Help I wish to help a friend.

[Kit Carson]

I have a situation that is one of my biggest challenges in life. So let me tell you a story a true one.

My friend is now in the last semester of life, a bit over 70. When he and his wife were young, they were missionaries and did a lot of work for God. This is a good man but he did become very hurt and became vocally an atheist. The reason for this is his wife became sick with cancer and died. This ladies brother was and is a minister and he told this man he would come and heal her......and she died at a young age when both were young. Now even though he is vocally an Atheist, he does show me if I can make him understand that his heart is sad, he does not understand, but is hurt more than actually and Atheist.

I seek not the why of that, my faith tells me the why of that.

This man is on the very edge of accepting God again, I can change him if I say the right thing. I have tried several times before, and always failed. Now again we are in discussion. I used some lessons taught to me by Brother Mike to good use today, I have him thinking.

No I have not relied only on me....I have asked God.....but I do wish to say the right thing.

I can say things like God wishes us to love him and sometimes does allow someone to die to show he does not wish to show control.....

I can say, original sin causes our sickness sometimes and if God knows your heart and you are right with God, to die is a reward . But this answer does not console the one left behind.

So again this man lost his wife while they were young, as best as I can tell, they were good, more or less just like us....not perfect but good. His wife was good, and a Christian , died of cancer and this friend took it personal and hated God.

Yes I know, it is his own way, his refusal to understand.....he has allowed his own pride and will to push God away. I know this.

So walking on eggshells with this one. I do wish to say the right things.

I am not a minister, I am just Kit......I do really want to help him, so I will listen to all your answers and put together one......

Say in your words what you think might help.....I cannot quote him a scripture as he will say......what do you feel......what is your answer.

I have a couple......some he may not wish to hear........but before I answer, I wish to listen you all of you. And God......I really do not want to mess this up......I want to win......no not for me, I want to stop his pain. To comfort him, to show him what we know.

I have time, I want to be sure, so all things will be considered. You never know what might be the key thing to say, so I will open all avenues to help......

Respectfully and Thank You.

Kit

 

[David777]

Hello Kit.

What can you say, that would be impossible to know.

Perhaps asking Jesus about this may prove to be the best option.

The Holy Spirit is the one who will perform the healing as you are aware.

Prayer is the default position at all times.

Let me know the outcome, thanks.

 

[Kit Carson]

What can you say, that would be impossible to know.

Perhaps asking Jesus about this may prove to be the best option.

The Holy Spirit is the one who will perform the healing as you are aware.

Prayer is the default position at all times.

Let me know the outcome, thanks.

Hi David:

It is a challenge, and I stumble and I hope. I made some progress and I know he is very curious as to how I can find hope and comfort even in the face of all that we see in life.

Yet it is a challenge to overcome a lifetime of hate and despair that builds within a person......so I can hope that God in his mercy does again take a hand. That is the only way it will happen, as we as men cannot prove anything...we are the messenger....is all.

I understand his sin of placing man above God and looking to man for salvation and the great dissatisfaction gained by this....but I am very hesitant at this point to directly tell him his sin.

I would prefer God reveal it to him in a gentle way.......

So still ........I have faith it will be so, and that I will learn also. So waking on eggs with faith and by example.

I will let you in on a little secret that I have long felt. I see goodness and mercy in God.....so much more so than we can even comprehend. So I do not fear or worry , I simply trust. I know that I do not know the mind of God.....I know this man is basically a good man but very confused with all the things life has brought to him, and still grieves for his wife. After all these years.

So I say I just trust God. And know whatever it will be fair and good.

Kit

 

[Peace Seeker]

Hi Kit,

I hope I can help, as I have been in a similar circumstance. I am going to try hard not to post any scriptures, even though I know there are TONS that are helpful and pertain to his situation. I will just give my personal example, and hopefully there is even one small nugget that will be helpful for your friend.

I can understand what your friend is going through, how traumatic and painful his situation was, to lose someone you love when you are young in life.

