weigh them down with it.
>
> I am also working 3 jobs here at home, while I'm teaching the kids. It
> helps a little, but not much. God always provides, though, and I know
> He always will.
>
> We have a lot of family issues (not immediate, but extended) that are
> taxing as well.
>
> Please keep praying and thanks again for your love and support through
> this time of my life.
>
> In our Lord's service,
> Beth Fisher
> designsbyfisher@inteliport.com
>
>
>
> --
> To unsubscribe, send ANY message to <1corinthians7-unsubscribe@welovegod.org>
>

=====
--
Brian Masinick, "The Mas", mailto:masinick@yahoo.com
Home page: www.geocities.com/masinick/
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