Month: September 2017

Satanism At the United Nations And the Coming Antichrist

On By Geri UngureanIn Antichrist, United Nations5 Comments

“Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God” (2 Thessalonians 2: 1-4).

The Beginning

Alice Ann Bailey, a leading disciple of the Russian theosophist Madame Helena Blavatsky, formed the Lucifer Trust in 1920. In 1922, the name was changed to Lucis Trust. I can only imagine that this was done after realizing that the name of Lucifer would certainly alarm many who read and love the Word of God. But make no mistake, the inner workings and thrust of this group remained the same.

Madame Helena Blavatsky is known as the “mother” of the New Age movement and modern occultism. In her “Secret Doctrine” she taught that Lucifer was higher and older than the God of the Bible, and that Lucifer had to be sacrificed and sent to earth, because of the coming dogma of the Church. She taught that Satan was truly “good” and that he was known by many names, but mainly as God of Wisdom — the cosmic reflection of God. She also called him “Son of the morning” and in many writings, called him Son of God.

After years of contact with her so-called spirit masters,( we know they are demons) Blavatsky published “Isis Unveiled” in 1877; a hugely successful writing, followed by “Secret Doctrine” in 1888. She also established an Occult magazine in London, called “Lucifer.” By this time, Blavatsky had acquired a huge following.

While Christianity teaches that Lucifer is the essence of evil, the New Age teachers embrace him as enlightened, and one to be worshiped. As he is adored, our God is detested. In occultism and New Age philosophy, Lucifer is regarded as an agent of intellectual and spiritual freedom. We who are born-again from above, know that Lucifer was cast from heaven by our God, after Lucifer had determined to be like the most high God:

“How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! [how] art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.” – Isaiah 14:12-15

Alice Ann Bailey received her knowledge from “Ascended Masters” departed spirits. As Christians, we know that these spirits are merely demons, doing the bidding of their master – the devil. We know that Lucifer’s name was changed to Satan after being cast from heaven, the Luciferians continue to refer to him as Lucifer.

What does this have to do with the UN?

The Lucis Trust has been for years, the philosophical and religious consulting firm to all members of the U.N. It is interwoven into the fabric of the United Nations, and done so in such a deceptive way. The average person knows little to nothing of the Lucis Trust.

From bibliotecapleyades.net

“We have meditations at the United Nations a couple of times a week. The meditation leader is Sri Chin, and this is what he said about this situation: “… The United Nations is the chosen instrument of God; to be a chosen instrument means to be a divine messenger carrying the banner of God’s inner vision and outer manifestation. One day, the world will treasure and cherish the soul of the United Nations as its very own with pride, for this soul is all-loving, all-nourishing, and all-fulfilling.” – Donald Keys, president of Planetary Citizens and author of Earth At Omega

“The United Nations is steadily becoming the center of a syncretic new world religion, a weird and diabolical convergence of New Age mysticism, pantheism, aboriginal animism, atheism, communism, socialism, Luciferian occultism, apostate Christianity, Islam, Taoism, Buddhism, and Hinduism. The devotees and apostles of this new faith include the kind of strange admixture of crystal worshipers, astrologers, radical feminists, environmentalists, cabalists, human potentialists, Eastern mystics, pop psychologists, and “liberal” clergymen one would normally tend to associate with the off-beat, sandals-and-beads counterculture of the 1960s. But today’s worshipers in this rapidly expanding movement are as likely to be scientists, diplomats, corporate presidents, heads of state, international bankers, and leaders of mainstream Christian churches.” –source

Click here to see the Lucistrust.org website

As frightening and bizarre as this all may seem to us, it makes perfect sense that Satan would establish an institution such as the U.N. to unleash his diabolical deception and delusion upon the lost world. It is said “Knowledge is power.” For believers, having this knowledge of the U.N., and what is REALLY happening there, will help us to discern the times, and perhaps even to open the eyes of some of the unbelieving, unsuspecting world.

“Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” (Isaiah 5:20)

The Theosophical society’s mission is divulged in this statement:
“To oppose every form of dogmatic theology, especially the Christian, which the Chiefs of the Society regard as particularly pernicious … to counteract, as far as possible, the effects of missionaries to delude the so-called “Heathen” and “Pagans” as to the real origin and dogmas of Christianity and the practical effects of the latter upon public and private character in so-called Christian countries.” -source

Satan has used God’s Word, but has twisted it and placed it upside down. Good is evil, evil good, just as the Prophet Isaiah said would happen. The Age of Enlightenment is seen by the elite as higher – loftier — more appropriate for a group of representatives from all over the globe. They see themselves as intellectuals. They have no idea about the web of deception in which they are entangled.