There was a time in my life when I turned my back on God - for a couple years - (after a traumatic experience in my life) - and was questioning God and shaking my fist at Him at every turn. I looked into atheism but never embraced it in my heart. In my rebellious mind I did somewhat, but only because I was hurting badly and wanted desperately to find peace and resolution to my hurt. And I stupidly thought I could somehow "get back" at God.
I also (wrongly) reasoned that if God was the source of the hurt and was so uncaring, that I had to look elsewhere to heal my hurt.

So I agree with what you said, that your friend is probably more hurt than actually an Atheist.

Of course, the things I believed then were lies of the enemy. That opportunist of evil, Satan, like a skillful predator came along and pounced on his prey, capitalizing on my bitterness, anger, resentment and rebellion towards God, continually whispering lies to me. A lot of times it is human nature to want to think the worst of people - right or wrong - when you have perceived that they have hurt you. Therefore I decided God didn't care about me at all.

That old serpent loves to hit us when we're down, and deceive us when we are weakened, which I am guessing is what happened to your friend. I only know what you said about him, but I have a hunch that is what he is going through..

The devil is very subtle and will do his best to try keep you just out of the reach of God. (I mean in your mind, because truly no one is out of God's reach, the devil's efforts to make us believe otherwise, notwithstanding). No one is better at deceiving than the arch-deceiver Satan.

I could write for hours but I know no one likes a long post (except for yours Kit ), so I'll try to sum this up now.

You can tell the following to your friend if you think it is applicable and can help even a little : You know what brought me back to God? The most feeble, dejected, almost non-existent faith of a cry to God. I don't remember what I said at the time, but it wasn't some moving speech, I can assure you!

Just a couple words, or even one, is all it takes for God to come running towards you with His arms wide open. All your friend has to do is say "help", and it will echo through the cosmos right up to God's throne, and God will be with your friend right where he is, no questions asked. God doesn't keep score and He came to save, not condemn. He can heal your friend's hurt (as He has healed mine) and is so incredibly willing to.

You said he is on the very edge of accepting God again, and that is a VERY positive sign, even if your friend doesn't see it as such right now (and I'm sure he doesn't).

I don't know if your friend is happy at being an atheist (or whatever his current state of mind is) but I know I wasn't happy when I was walking away from God in my rebellion. I thought I was happy at first, for a while, 'cause I was deceived into thinking how great it was to not have to follow rules, to live my life as I wanted to, etc. But it didn't last. The statement : "Know God, know peace..... no God, no peace" rings very true to me. I had no peace until God in His mercy called me back and enabled me to return to Him.

So I hope your friend, because he is at least considering accepting God again, has realized this as well, that Jesus is our hope and our life, and that His peace He gives to us is not like the world's peace, it is a lasting and powerful peace that nothing in life can replace.

I tried life on my terms and it got me nowhere. I realized the futility in trying to "get back at God"; the futility in burning myself up with anger; the futility and emptiness of holding on to bitterness and pain.

God has much better solutions for our situations than I (or your friend) could ever come up with. All I was doing was pretending I don't need Him, until God came to me and said, "enough!, your tantrum time is over, it's time to return and let me heal you".

In my case God called my bluff, and He can do the same for your friend. Often when we are hurt we are really just venting at God, letting off steam. It could be many years of steaming, but God is patient and when the time is right He calls our bluff and calls us back. He knows if we really want to leave Him or not.

Despite what happens in our lives, He NEVER leaves or forsakes us. And even if it doesn't look like it, He hurts immensely when we are hurting, and cares so much while we are.

I really don't know what else to say, other than if you and I care about him, how much moreso does GOD??? If we think we know a bit about human nature, how much more does the Creator know?

I know from firsthand experience how far-reaching God's grace is, and just a little bit of God's mercy (as if there's such thing as a little) is enough to cover a multitude of heartache and pain (and sin), and your friend is not too far away from God's love, grace and healing. If he can muster up the tiniest of faith towards God, it will move mountains of grace and healing from above.

