Just wanna share

[LaylaMonroe]

I just want to share these two scriptures with you.  The first came to mind during our Conference Call last night.

Do not forget or neglect or refuse to extend hospitality to strangers [in the brotherhood--being friendly, cordial, and gracious, sharing the comforts of your home and doing your part generously], for through it some have entertained angels without knowing it. - Hebrews 13:2

Just be careful how you treat people.  You really don't know who they are in the Lord.  Man looks on the outward appearance, but only God can see the heart.  You probably don't know the full picture, so I just encourage everyone - ALL OF US - to stop talking about folks in church, folks at work, folks in our families, friends, LGMers, etc... you don't know the whole picture because you can't see the heart.

The second scripture came to mind over the weekend, and was reinforced in church yesterday.


Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity builded the temple unto the LORD God of Israel; Then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers, and said unto them, Let us build with you: for we seek your God, as ye do; and we do sacrifice unto him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assur, which brought us up hither. But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto the LORD God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia hath commanded us. Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building, and hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia. -- Ezra 4:1-5

I just want to encourage you to know your enemy. Don't be deceived into thinking that everyone who says they are going where you are going, actually IS.  Don't be so quick to believe that they believe what you believe or they want to help you "build."  The enemy will hire folks just to frustrate your purpose.  These employees of satan's kingdom will pretend that they want to help you, or that they are on the Lord's side... and they're not.  Don't be deceived.

[betnich]

...what if you find yourself suspecting the motives of others in the ministry?
Is that wisdom, or unfounded suspicion?

[LaylaMonroe]

Well, I guess that depends on the basis of your suspicions.  You could be right about them... you could be wrong about them.  Either way, you should still treat them as though they could be angels, but be prayerful and cautious, until you know for sure what the deal is.  I'm always praying for wisdom, discernment and an ear to hear.  I have been deceived before, and don't want to be deceived again.  I also don't want to be so paranoid about people and their motives that I'm mistreating the TRUE people of God.

It's just so unfortunate that so many in the BOC have been so hurt by the BOC, which has in turn caused us to hurt others in the BOC, whether directly or intentionally; or indirectly or unintentionally.

[nessalynn77]

  I hope nothing was taken in the wrong way on those conference calls.  Other than the issue we discussed about a church leader who happened to be named, I hope there was nothing else that was deemed out of line.  I would hope our coming together would be fun and edifying, and not another source of contention for any of our family members. 

I, for one, if I said anything, even in jest that caused someone discomfort, please call me on it.  I'll readily apologize, because God knows that's not in my heart.

[betnich]

Thanks, LaRue.

One person I deal with may fall into the 'angel unawares' category. Socially awkward and somewhat off-putting, but interesting and engaging once you get to know them. In spite of limitations has a good heart.

The other seems legit, but I just have a 'bad feeling' about. Want to give them a fair chance, don't want to be overly suspicious, but find myself watching for any slip-ups...

[LaylaMonroe]

Nooooooooooooooooooooo... wait.

This has nothing to do with that.  I would never do a whole thread to indirectly address something like that.  I'm more outspoken than that, you know that. LOL.  I'd probably just call it out.   *shrug*

The first scripture came to mind when we were talking about those prophets who shall remain unnamed... LOL.  But, I think about that all the time because Christians, in general, do a lot of talking about people and none of us really KNOW who the other is.

The first and second scripture are both tied in to something that happened to me personally... totally outside of LGM, not involving any LGMers at all.  I was going to put it in my "I need advice" thread, but decided not to tell the story just yet.

Yeah, this has nothing to do with LGM, or the call last night.  Sorry if I caused confusion on that.  

[nessalynn77]

OK, I just wanted to get clarity, didn't want to rack my brain trying to make sure there wasn't a problem when I could just ask and save the trouble, lol.

No confusion, just clarification. 

[betnich]

When I say anything about other people I try to keep a positive spin on it. That way if anything gets back to them it will hopefully be as an uplift, not a putdown.

If it's a criticism I try to put in in very general terms (like 'we need to go over the parts on the chorus again' rather than 'you're flat') so I am not seen as attacking anyone...try to go to them privately if I have a personal issue with them...

[B3Wannabe]

When I say anything about other people I try to keep a positive spin on it. That way if anything gets back to them it will hopefully be as an uplift, not a putdown.

If it's a criticism I try to put in in very general terms (like 'we need to go over the parts on the chorus again' rather than 'you're flat') so I am not seen as attacking anyone...try to go to them privately if I have a personal issue with them...

I had a boss that did that! I hated it. He'd talk about tasks that needed to be accomplished as if we were ALL going to do it, then he'd expect me to know that it was meant for me. I'm like .

I told him he needed to be more direct.

[betnich]

True - but this is not about specific tasks, but general remarks about others - to stave off negativity and gossip. If it's something for a specific person I try to go to that person directly (as in - 'Would you like to play for Pastor's altar call today?') rather than hint around it to others ('I wish so-and-so would play sometimes'), then have it get back to them in a roundabout third-hand way...

[chevonee]

I just want to share these two scriptures with you.  The first came to mind during our Conference Call last night.

Do not forget or neglect or refuse to extend hospitality to strangers [in the brotherhood--being friendly, cordial, and gracious, sharing the comforts of your home and doing your part generously], for through it some have entertained angels without knowing it. - Hebrews 13:2

Just be careful how you treat people.  You really don't know who they are in the Lord.  Man looks on the outward appearance, but only God can see the heart.  You probably don't know the full picture, so I just encourage everyone - ALL OF US - to stop talking about folks in church, folks at work, folks in our families, friends, LGMers, etc... you don't know the whole picture because you can't see the heart.

The second scripture came to mind over the weekend, and was reinforced in church yesterday.


Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity builded the temple unto the LORD God of Israel; Then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers, and said unto them, Let us build with you: for we seek your God, as ye do; and we do sacrifice unto him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assur, which brought us up hither. But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto the LORD God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia hath commanded us. Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building, and hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia. -- Ezra 4:1-5

I just want to encourage you to know your enemy. Don't be deceived into thinking that everyone who says they are going where you are going, actually IS.  Don't be so quick to believe that they believe what you believe or they want to help you "build."  The enemy will hire folks just to frustrate your purpose.  These employees of satan's kingdom will pretend that they want to help you, or that they are on the Lord's side... and they're not.  Don't be deceived.

This really blessed me!! Thanks Rue!!

[betnich]

Two questions -

1 - How do you discern if people really

believe what you believe or they want to help you "build."

In other words, how do you tell the wheat from the tares?

2 - Are these people in the world or the church?