They look to their Ascended Masters for Enlightenment, not realizing that they are being played by their precious Lucifer. He is sending his minions of fallen angels (demons) to communicate with the leaders of mediation and psychic readings groups. Most people would be shocked to know that the U.N. is the largest gathering of Occult and New Age followers on the planet.
Various quotes by Alice Ann Bailey on NWO:

“The new world order must meet the immediate need and not be an attempt to satisfy some distant, idealistic vision. The new world order must be appropriate to a world which has passed through a destructive crisis and to a humanity which is badly shattered by the experience. The new world order must lay the foundation for a future world order which will be possible only after a time of recovery, of reconstruction, and of rebuilding.”

“In the preparatory period for the new world order there will be a steady and regulated disarmament. It will not be optional. No nation will be permitted to produce and organize any equipment for destructive purposes or to infringe the security of any other nation. The new world order must be appropriate to a world which has passed through a destructive crisis.”

“We are concerned with only one subject, the ushering in of the new world order….the present world order (which is today largely disorder) can be so modified and changed that a new world and a new race of men can gradually come into being. Renunciation and the use of the sacrificial will should be the keynote for the interim period after the war (WWII), prior to the inauguration of the New Age.”

As you can see, clearly the goal of the United Nations is the establishment of the New World Order. This NWO sets the global stage for the coming of someone. We will see who this long awaited person will be.

For whom are they waiting?

Knowing that the Lucis Trust was built upon a Satanic foundation, it is not difficult to surmise their ultimate goal. They are waiting for the “Lord Maitreya”, or as they call him “The Christ.” But don’t be fooled. This is beyond a shadow of a doubt not our Messiah, Jesus Christ.

Maitreya – A New World Order

“This ‘end of an age’ inevitably produces a certain number of natural disasters such as floods and earthquakes, and we are seeing a dramatic climax in the number of disasters taking place around the world….Maitreya says: ‘The last time I came, as Jesus, it was written in the Bible that when I appeared again the very elements of nature would be disturbed.’ ” “…After the disasters have peaked there will come a period of calm -the violence and destruction will come to an end. As people gain awareness, their guilt will recede…”
Maitreya’s Mission, Volume Two, Benjamin Creme, Share International Foundation, 1993, pp186-187

When I read “their guilt will recede” I thought about the guilt of sin, and repentance. However, occultists do not speak of the need to repent of sin. They only speak of enlightenment.

“The bible predicts many catastrophes in the book of Revelation, beginning with the polar shift of the sixth seal (http://www.redmoonrising.com/list.htm, Section II), and including a meteor impact into the ocean (8:8), major famines and plagues (6:8), intense heat from the sun (16:8), and many others.”

These Occultists use the Word of God when it is convenient, but invariably change and corrupt it for their purposes. There are millions of people involved in New Age practices, worldwide. Kabbalah, practiced in Israel, and all over the world, is New Age. There are even well respected Rabbis in Israel who are known as “Kabbalist Rabbis.” Undoubtably, the Antichrist will be New Age. It is not surprising that Israel will be deceived by this man of perdition during the first 3 /12 years of the tribulation. source – Lord Maitreya’s predictions

Maitreya predicts the collapse of the current financial system.

“When the US’s “oasis of prosperity” begins to dry up, as it must in the current global financial crisis, stock markets in the West will plunge. This collapse will provide an opportunity for governments to re-evaluate their economic priorities, says futurist Benjamin Creme. The nations of the world will meet together to discuss how to cope with the future in an orderly fashion.” – from the Share International website –source

This is absolutely counterfeit and demonic. All we need to know is found in the Word of God. Satan is desperate to deceive as many people as he can. He knows what our Word says about the End Times, but he also knows that there are more people who do not believe God’s Word than do believe it. He wants to keep it that way.

Brethren, there is so much more to write, but this article would be immense. I encourage you to go to the sources referenced in this piece. There you will find names of individuals and corporations who take part in the Lucis Trust, and many of the names will shock you.

I felt an urgency to write about these things. We who love the Lord Jesus Christ, need to know how the Strong Delusion will come upon the peoples of the earth.

