All Are Welcome Mingle #7: What Are Some Recent Spiritual Sermons/Lessons/Stories that Have Touched Your Heart?

Hey Everyone,

I subscribe to a daily devotional, and a particular news story it mentioned really tangled up my heartstrings:

"Just before Easter 2018, a terrorist entered a market, killing two people and taking a third woman hostage. When efforts to free the woman failed, a policeman made the terrorist an offer: release the woman and take him instead.

The terrorist accepted the police officer's offer. The hostage was released, the policeman was shot, and that Easter the world witnessed an innocent man dying for someone else."

This was obviously a most potent reminder of Jesus' own sacrifice for us, but the topic of the devotional was actually wisdom, with it choosing to showcase this verse:

James 3:13 -- "Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom."

This is the lesson and passage I've been pondering lately.

* How about you?

* What sermons, lessons, experiences, conversations, prayer sessions, etc. about or with God that have been especially strong on your heart?

Ezekiel 33:13-19.

Basically whatever you have done, good or bad, in the past, it doesn't matter. The only thing that matters to your salvation is what you are choosing today. If you have done good all your life and decide to do evil now, all the good you have done is useless. If you have done evil all your life and choose to change your ways now, you are counted as good.

Romans 5:4

"...and experience, hope:"

My life is literally like a living nightmare right now.

If I did not have a list of miraculous deliverances from God in my past history, then I would literally either wish myself dead right now or wish that I had never been born.

My only hope is that God, in his foreknowledge, knew that I would be where I am right now, and that, somehow, by his mercy and grace, he is going to bring me through this without me literally dying of a broken heart.

That is all that I have to say.

The prodigal son. How our heavenly father is forgiving and awaited for us to come home with open arms. This parable reminds me of me. How I once was with the lord as a child, then turned to the world for many years and when I came back to him he was waiting with open arms. True love, patience, forgiveness and much more. I am so thankful ❤️

Praying for you

Hi. I am going through a bad situation, too. I don't see any way out of it, either. I know Jesus is real for a few reasons. 1, He speaks to me on a regular basis. 2, In the past He did a great work in my life. 3, He has supernaturally healed me on a couple different occasions. Having said that, it has been 16 years of wasted time and getting deeper and deeper into trouble. The past few weeks I have been in a good enough frame of mind to start seriously seeking His face again. But realistically, my life is irreparable. I have a lot to fear regarding my future. Can we talk more?

Sure, we can talk more...and your life is not irreparable. Nothing is impossible with God.

My situation is so potentially devastating because my decisions will ultimately affect others. If it was just me, then I would endure even unto death and be okay with it.

Thank you.

Are you in a position of authority, like a boss or a judge or a military officer? Or a pastor or the head of a family?

I am seated in heavenly places in Christ, and so are all believers...but I do not think that most people understand what that truly means.

Anyhow, why do you ask?

It might be best if we just take this conversation to the private arena via private messaging. That way, we will not disrupt somebody else's thread.

@BrianMeir

I just sent you a private message.

Galatians 6:2-5 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

Alot of times , I want to solve other people's problems for them and I get really frustrated when I can't, Then the Lord reminds me that He doesn't expect me to solve a thing, he expects me to help bear the burdens that weigh my friends down. How can I do that ? The best way I can imagine it is

This boulder represents their burden...it's not my job to pick that boulder up and carry it myself... it's my job to stick my shoulder under there and lift up, to take a little pressure off them. That's what I picture when I pray for someones burden. I picture me helping them lift the heavy boulder they're being crushed under. The more people that help them pray... the more shoulders helping them lift that burden. It helps me pray for people when I envision it that way.

When someone is dying it helps to have friends dying alongside them

Jesus didnt die alone, he was crucified between two thieves, one of which died before him and believed.
I think it would have been different if he had not had company at the cross and someone suffering alongside him.

I dont know if there is a lesson in that, but I think most people naturally find it hard to let go.

Im not a nurse, doctor or med profession, but I have been in hosptial lately visiting and in one ward there was a cardiac arrest and there was so drama when that occured...everyone rushed to see it.

Some people dont want all the attention though, while others are like..watch me. Im going out in the most dramatic way possible.