Your friend has suffered long enough, it's time for him to surrender it all to God and start healing; and to realize that it's never too late to call on the Lord.

I am keeping your friend in my prayers!

 

[Kit Carson]

Hi Kit,

I hope I can help, as I have been in a similar circumstance. I am going to try hard not to post any scriptures, even though I know there are TONS that are helpful and pertain to his situation. I will just give my personal example, and hopefully there is even one small nugget that will be helpful for your friend.

I can understand what your friend is going through, how traumatic and painful his situation was, to lose someone you love when you are young in life.

There was a time in my life when I turned my back on God - for a couple years - (after a traumatic experience in my life) - and was questioning God and shaking my fist at Him at every turn. I looked into atheism but never embraced it in my heart. In my rebellious mind I did somewhat, but only because I was hurting badly and wanted desperately to find peace and resolution to my hurt. And I stupidly thought I could somehow "get back" at God.
I also (wrongly) reasoned that if God was the source of the hurt and was so uncaring, that I had to look elsewhere to heal my hurt.

So I agree with what you said, that your friend is probably more hurt than actually an Atheist.

Of course, the things I believed then were lies of the enemy. That opportunist of evil, Satan, like a skillful predator came along and pounced on his prey, capitalizing on my bitterness, anger, resentment and rebellion towards God, continually whispering lies to me. A lot of times it is human nature to want to think the worst of people - right or wrong - when you have perceived that they have hurt you. Therefore I decided God didn't care about me at all.

That old serpent loves to hit us when we're down, and deceive us when we are weakened, which I am guessing is what happened to your friend. I only know what you said about him, but I have a hunch that is what he is going through..

The devil is very subtle and will do his best to try keep you just out of the reach of God. (I mean in your mind, because truly no one is out of God's reach, the devil's efforts to make us believe otherwise, notwithstanding). No one is better at deceiving than the arch-deceiver Satan.

I could write for hours but I know no one likes a long post (except for yours Kit ), so I'll try to sum this up now.

You can tell the following to your friend if you think it is applicable and can help even a little : You know what brought me back to God? The most feeble, dejected, almost non-existent faith of a cry to God. I don't remember what I said at the time, but it wasn't some moving speech, I can assure you!

Just a couple words, or even one, is all it takes for God to come running towards you with His arms wide open. All your friend has to do is say "help", and it will echo through the cosmos right up to God's throne, and God will be with your friend right where he is, no questions asked. God doesn't keep score and He came to save, not condemn. He can heal your friend's hurt (as He has healed mine) and is so incredibly willing to.

You said he is on the very edge of accepting God again, and that is a VERY positive sign, even if your friend doesn't see it as such right now (and I'm sure he doesn't).

I don't know if your friend is happy at being an atheist (or whatever his current state of mind is) but I know I wasn't happy when I was walking away from God in my rebellion. I thought I was happy at first, for a while, 'cause I was deceived into thinking how great it was to not have to follow rules, to live my life as I wanted to, etc. But it didn't last. The statement : "Know God, know peace..... no God, no peace" rings very true to me. I had no peace until God in His mercy called me back and enabled me to return to Him.

So I hope your friend, because he is at least considering accepting God again, has realized this as well, that Jesus is our hope and our life, and that His peace He gives to us is not like the world's peace, it is a lasting and powerful peace that nothing in life can replace.

I tried life on my terms and it got me nowhere. I realized the futility in trying to "get back at God"; the futility in burning myself up with anger; the futility and emptiness of holding on to bitterness and pain.

God has much better solutions for our situations than I (or your friend) could ever come up with. All I was doing was pretending I don't need Him, until God came to me and said, "enough!, your tantrum time is over, it's time to return and let me heal you".

In my case God called my bluff, and He can do the same for your friend. Often when we are hurt we are really just venting at God, letting off steam. It could be many years of steaming, but God is patient and when the time is right He calls our bluff and calls us back. He knows if we really want to leave Him or not.