Even Pope Francis has become a key note speaker at the U.N. on so-called Global Warming, The plot certainly thickens. The Catholic church is yet another institution created by Satan.  This Pope is also a true Marxist and believes in a “global political authority.” He believes in redistribution of wealth. Incredibly, he also believes in depopulating the earth by almost 95%! Remember, Pope Francis is a Jesuit. The Jesuits have been called the Vatican’s army. They never thought that one of them would become the Pope himself!

We are all watching these events, but Christians know what God’s prophetic Word says.

We are blessed who know THE TRUTH.

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6)

DO NOT BE DECEIVED!

MARANATHA!

 

Leader Of the EU: We Will Make Our Planet Great Again

On By Geri UngureanIn Uncategorized2 Comments

As I read the words “We pledge to make our planet great again” it struck me that the Globalist players of the EU are drawing the line in the sand.

They have even borrowed President Trump’s ” Make America Great Again” promise – but it’s the planet – not a nation or even the European Union. These globalists mean business, and with America stepping away from the Global Warming hoax, the leader of the EU makes it crystal clear that their sites are on the entire world; they are determined to draw all nations into their web of deception.

Here is the article:

EU pledges to make our Planet Great Again

I wrote an article this year about Global Warming:

“Climate Gate: The Lies From Globalists Are Falling Apart”

The U.N. and Sustainable Development

Global Warming has become foundational to all initiatives of the U.N.  This globalist body even recruited Pope Francis to be a spokesperson for their cause in 2015. Most left wing liberals only listen to and watch liberal news sources. They are clueless about the lie that is global warming – they hear what the propagandists say and they believe it lock, stock and barrel.

Much of push to remove Trump is about “Global Warming”

America has never witnessed anything quite like what is happening right now. The movement to remove President Trump is funded by……wait for it…….George Soros (who knew, right?).  Soros, a global elitist, has deep pockets, and he will not rest until America is under another Socialist leader as was Barack Obama. Obama was a puppet of the Illuminati.

It has been said that the only thing standing in the way of a New World Order is a strong America.

Even the Illuminati itself has come out of the closet. This so-called Secret Society is not so secret any longer.  It is well known that these globalist bankers are chomping at the bit for the New World Order.

From gotquestions.orgQuestion:

“Does the Bible prophesy a one-world government and a one-world currency in the end times?”

Answer: The Bible does not use the phrase “one-world government” or “one-world currency” in referring to the end times. It does, however, provide ample evidence to enable us to draw the conclusion that both will exist under the rule of the Antichrist in the last days.

In his apocalyptic vision in the Book of Revelation, the Apostle John sees the “beast,” also called the Antichrist, rising out of the sea having seven heads and ten horns (Revelation 13:1). Combining this vision with Daniel’s similar one (Daniel 7:16-24), we can conclude that some sort of world system will be inaugurated by the beast, the most powerful “horn,” who will defeat the other nine and will begin to wage war against Christians. The ten-nation confederacy is also seen in Daniel’s image of the statue in Daniel 2:41-42, where he pictures the final world government consisting of ten entities represented by the ten toes of the statue. Whoever the ten are and however they come to power, Scripture is clear that the beast will either destroy them or reduce their power to nothing more than figureheads. In the end, they will do his bidding.

John goes on to describe the ruler of this vast empire as having power and great authority, given to him by Satan himself (Revelation 13:2), being followed by and receiving worship from “all the world” (13:3-4), and having authority over “every tribe, people, language and nation” (13:7). From this description, it is logical to assume that this person is the leader of a one-world government which is recognized as sovereign over all other governments. It’s hard to imagine how such diverse systems of government as are in power today would willingly subjugate themselves to a single ruler, and there are many theories on the subject. A logical conclusion is that the disasters and plagues described in Revelation as the seal and trumpet judgments (chapters 6-11) will be so devastating and create such a monumental global crisis that people will embrace anything and anyone who promises to give them relief.

Once entrenched in power, the beast (Antichrist) and the power behind him (Satan) will move to establish absolute control over all peoples of the earth to accomplish their true end, the worship Satan has been seeking ever since being thrown out of heaven (Isaiah 14:12-14). One way they will accomplish this is by controlling all commerce, and this is where the idea of a one-world currency comes in. Revelation 13:16-17 describes some sort of satanic mark which will be required in order to buy and sell. This means anyone who refuses the mark will be unable to buy food, clothing or other necessities of life. No doubt the vast majority of people in the world will succumb to the mark simply to survive. Again, verse 16 makes it clear that this will be a universal system of control where everyone, rich and poor, great and small, will bear the mark on their hand or forehead. There is a great deal of speculation as to how exactly this mark will be affixed, but the technologies that are available right now could accomplish it very easily.

