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Author Topic: Lifting Up the Downtrodden  (Read 1902 times)
Janet Easson Martin
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« on: July 26, 2020, 07:44:55 pm »

Lifting Up the Downtrodden



”Don’t let the downtrodden be humiliated again.
Instead, let the poor and needy praise your name.”

Psalm 74:21


There is truly good news for all who have been abused and beaten down by those who call themselves followers of Christ.  These encouraging tidings of Truth flow as a river through a desert.  Picture drinking from clear pure refreshment.  No longer feeding upon dried stalks and drinking from pools of mud produced by False Teachers.

Oh my gosh, what we were caught up in is found in the Scriptures written thousands of years ago.  It has Satan’s earmarks on it.  The Bible actually says it is based on doctrines of demons.  Who else would pervert the gospel of Christ so skillfully?  Who else would attempt to turn “Christianity” into a mud hole, even a pit?  Who else would laugh about stealing our joy?  It is the most hideous thing that could happen to Christianity.  So sneaky. So undermining.  And most camaflouged of all, it is set in place through men masquerading as “God’s leaders”.  Some knowing, some unaware agents of Christ’s enemy.

Oh my gosh, there it is in Galatians, in 2nd Corinthians, Ezekiel, Jeremiah, and Isaiah.  Those prophetic writers had a timeless story to tell.  A set of events to warn about.  It’s right there in the Living Word.   It’s still happening thousands of years later.  It’s alive in our real stories.  We were very much blindsided.  The deceitful covering is a supposed “man of God”, a pretender leading God’s people.  Concealed by a spattering of scripture.  Cloaked in SHEPHERD’s garb.  How deceptive and dangerous to our journey of faith!  

Don’t feel bad about rejecting his teachings - they are not of Christ.  They are twisted and perverted for selfish gain.  Don’t feel guilty for being uncomfortable with these supposed “surrender to Jesus” teachings.  Leaving your friends, your family, your education, your career, and even your power to make personal choices to follow a human, his disciples, and his “church” is evil persuasion riddled with ungodly manipulation and unbearable false guilt. The Bible actually states they are neither Jesus’ methods nor his foundation for faith.  

What do many people say who leave these “churches”?  They were faking their spirituality.  I don’t necessarily mean their initial acceptance of Christ and his personal redemption for them.  I mean their fast paced growth. Their artificial joy.  Their contrived peace.  People I have talked to or heard about have actually claimed, “They were miserable there”.  

Please give yourself room to reject what was very wrong.  It takes time to discover what was brainwashing of lies threatened and repeated hundreds of times.  Cutting those lies away from the truth of the Grace of Christ; his real unconditional love for us and his very patient relationship with us removes their heavy weighted burden.  How do you separate the two, especially when you were raised in it or it was your first exposure to “Christianity”?  The lies seem to be so entangled with the truth, for some it has seemed easier to reject the whole.  It seems safer, less triggering, less guilt ridden.  Fear of not getting caught up again in such a counterfeit and manipulative operation of Christianity is real.  It might seem easier to simply retire from this pursuit of God.  I believe God understands, but desires us not to stay there.  

As Michaelango’s Classic painting of God reaching his fingers out to touch Adam depicts, the depth of our being craves to connect with Him. To be moved by Him.  To experience the intimacy of his securing love.  To live in abundance of His Spirit.  To ultimately be filled with His inexplainable Peace and Joy.  Even evangelist turned agnostic, Charles Templeton, says as he reminiscently admits about Jesus with much sobbing, “I...miss...Him” in Lee Strobel’s interview with him in his book, “The Case for Christ”.  (https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justin-taylor/charles-templeton-missing-jesus/)

Galatians gives us hope that what we were involved in was not a picture of real Christianity.  Imposters painted a perverted picture of God to us.  One of militant and unmerciful expectations.  One with scary fingers angrily pointing right at us.  One with Christ as our accuser rather than our defender.  One with arms crossed and great huffs of impatience, turning away at our imperfect surrender.  As if it was all or nothing.  There was little mercy, little compassion, and no patience.  It was ‘Get in line’ or ‘don’t bother to come at all’.  Teaching us that everything you love and enjoy must be sacrificed to serve this “church” or there was little love for Christ in us.   As though our heads should be hung low until we GIVE UP even who God made us to be, with all our desires, interest, plans and goals.  This impossible request can never be fulfilled.  And so we remain low headed and low hearted.

Be encouragingly informed that the real imperfect you is not alone.  Even the greatest man that ever lived this side of heaven, John The Baptist, had a crisis of faith and doubted after completing the most honored mission regarding Christ - his revelation and introduction as God’s Messiah.  Peter, who was one of Jesus’s best friends and disciples denied ever knowing him.  Abraham, the father of all who believe on Christ, acted as a coward and so lied (to his wife’s potential peril) and didn’t always walk on the path God had for him.  I believe scripture tells their honest story to encourage us not only in their growing journey of faith, but also in their imperfection.  They are just like us.  We are in good company among the men and women in God’s Word.  Excerpts of human history.  As scripture tells us, “TAKE HEART. Your sins are forgiven you.”   This is what the real and full gospel of Christ is ALL about.  Oh, praise you, our sweet Savior.  