Despite what happens in our lives, He NEVER leaves or forsakes us. And even if it doesn't look like it, He hurts immensely when we are hurting, and cares so much while we are.

I really don't know what else to say, other than if you and I care about him, how much moreso does GOD??? If we think we know a bit about human nature, how much more does the Creator know?

I know from firsthand experience how far-reaching God's grace is, and just a little bit of God's mercy (as if there's such thing as a little) is enough to cover a multitude of heartache and pain (and sin), and your friend is not too far away from God's love, grace and healing. If he can muster up the tiniest of faith towards God, it will move mountains of grace and healing from above.

Your friend has suffered long enough, it's time for him to surrender it all to God and start healing; and to realize that it's never too late to call on the Lord.

I am keeping your friend in my prayers!

Great post, you and I know the same God. Many of the things I have had to explain have also came from other men.....men who are of God but of Satan......such as telling him that God killed his wife because he was a sinner, and how God gives sickness for sin, and .....well.....all this stuff we see and hear that is false. The things that do harden hearts. Sickness, cancer and death bring many man made ideas and are told as truth. Such as to be sick brings Glory to God......so the next thing they say is we should be glad to suffer in Christs name.......and. and......when actually it means that the sick person when healed by Jesus shows the great power and Glory of God over Satan. Not that God gave the person cancer for his own Glory.

But he is now asking me questions.......so there is light. Yes I sense he does not want to hate......and much of it is and has been from those who condemn rather than help. So all I have to to is show him truth.....so as he is now asking questions....we will see. It all depends on himself basically if he will see.

Kit

 

[Peace Seeker]

such as telling him that God killed his wife because he was a sinner, and how God gives sickness for sin, and .....well.....all this stuff we see and hear that is false

Yeah, it's unfortunate that there are so many "well-meaning" people like that. In the same vein as your examples, you don't tell someone that just lost a child to cancer that "God needed him more than you do". I'm trying to learn that sometimes saying less or nothing is better than saying anything at all.................

 

[Brighthouse]

No scripture hu?? humm tough then. I would ask him the following. When you met your wife,who sent her to you? When something nice happened to either one you,who did you thank? When each of you came to the other in time of need for the other,who was this that brought all of this about?

Who was it who answered you when you both were in prayer? Who's name did you sing out in Church? Who saved you both,who loved you both,and who is still with you even though you do not call upon me?

It is not I that steal,it is not I,who has no compassion. It is not I who turned his back.But it is I who still loves you! It is I who cannot deny self,nor of what I have created.

I am who I am,I cannot change,even if people want me to change. To follow me in good times is never hard.But to follow me, means tough times as well as good times. But all through these times you have had good and bad,I am still with you,I have not left you.If I did,I would not be God. Just a thought. My prayers are with you!

 

[Rev T.S.Perkins]

Kit..ive been in that hurt locker before ..wont go into total detail but heres what im willing to share..i was a sucsessful minister at a church for over a year and traveling minister over three states..( dosent mean as much now as it used to..lol )my wife of 6 years,Prayer partner,ministery partner,life partner..left me like over night ..wed been in counciling with the senior pastor.and she said we didnt need it any more because we were donig better than ever....she woke up and decided to leave and take it all with her I was devistated..walked out of the pulpit and the ministry compleately Turned my back on God for a time ..now heres where i was going with all this...At a funeral i was duing I met a minister that used to come and visit me on a reg,Basis tryin to get me back out my dark hole of pain...it had been 6 yrs since i saw him...I told him how much i app. that he quit beatin my door when i wasnt responding to Gods word and waiting For The Lord to fullfill his work in me .....he told me he had know doubt i knew where home was and in Gods time i would be back...PRAY for him And lift him before the Lord ..But God holds ministers to a differant acountability and He works on there Hearts differant also ..Give Him his space but live God before Him and the Holy spirit will Begin to remind him of the sweetness of The Lord ..IMMHO

 

[Brighthouse]

RARE!!! And very personal. Something i do not share very often in my own life to others,because of how weak my faith was at one time as well! A woman had 3 small children,her husband was a bootlegger in Williamsburg Kentucky, meaning he sold booze to people he made from his home. Moonshine if you will.