Those who are left behind after the Rapture of the Church will be faced with an excruciating choice—accept the mark of the beast in order to survive or face starvation and horrific persecution by the Antichrist and his followers. But those who come to Christ during this time, those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life (Revelation 13:8), will choose to endure, even to martyrdom. – Source

How long will this remain “Peaceful?

Recently, I have wondered how long the forces of darkness will hold back from America. The U.N. has used Global Warming as a ruse to attain a global economy. If the same regulations can be instated in every nation of the world, then the U.N. will have begun to have the power they seek over all world governments.

The Stage Will be set for Antichrist

We see all around the world, wars and threats of wars. I believe that if a World War was to occur, knowing that the world will be facing nuclear attacks; this sets the stage for the man of sin, the Antichrist to come onto the world stage to promise peace and security. Those who are lost will worship this man. They will view him as a “savior” of mankind, not knowing that the one they worship is Satan himself. They will believe the lie.

“So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?” (Revelation 13:4).

There is no stopping Bible Prophecy

And nor should we want to attempt to stop or change what God has told us through His Word will happen in the End Times.  Even the atrocities we witness are allowed by God.  He alone is in full control of World history.

What shall we do?

We should be obedient to our Savior’s last words before He returned to His Father:

(Matthew 28:18-20)

“And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.  Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.     

Time is short, brethren.  Let us make the most of the time we have left.

Share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the lost!

Shalom b’Yeshua

MARANATHA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Women Pastors In the Body of Christ? The Word of God Clearly Says NO

On By Geri UngureanIn Uncategorized11 Comments

Not a week goes by where I do not read about the errant and apostate teachings in the mainline denominations. They are taught to hate Israel. They are taught that the Word of God in not infallible. They are taught that homosexuality is perfectly fine with God, and even appoint gay pastors in their churches.

As my readers know, I am in no way “Politically Correct.”  The statement I am about to make will enrage many women in the mainline churches. I must speak truth, and the truth is this:  The mainline churches are filled with female pastors, and I believe that the Word of God is very clear that this is not God’s will.  Women should not be in positions of authority over men in the church.

From gotquestions.org

Question: “Women pastors / preachers? Can a woman be a pastor or preacher?”

Answer: There is perhaps no more hotly debated issue in the church today than the issue of women serving as pastors/preachers. As a result, it is very important to not see this issue as men versus women. There are women who believe women should not serve as pastors and that the Bible places restrictions on the ministry of women, and there are men who believe women can serve as preachers and that there are no restrictions on women in ministry. This is not an issue of chauvinism or discrimination. It is an issue of biblical interpretation.

The Word of God proclaims, “A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent” (1 Timothy 2:11–12). In the church, God assigns different roles to men and women. This is a result of the way mankind was created and the way in which sin entered the world (1 Timothy 2:13–14). God, through the apostle Paul, restricts women from serving in roles of teaching and/or having spiritual authority over men. This precludes women from serving as pastors over men, which definitely includes preaching to them, teaching them publicly, and exercising spiritual authority over them.

There are many objections to this view of women in pastoral ministry. A common one is that Paul restricts women from teaching because in the first century, women were typically uneducated. However, 1 Timothy 2:11–14nowhere mentions educational status. If education were a qualification for ministry, then the majority of Jesus’ disciples would not have been qualified. A second common objection is that Paul only restricted the women of Ephesus from teaching men (1 Timothy was written to Timothy, the pastor of the church in Ephesus). Ephesus was known for its temple to Artemis, and women were the authorities in that branch of paganism—therefore, the theory goes, Paul was only reacting against the female-led customs of the Ephesian idolaters, and the church needed to be different. However, the book of 1 Timothy nowhere mentions Artemis, nor does Paul mention the standard practice of Artemis worshipers as a reason for the restrictions in 1 Timothy 2:11–12.

