http://www.goingtojesus.com/text/books/solomonswisdom.pdf
Pastor John,
As I was reading the 3rd chapter in Solomon’s Wisdom this morning (“The Diligent & The Slothful”), I remembered an experience I had Friday morning.
As I was driving into work, I saw a lady beside the road that looked worn and tattered. She had chopped-off, short hair, extremely thin, and she was sickly looking. I’m not sure I could explain how I felt; however, in my spirit I felt that my feelings were self-righteous.
Immediately Jesus reminded me of how He rescued me several years ago. What he reminded me of was a dream He once sent me, showing me where my life would be if I didn’t trust him fully & get my mind back on Him.
In the dream, I lived in a run-down mobile home with broken windows and tattered curtains. It was so unkempt and dirty, with very little furniture. I remember so vividly saying in the dream, “I remember I used to have a beautiful house with big tall windows,” as I moved my hands in the shape of a window….
As I looked back at this lady beside the road, I felt, for the first time, that I understood what is meant by the saying “the only difference is God.” The only difference between me and any another human being is what God has done; it is nothing — nothing — that I have done. God (with His people) brought me back to the land of the living, and I am so happy to be LIVING! Tears are welling up as I type this.
Another sweet experience was this past Thursday after the Wednesday night meeting when the whole body here received correction.
Before you taught us on how to just live and not live in fear of the “you need to get closer to God” mindset, I would beat myself up when I miss something or when I’d receive correction because making mistakes was always so negative to me. Growing up, in my home it was a big deal to make a mistake or not to know what someone else was thinking and so, be ready to pass him a tool or catch something from falling, etc.) Making mistakes made me feel like such a bad person. But now, (tears again) I’m realizing that I am growing and learning! I felt good Thursday because I wasn’t beating myself up after Wednesday night’s meeting. It was an education in the spirit on how to be more like Christ.
Amanda
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Pastor John,
This email from Amanda was very sweet and it was just as if we were writing it together 🙂 I have had the same thoughts and feelings lately. In fact, just last night Steven and I were talking about our life and where we would be and how thankful we are and excited we are to live a good, clean life. One thing I said was that the only difference between me and anyone else is God! I didn’t do anything, and I can’t do anything or think anything good unless He lets me. Then I said that it makes me want even more to live a life obeying and trusting God and full of thanksgiving for what He has done for me…because it doesn’t and didn’t have to be that way. Why not live a life that is pleasing to God and that makes Him happy that He does what He does for you?
Anyway, I’ve been loving everything that I’ve been hearing for the past week or more and it all keeps getting sweeter and sweeter as the days go by 🙂
Leah