He fell down a long flight of stairs,and was in very serious condition. His wife came to our Church to ask for prayer,many around the town knew of just how powerful the Lord was moving in our Church,many healing happened,and even a few miracles took place as well.

Upon hearing her grief, I took it upon myself,to speak with her.For 3 days i went to her home sharing Jesus to her,and her 3 little ones,how much God does indeed loves her,and that he would heal this man to make him a testimony unto the whole town!! She was very encouraged by this of course.

Our Church prayed for this man as well. One the second day, a woman walked into the hospital he was at, and laid her hands on the man. After this the doctors came in and noticed the man began to improve! I was so happy!!

Our Church was very happy as well. On the third day I was coming back with a brother in the Church having played some tennis,i went up to the apartment steps to mine,and saw her sitting in front of her doorway.The 3 little ones were hugging her close. As usual,i walked up boldly to her,and said WELL!! How is everything going!!! I know your husband is doing well!!

She looked up at me with great tears in her eyes,and said thanks so much for your prayers!! He died last night!! Some God you serve!! I was hung out to dry!! I could not speak,I was so sad,my heart began to even hurt me.

I turned to walk away from her,open my apartment door slide all the way to the bed,and ask God why?? WHY!!!! would he not only make me look so dum me,but how could this possibly be so? So like many I began to point my fingers at God!! YOUR WORD SAYS!!! YOU said this I did not!!

How can this happen!! What and how could you be so wrong?? That was it.I threw my Bible in the trash can.I stepped away from preaching! I mean how could I look people in the face now!! What if someone else has this happen!! How can I respond??

What answer can I give?? 8 long years did I feel sorry for myself. 8 long years did I suffer so much, because of my own pride. One night while driving back from a Security function in Las Vagas,and yes you can imagine just how bad I had become again! Tears began to form in my eyes! For no reason!!

It was so bad i had to pull over to the side of the road! I thought to pray right then and there?? I really did not know why I was praying,God did not hear me anyway I thought!

Then Holy Spirit in me said this."YOU have made yourself higher in yourself then you ought to think( rom 12:3) You did not use sound judgement, you were looking to raise your own name above mine? This has happened before you know mark!( Isaiah 14:12-14!!)

You were told in my Word something and you just ran with it! For a while I let this continue,you were a child in your thinking( 1 Cor 13:12) But now there was a time for you to grow,to measure just what indeed you really do believe. And what did you do??You followed my disciples instead of following after me.( matt 26:56) They fled me as well you know.

So what does this make you? A follower of me? Or a follower of self in my name? What I spoke why back in the Old Testament, these words!!Deut 29:29 To know my ways as Moses did,one must always seek them.( psalm 37:5-9) You did not fear me,but wanted others to fear you!??As if you held all the answers?

As if you in my name could give life to another?You never sought me! You never asked my will on any matter! Many know just enough of my Word to hurt themselves,because my Word is not about you! it is about ME!!( john 3:30-31) You gave the devil an opportunity,and he stole what little faith you really had of me!( eph 4:27)

You presented me in the form of you to that woman.I am not you,you are suppose to be in me! I called you to become chosen.( John 15:16) But to be chosen means,I am to be represented by my Word,not your word.

So will you come back,or will you continue to feel sorry for yourself? And in this feeling so sorry for yourself allow the enemy to continue to rob what i want for you? Or will you as Job stand like a man of God I have called you to be??( Job 42) Will you repent? And let me instruct you? verse4? Or remain as you are? LOST! I was going to say something real stupid here,but decided against it.