A third objection is that Paul is only referring to husbands and wives, not men and women in general. The Greek words for “woman” and “man” in 1 Timothy 2 could refer to husbands and wives; however, the basic meaning of the words is broader than that. Further, the same Greek words are used in verses 8–10. Are only husbands to lift up holy hands in prayer without anger and disputing (verse 8)? Are only wives to dress modestly, have good deeds, and worship God (verses 9–10)? Of course not. Verses 8–10 clearly refer to all men and women, not just husbands and wives. There is nothing in the context that would indicate a narrowing to husbands and wives in verses 11–14.

Yet another objection to this interpretation of women in pastoral ministry is in relation to women who held positions of leadership in the Bible, specifically Miriam, Deborah, and Huldah in the Old Testament. It is true that these women were chosen by God for special service to Him and that they stand as models of faith, courage, and, yes, leadership. However, the authority of women in the Old Testament is not relevant to the issue of pastors in the church. The New Testament Epistles present a new paradigm for God’s people—the church, the body of Christ—and that paradigm involves an authority structure unique to the church, not for the nation of Israel or any other Old Testament entity.

Similar arguments are made using Priscilla and Phoebe in the New Testament. In Acts 18, Priscilla and Aquila are presented as faithful ministers for Christ. Priscilla’s name is mentioned first, perhaps indicating that she was more prominent in ministry than her husband. Did Priscilla and her husband teach the gospel of Jesus Christ to Apollos? Yes, in their home they “explained to him the way of God more adequately” (Acts 18:26). Does the Bible ever say that Priscilla pastored a church or taught publicly or became the spiritual leader of a congregation of saints? No. As far as we know, Priscilla was not involved in ministry activity in contradiction to 1 Timothy 2:11–14.

In Romans 16:1, Phoebe is called a “deacon” (or “servant”) in the church and is highly commended by Paul. But, as with Priscilla, there is nothing in Scripture to indicate that Phoebe was a pastor or a teacher of men in the church. “Able to teach” is given as a qualification for elders, but not for deacons (1 Timothy 3:1–13; Titus 1:6–9).

The structure of 1 Timothy 2:11–14 makes the reason why women cannot be pastors perfectly clear. Verse 13 begins with “for,” giving the “cause” of Paul’s statement in verses 11–12. Why should women not teach or have authority over men? Because “Adam was created first, then Eve. And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived” (verses 13–14). God created Adam first and then created Eve to be a “helper” for Adam. The order of creation has universal application in the family (Ephesians 5:22–33) and in the church.

The fact that Eve was deceived is also given in 1 Timothy 2:14 as a reason for women not serving as pastors or having spiritual authority over men. This does not mean that women are gullible or that they are all more easily deceived than men. If all women are more easily deceived, why would they be allowed to teach children (who are easily deceived) and other women (who are supposedly more easily deceived)? The text simply says that women are not to teach men or have spiritual authority over men because Eve was deceived. God has chosen to give men the primary teaching authority in the church.

Many women excel in gifts of hospitality, mercy, teaching, evangelism, and helps. Much of the ministry of the local church depends on women. Women in the church are not restricted from public praying or prophesying (1 Corinthians 11:5), only from having spiritual teaching authority over men. The Bible nowhere restricts women from exercising the gifts of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12). Women, just as much as men, are called to minister to others, to demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22–23), and to proclaim the gospel to the lost (Matthew 28:18–20; Acts 1:8; 1 Peter 3:15).

God has ordained that only men are to serve in positions of spiritual teaching authority in the church. This is not because men are necessarily better teachers or because women are inferior or less intelligent (which is not the case). It is simply the way God designed the church to function. Men are to set the example in spiritual leadership—in their lives and through their words. Women are to take a less authoritative role. Women are encouraged to teach other women (Titus 2:3–5). The Bible also does not restrict women from teaching children. The only activity women are restricted from is teaching or having spiritual authority over men. This precludes women from serving as pastors to men. This does not make women less important, by any means, but rather gives them a ministry focus more in agreement with God’s plan and His gifting of them. – source

My husband and I went to a Baptist church one time a couple of years ago. We had met the main pastor and really liked him.  The only thing holding us back was that the pastor ordained women as pastors and the head of the elders was a woman.

We finally went to the church.  During a baby dedication, a woman pastor gave “Jesus Calling” to the parents as a gift from the church.  I could hardly sit in my seat. I wanted to jump up and say NO!!  My husband held my hand tightly. He was thinking the same thing as I was, but has a cooler head than I do most of the time.

