My father was raised christian as a child but only had a lukewarm walk with the Lord through out his life until his dying days. He did not understand giving or sacrifice of one's self to the Lord and others. Matter of fact he somewhat despised it.
My mother had not been raised in a christian home and when she grew up and had children she sought the Lord in the only way she new how. However, she joined a church which only seemed to promote works with very little else to sustain her in her daily walk and personal relationship with the Lord.
My parents came to a cross roads of such, when their two worlds collided because of the difference of beliefs.
As an older child of divorce, I learned to despise God, mainly because of the example of what I saw within my family and the dysfunction of what religion and selfishness caused. I didn't want to have anything to do with it because I didn't know who God truly was at that time and had the false idea that God and religion were the same thing.
I got married and at a young age had to deal with a dying young husband. (seek my personal spiritual testimony)
During that time I sought the Lord the only way I knew how...the Lord spoke to me....told me to read my bible. It started my journey to really living. At that moment I became refreshed, and have continued to be refreshed since then.
With a heart that was on fire for the Lord and with the Spirit that motivated me, I walked into this dark world with great hopes of making a difference.
Of course the dear Lord had known me all my life....He was molding me to be a person who wanted to be helpful. I was always the one sitting next to the teachers desk, willing to help them....would stay after school to do extra things to create the right learning environment for everyone else. I wanted to help others who also had a goal to make a difference in this world.
From there I grew up and went out into the world in my personal life, church and business life to seek to help others reach their goals in life in my own small way. In doing so I was also reaching my goal that the Lord put on me.
However, in all my seeking to help, my family did not appreciate my efforts. My father was always saying..."why do you use all your talents, time and effort to do the things that you do and not get paid of it?" It really bothered him that I would "want" to volunteer to help others without pay.
Then there was my mother who was not finding fulfillment in the religious life she had chosen for herself. I never saw my mother pray in all my life. She also despised my efforts to help others because she was so needy for friendship, and approval for appearing to be righteous, that she resented the same things that my Father did in what I was doing.
In other words I had no pats on the back to do the right things when it comes to my spiritual walk. I was on my own with the Lord. In a spiritual way I had forsaken my mother and father to seek the Lord, even though I was there for them in their need and showed them love in everyday life.
All my pats, hugs and praise came from Him alone. So if I come across as not understanding fully about the human (flesh)need to have people tell them that they are right all the time, perhaps this testimony will give you some insight.
I believe the bible to be a true guide and help in our walk to seeking the face of God. We are to seek His love and support first and foremost before any need of a person's approval in our lives. We are God's children, and we are to learn to live together in harmony and grace in the midst of a world of confusion.
I ask everyone to have faith in God to make this work between us. Stop trying to control everything yourselves by dividing our love for one another. If you are in the understanding that there are people who's minds and hearts are evil....then pray and ask God to take care of it. Stop trying to gather support for your own righteous deeds and needs for pats on the back.
Walk with Him in the understanding He has given each and every person at this point in their lives. Be patient as we see others struggle. Lift up those that fall....pray for those whose faith are weak. Teach and rebuke using God's words when needed. But most of all love each other.
matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.