Then I ask you Lord to instruct me! I repent! Let me learn thy ways,so i never make this terrible mistake to another ever again! I could have caused her to stumble!!

You my friend were stumbled by you own pride.Not by the woman.She was stumbled when she looked for you,not me.You are no god! You are to represent me though.

I came back to the Lord,a lot more slowly this time then when I first received him. I walked in the Spirit,i could not run ahead of the Lord.Because he will let you do this.We have free will to do such stupid things,but when we take the lead,how do we know which way to go? Or to turn?

It is true,I have been granted much wisdom in our Jesus.BUT!!! This wisdom is not so you can raise me up,but rather Jesus in me up! if words i speak come from the Lord,then praise HIM! What am I without HIM?? YEP!!! NOTHING! I have learned the hard way my brothers and sisters!! I have come very far in my walk,because I was willing to follow very far in Christ! The race we run is not over when we want it to be. ( 1 Cor 9:23-27) The race is over after Jesus says it is over. And the promise Jesus made to me,he made unto you!( 1 Cor 10:13!!) The way i found to escape,is to always follow the Lord through that escape.

Because my brothers and sister,if he does not make a way for us,how can we ever still follow him through it? I have found what that escape truly is!! LOVE( 1 Cor 13:4-7!!!) Loves endures all things.verse 8 love does not fail,because it cannot fail! for Jesus cannot fail! The Word of faith has been given!! To follow after that Word! Not after ourselfs by that Word! My this bring you all comfort,and thought as to your own relationship with our Jesus!

 

[Brother Mike]

offended at God.

Offended at God. God could have done something, God should have done more. Why did not God help me?

Then we have the reverse........... but the Hurt is still there, just covered up.

God took my child, because he saw evil ahead, God knows best. My prayer was answered but in a way we don't always understand.

Where we designed to stay in the Dark? Was not wisdom grated freely? Was anything hid that it should not come abroad?

The women that spoke about her dead child, loved God, taught a Sunday School class, had her testimony about how God's ways are better though we don't always understand. The Pastor, nodding in agreement. Yes, we don't understand, but God can comfort us.

yet........... Through all the smiles, and painted face at Church, this very women broke down crying when I was alone with her. She said Mike, I should not feel this way, but I got to tell you, I am so angry at God. The tears poured.

Is this really the answer? Was this women weak for not accepting God's Answer? Was her faith weak for not believing enough to heal her child? It certainly could not be both. I don't know why her Child died, the Lord never told me.


Mar 4:17 And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.

Act 24:16 And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.

Exercise? Was it that Hard Paul not to be offended at God? How can Paul say this? Paul obeyed God, yet ended up in prison, Was on a ship that sank, and soon after a venomous snake latched onto his hand.

If anyone felt they might have missed God, got off the path so to speak, that even God just let them down. It would have to be Paul. All these things and more happened, yet Paul took it upon himself to never have a conscience full of Offense toward God.

How could that even be? Because Paul, always knew God was his solution, never his problem, and God would see him through all these things.

As believers, if we see anything in God's word that we fall short of, that should not be OK with us. If we see that all our needs are meet, yet month after month we struggle to keep above water, we should not accept that.
If we are sick and dying of some cancer, but see that by his stripes we are healed, we should never accept that.

It's never a question of why God did not step in and help, never a question of why there was massive failure. It's not that God is just mysterious.

The question is What did I ignore, that caused the Word to fail in my life. What do I need to learn. That is the real question.

The man and the Church:

God asked a Pastor to leave his nice comfy Church and preach on the road. He did not want to leave, they provided him a house, all his bills were always caught up. Had more than enough money to buy extra things...

but, he obeyed.............. and left the Church. Soon, he was in need, his kids had no cloths, he had to sell his care to just pay the rent. This was in 1950's and rent was not that much.

He cried out to God, He said "God, you said if I be willing and obedient, I should eat the good of the land, and God, I am certainly not eating the good of the land."