“The poor and needy seek water, but there is none;
their tongues are parched with thirst.
I, the LORD, will answer them;
I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.”
Isaiah 41:17

« Last Edit: August 07, 2020, 08:21:22 am by Janet Easson Martin » Logged

For grace is given not because we have done good works, but in order that we may be able to do them.        - Saint Augustine
Janet Easson Martin
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« Reply #1 on: June 25, 2021, 09:38:19 pm »


Downtrodden & Dried Up from GCx Messages?

A Pitcher Full of Fresh Water


The messages of GCx consisted of slim pickins as far as spiritual nutrition. They were quite lacking, errant, and oppressive. So, it’s no wonder many felt downtrodden and dried up as a result. I bought a wonderful book on Kindle today that offers the strong foundation we were missing there. It’s a devotional journal called “The Search for Significance” by Robert McGee (only $3.49 on Kindle from link below) that may be just the ticket many might be looking for. It can be used as a 10-week journey or on your own timeframe. The original book was a terrific help to me back in the early 90’s. It seems the insightful questions in this devotional are quite therapeutic for reflection and journaling. It includes important discovery to begin or continue healing for our soul. It’s not just a cup of fresh water, it’s a whole pitcher full.

Here is a copy of the first page below and a link to it’s info.


Whether labeled self-esteem or self-worth, the feeling of significance is crucial to man’s emotional, spiritual, and social stability and is the driving element within the human spirit. Understanding this single need opens the door to understanding our actions and attitudes. What a waste to attempt to change behavior without truly understanding the driving needs that cause such behavior! Yet millions of people spend a lifetime searching for love, acceptance, and success without understanding the need that compels them. We must understand that this hunger for self-worth is God-given and can only be satisfied by Him. Our value is not dependent on our ability to earn the fickle acceptance of people, but rather, its true source is the love and acceptance of God. He created us. He alone knows how to fulfill all of our needs.


Think over the past twenty-four hours. When did you feel most valuable? Describe those situations.




What would be different in your life if you walked around with that valuable feeling all the time? What would this world be like if people everywhere felt valued?






https://www.amazon.com/Search-Significance-Devotional-Journal-Discovering-ebook/dp/B007V8YYQU


« Last Edit: June 26, 2021, 07:50:12 am by Janet Easson Martin » Logged

For grace is given not because we have done good works, but in order that we may be able to do them.        - Saint Augustine
Janet Easson Martin
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« Reply #2 on: December 16, 2021, 09:46:58 pm »

I love these hope-filled words in 2 Corinthians 7:6. Their hope is immeasurable! The truth that there is someone capable of and caring deeply to lift up our dejected spirit is crucial for us to know. His real revitalizing hope and help is far above what any human can give (unless they are the conduit for God’s very support.)  God takes our messes and turns them around so incredibly that we cannot help but share his message of hope with others. As we trust, he is able to comfort us more than we can ask or think. So grip his promise and don’t let go.



But God WHO COMFORTS THE DOWNCAST...

2 Corinthians 7:6


« Last Edit: December 17, 2021, 09:28:25 am by Janet Easson Martin » Logged

For grace is given not because we have done good works, but in order that we may be able to do them.        - Saint Augustine
Janet Easson Martin
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« Reply #3 on: April 26, 2022, 09:02:35 pm »

This song brings hope to the grieving and broken hearted. We all probably know someone who has experienced more grief than seems bearable. There is someone in my extended family who I think of as I listen to it.

This Christian music group is SO humble. They’ve traveled together with their families on the road. They also are very grounded and involved in their same home church. They even graciously came to my son’s Christian School (for a short afternoon) when they were in town because the company manager that makes some of their guitars had a child also in the school. Here is their heartfelt encouragement of the hope of heaven:



Scars in Heaven - Casting Crowns

https://youtu.be/BCc7TCmKcwQ



« Last Edit: April 26, 2022, 09:04:43 pm by Janet Easson Martin » Logged

For grace is given not because we have done good works, but in order that we may be able to do them.        - Saint Augustine
Janet Easson Martin
Private Forum Access
Household Name (300+ Posts)
****
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Posts: 1898



« Reply #4 on: April 30, 2022, 04:54:11 pm »

When going through very trying times, I do not always respond with faith. Sometimes I just get angry which doesn’t help matters, especially when I’ve been very busy trying to problem solve in a crisis rather than just go to God and spend time with Him and His Word. I begin to take matters into my own hands, leaving him out. That is usually a recipe for disaster. Then, I begin obsessively lamenting those failures.

Today, one of my best friends sent me this message and it changed EVERYTHING!

When you spend less time with God, Your Family and friends will fill in the gaps. Don’t you worry about your imperfections. God loves you more than you know. Picture yourself in His arms and receive His comfort.

Reading that I teared up at the thought of God’s compassion and unconditional love toward me, instead of Him waiting until I got my act together. I suddenly had the strength and hope to do things I had been too weary to. He lifted me up on the winds of grace only He can give.

MERCY and GRACE CHANGE EVERYTHING!


« Last Edit: May 01, 2022, 11:53:00 am by Janet Easson Martin » Logged

For grace is given not because we have done good works, but in order that we may be able to do them.        - Saint Augustine
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