[tracy's note: a dear brother wrote disturbed by the state of the professed church. I go through the same thing. Here is my response including a word from Brother Habakkuk.] From: tracy@jesus-is-lord.com To: DI Subject: Re: Likeminded Indeed!!! Date: Saturday, March 23, 2002 5:10 PM Dear Brother: Greetings. It's good to hear from you. Once again, I'm lagging behind on the emails... As a married woman, the Lord has been teaching me over the years to understand that my primary ministry is to "big daddy", baby Chloe, and keeping this house up. After those things are done, I can do other things. The married woman careth for the things of the world how she may please her husband. I asked the Lord to give me space to pray and He has done just that. I find that as I maintain position as a wife and mom, I am more productive in the other gospel works (being a Bible wife and mom is a gospel work) that King Jesus hath set at my hands. I agree with you concerning Disneyland. I don't care about a bunch of amusement. When you look at the word "amusement" it says it all. "a" means "not" as in "atypical" (not typical). "muse" means "to think". amusement means "not to think". You just let your flesh have its way and you've spent hundreds of dollars on nothing when that money could be used for gospel work which is quite fascinating when powered by the Lord. The revelations concerning the state of the professed church have certainly pressed me down very much. And each time, King Jesus tells me to stay in position exercising the gifts which He hath given me. My spiritual gifts are used primarily outside the local church. Do you know what your gifts are? Whether you do or not, take it to the King in your prayer closet and ask Him to use you for HIS glory and the advancement of HIS kingdom. Keep praying and reading and seeking and fasting and the answer will come gloriously. Concerning being silent [about the apostasy], we both know that is not the way. The Lord told me that truth is fallen in the street (ref. Isaiah) and that I am to pick it up again. We are to tell the truth in season and out of season. He that hath an ear to hear let him hear. We are not responsible for the results, we are just to tell it. Along the way, we find that the Lord BLESSES us with all spiritual blessing. I find that I love people more, have more charity, my mind is clearer, my speech is more heavenly, etc. Love means that I tell people the truth. Charity means that I am genuinely concerned for their well being. These are divine gifts because I am only recently getting them. I am a baby in these things but I've gotten a enough taste to know that I like what is happening to me. ************BROTHER HABAKKUK************* I have had the same feelings that you do [about the state of the church] and I still get them at times. This is a grievous situation. Some months ago, sitting in our guest bedroom, the Lord directed me to Habakkuk. I had read the book before but this reading was different. There are only three chapters in the book. In the first Habakkuk asks the Lord why dost thou cause me to behold grievance? I could really identify with that because the Lord is showing all the unrighteousness and unholiness in the church world. And so Bro. Habakkuk makes his complaint. In chapter 2, he waits to see what the Lord will say to him. The Lord says "write the vision and make it plain upon the tables that he may RUN that readeth it." That says to me, "tell the people the truth, those that can hear will be helped and they will run on in Jesus' name." In chapter 3, Habakkuk makes prayer to the Lord and he tells the Lord that He will make his feet like hinds feet. In other words, I may be on some perilous cliffs but my feet will be sure in the Lord. Alright now, and hallelujah! It's that word that keeps us steady. King James 1611. Thank you for a wonderful word of blessing. I receive it, gladly. I want all the promises of God fulfilled in my life. Let us STRIVE to enter in at the strait gate for many will seek to enter in and shall not be able. God bless your family and may you all rise to what He wants you to be and do. for Jesus' sake, tracy -- http://www.jesus-is-lord.com ...I do send thee unto them; and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD. And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house. Ezekiel 2:4, 6