We Must Follow the Word of God

God does not change.  His Word does not  change.  Times may change, but that does not mean that we are to attempt to make things more in “tune” with the times. Actually, as things change for the worse, we are to impact our society with the unchanging Word of God!  This is why “seeker” churches are so very dangerous.

The Role of Women in the Church

It is clear that women should teach other women in the church. The older women are to teach the younger to love their husbands. Women are not restricted from teaching children in church.

We are Equal in God’s eyes but we have different roles

God is not demeaning women with these teachings from the Word. He is clearly giving instruction about how He wants His church to function.  Just like in marriage, the Word says that the woman’s covering is the man, and the man’s covering is Jesus. The Word instructs men to love their wives as Jesus loves the Church. The Word instructs women to respect their husbands.

God knows best.  He is God and we are NOT.

Shalom b’Yeshua

MARANATHA

 

 

 

 

Forgiving Those Who Have Hurt Us Most

On By Geri UngureanIn Uncategorized5 Comments

As a writer, there are times when I feel strongly that the Lord wants me to open my life to my readers. Sometimes it is quite painful, but I feel that if my writing helps even one person – it is certainly well worth it.

My early life

I have said in other articles, that I can remember being melancholy at a very young age.  I remember feeling so alone. My dad was verbally abusive to me. I would laugh when he called me names, but I remember the hurt which I learned to hide well.

Beauty was everything in my family.  My mother was glamorous. My older sisters were stunningly beautiful.  Me?  I had unruly and extremely curly hair; I had buck teeth before I got my braces, and I was stick thin.  I was not a pretty or even cute little girl, and I knew it.  My dad would call me Bucky beaver and spaghetti head and other hurtful names. I wanted him to love me, so I would laugh, but I was dying inside.

My oldest sister

She was 7 years older than me, and got pregnant at 16 years old. She left our home – I was so young. I guess I never really knew her. Little did I know that the Lord would bring us together in a beautiful relationship much later in life.  I will refer to my oldest sister as (S).

My second to the oldest sister

From as far back as I can remember, this sister was cruel to me. I am not talking about normal sibling rivalry. She delighted in being cruel and torturous to me.  She was my father’s favorite child – we all knew it.  She would never talk to me, even to answer a question I asked of her. She even told me that I was adopted. She said that I could look in the mirror and see that I was not related to our family. I believed this for about 7 years until I found my Birth Certificate. I will refer to this sister as (J).

Watching friends who were “Daddy’s” girls

Nothing made me more sad than watching my friends who had dads who hugged them; who treated them like princesses.  I dreamed of this.

All I could do was dream.

My teen years

To say I rebelled would be a gross understatement.  I hung out with the wrong crowd; I self medicated with street drugs – anything to numb my brain. It’s like all of the anger and hurt that had built up inside of me, just exploded when I reached my teen years.  I became very suicidal.  I became a “cutter.”

When Mom and Dad retired to Florida

I was devastated when my parents decided to retire to Florida. It wasn’t because I was close with them. Perhaps them moving away – the finality of it – and I had not succeeded in making dad love me.

I was a believer at the time they moved. I was married with kids. I felt a burden for my dad. I felt that the Lord wanted me to write to him about Yeshua. I wanted dad to understand why I believed.  This had to be the Lord. It certainly wasn’t my own idea.  In my mind, I would have just made dad angrier at me.

But God had other ideas.

My dad wrote me back, telling me how proud he was of me. He told me that I was his strongest daughter.  He told me that I was his only child who cared about the Ten Commandments. I wondered where this was coming from. I loved it, but it seemed so strange to me.

Billy Graham Crusades

Dad began watching every televised Billy Graham crusade.  Mom was getting very frustrated with him. Watching Billy Graham was something my dad took seriously. I had to chuckle when I would hear the frustration in my mom’s voice.

A terribly botched surgery

Dad was having incapicitating  pain in his neck.  He found a surgeon in Florida who wanted to do a neck surgery on him. I called my mom and pleaded with her not to let dad go under the knife without a second opinion.  She didn’t listen and dad went ahead with the surgery.  This doctor completely botched the surgery.

The move back

Mom and dad moved back to the Washington area to seek out a neurosurgeon who might attempt another surgery to correct the first one.  When I say “botched” – when he would stand, his head would lie upon his shoulder. I felt so sorry for him.

Dad was a type 2 diabetic. When a person has diabetes, healing takes a very long time.  The second surgery, done by an excellent neurosurgeon, was not successful. The first surgery had harmed his  cervical spine beyond repair.