The man had enough sense to know the word was not working in his life, he had enough sense to ask God what was the problem.

The Lord spoke and told him........... "You don't qualify!!!"

Puzzled, the man said...... Lord, I left my nice church, I did go out on the road.......I obeyed you.

The Lord spoke and told him............ "Yes you obeyed alright, but you where never willing in your heart."

The man repented right then and there, and said Lord, I am willing, I get it!!!

More money came in from that point on, His road meetings offerings went through the roof.
See, the man did not accept failure in what he saw in the Word, he was diligent, and sought the answers.
He did not get offended at God............. He wanted to know what he was doing wrong.

If Satan can make us think God is the problem, tell us God could have done something, but choose not to. We are forever defeated, and without hope.

It's a Lie!!!!

ask Paul, he survived everything!!!!

Jesus Is Lord.

 

[Kit Carson]

Hey all.....all appreciated, and I do read and listen and think and ask God things.

I am not real bashful about telling a tale on myself, and all stories I use for the purpose meant for them, to provide understanding and strength and patience to us all.

Such as one post I made.....I called myself an idiot.....Lol......I do not care, God knows all, why would I hide anything..no need to. All is revealed in the end......besides we do and can learn and we all go through many things and finally the light bulb does come on.

As for scriptures, I am not allergic to them, I use them too, but I find that just the overall meaning of things spoken in everyday words so long as they are true, seems to convey more meaning to things, especially in a case like I am in, much more than hammering someone over the head with scripture. To provide understanding and kindness and simple discussion seems to work well. Then use scripture to show truth in things, see, see. man said that, God did not say that at all.

Besides sometime I am kinda dumb......what are they talking about anyway......Lol!

My friend is now talking , asking questions, and has admitted he does not hate.....he was just very, very disappointed in both man and God.


God will fix it.....he always does.....in that is one sure trust we can all have.

I am learning a lot too.....so God is taking care of more than one bird at a time.

Kit

 

[Thiscrosshurts]

Hi Kit,I Know your on the right track.God never let go of this man and I am certain God has left some kind of paper trail in those passing years that when he looks back and sees it he will laugh.
No one but God knows what has been laid out before the foundation of the world to glorify himself through this man.

I prayed for your friend along with some other lost sheep I hold dear and I felt laughter well up inside and since the situation is not at all funny I asked for clarification.

This verse came to mind:
Hebrews 11:18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:

Of course Isaac means laughter.
I think you need to get him laughing.
Actually I think just being his friend is bringing in light through those heavy curtains.
God speed in your mission my friend

 

[Kit Carson]

Hi Kit,I Know your on the right track.God never let go of this man and I am certain God has left some kind of paper trail in those passing years that when he looks back and sees it he will laugh.
No one but God knows what has been laid out before the foundation of the world to glorify himself through this man.

I prayed for your friend along with some other lost sheep I hold dear and I felt laughter well up inside and since the situation is not at all funny I asked for clarification.

This verse came to mind:
Hebrews 11:18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:

Of course Isaac means laughter.
I think you need to get him laughing.
Actually I think just being his friend is bringing in light through those heavy curtains.
God speed in your mission my friend

Hum...?? Yes I have decided to tell him a funny story about a preacher, true and so such an example of some today....and hilarious, and use this to show him not all is as it seems many times.

So curious that you say this.....I accept many things.....no matter where they come from...

As for Hebrews.....it speaks to me of faith. Abraham had great faith and was willing to give his son, but most likely trusted God not to carry it out.....and it shows that Abraham saw many things and did have contact with the living God that others and ourselves have never had......but that we do believe with faith. Kinda, sorta, mostly what that says to me.

But I have a true and very funny story to tell him.....and can show him there are honest good preachers and some bad ones too.

Yes that will make him laugh.

I am so tempted on this forum sometimes....I have to really behave. so God will not tell me to go sit in the corner.. Lol! Sometimes he tells me I just do not know what to do with you.........behave. !!!

Kit