My mother called me every day at work, saying that my dad just wanted to see me. I went every evening to visit with him. Sister (J) who had been his favorite was livid with me.  I was told that she was angry and hurt that dad would ask to see me and not her.

I could see that dad was failing.  Eventually, he was placed in hospice care. The Lord allowed me the joyful experience of leading my father to Him in prayer. The angels rejoiced in heaven!

After dad’s death

My mom did not return to Florida after dad died.  A couple of times a month I would spend the weekend with her.  I felt so sorry for her.  One night she asked my forgiveness; she told me that both she and dad knew that my sister (J) had been so cruel to me as we were growing up, but they never tried to stop it.  I told her that it was forgiven and that I loved her.

Two years after dad died, my mom was diagnosed with an inoperable cancerous brain tumor.   She died within 6 weeks. Before she died, she asked my sisters to be kind to me when she was gone. After her funeral, my sisters told me that I should not consider myself their sister, and that I would never see them again. In 1983, after I was born again, I shared the Gospel with both sisters in a letter. I’m pretty sure that cutting me off as their sister was directly related to me being saved.

Fast forward to recent times

I saw my two sisters and their kids on Facebook. My sister (S) was FB friends with my daughter.  I wrote a note to both of them, just expressing my desire to connect with them.  Sister (S) didn’t answer. Sister (J) blocked me and had her kids do the same.  I felt like I had been punched in the gut.

One day, I asked my Christian brothers and sisters on Facebook to please pray that sister (S)  would come into my life again. She had not blocked me on FB.  God answered these prayers and she wrote to me. She said that she would talk with me on two conditions. NO talk of Jesus and NO talk of politics.  I agreed, and since then we have talked on the phone weekly, and really have a wonderful  time together.

Recently, I noticed that she sounded really sick. She would tell me that she thought that perhaps she had Rheumatoid Arthritis.  She was so congested that she could hardly talk. She said that she had stiffness in her hands and could barely use them.  I asked her if I could come up to her home and take care of her. She sounded elated that I would offer.

It’s a good thing that the Lord worked this out for me to stay with her. She was in bad shape and I drove her to her GP. She had pneumonia in her right lung. I stayed with her a little over a week.  The strong antibiotics and prednisone kicked in, and in a few days she was feeling like herself.

We talked about sis (J). She  knew that my sister was really hateful to me all of my life.  She didn’t know why.

Arriving home

After I returned home, I received a call from my sister and was quite overwhelmed when she told me some things.  She said that she called sister (J) and told her that I had come to take care of her, and how sick she had been.  She then asked a question that I’m sure shocked my sister. She asked her why she had been so cruel to me since I was a young girl.

She told sister (S)  that she saw dad being mean to me and that she began doing it too. Being dad’s favorite, I suppose that does make sense that she would emulate his actions towards me.

My husband said that this excuse was understandable when she was younger, but he couldn’t understand why she remained this way as an adult.

Forgiveness

I told sister (S)  that no matter what, I forgave my other sister. I also told her that I led dad to the Lord – that shocked her. I was able to plant many seeds during our visit. She would stop me if I began to tell her about salvation. She has a neighbor who is a Christian. She even went to church with her once. I know that the Lord has His hand on my sister.  Nothing is random.

I can’t help but wonder if I will answer the phone one day, and it will be sister (J). But if that never happens, I know that I have forgiven her. I have done what Jesus wants me to do, and that brings me peace.

I hope that the reader understands why I wrote this article. Forgiveness is not a suggestion from the Lord. He tells us that we must forgive others. I’m sure that there are brothers and sisters in Christ reading this who were even physically or sexually abused. Sin in this world has brought the most heinous things into so many of our lives.

If I had not forgiven my father, I would not have shared the Gospel with him. If I had not forgiven my sisters, my trip to sister (S) would not have happened. And who knows; maybe sister (J) will contact me.

When Jesus hung on that Cross, He forgave our wretched sins. How can we withhold forgiveness from those who have hurt us, if the Lord of Creation forgave us?

Is there someone in your life who hurt you badly, and you are still holding onto the anger and resentment?  Go to Jesus and ask Him to help you forgive this person. Pray for that person – I know it sounds impossible to do; but when you are praying for someone, it is impossible to hold onto the anger.

Shalom b’Yeshua

MARANATHA