I feel like I’ve held my tongue long enough. And I apologize in advance to the rest of the readers that have been nothing but supportive and encouraging.
Hater, you do not know my situation. You may think you know. But the truth is, you only know what you’ve read, assumed and judged.
I’m not sure what you’re trying to accomplish with your bashing of me and my choices and I’m also not sure why you’re doing it under an alias. First of all, you leave an IP address with each comment … an IP address which has been traced back to your location. If you have something to say, just say it. Don’t hide by coming to my blog and polluting it with your hatred. And I would also encourage you to direct your venom toward the source, not me. Secondly, sure your comments sting … I’m only human, but they seriously don’t stick. The God I serve has covered me to overflowing, with His love, grace + mercy. He’s also taught me the importance of directing the overflow He’s given me to others.
I’m speaking up now because I’ve endured too many comments from you and I’d like to address something. Sodom and Gomorrah … you’re right.
God absolutely punishes evil. In fact, want me to let you in on a little secret? I wanted so desperately for my husband to find Christ, that when I read this post … I too, prayed God would hang my husband over hell and show him what his eternity would be like without Jesus! As you well know, that prayer is currently being answered.
But we serve a merciful God. Genesis 18:23-33 tells how Abraham bargained with the Lord if there were just 50 … down to 10 righteous people in town, that He would not destroy it. And the Lord agreed … if there were just 10 righteous people in all of Sodom and Gomorrah it would not be destroyed. He loves His people that much. Sadly, because no one repented … we know the towns fate.
But my point is that the Lord will punish us. He will hang us over the pit of hell if that’s what it takes for us to recognize Him.
He also says:
Matthew 7:1-5 {The Message}
Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults— unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging. It’s easy to see a smudge on your neighbor’s face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, ‘Let me wash your face for you,’ when your own face is distorted by contempt? It’s this whole traveling road-show mentality all over again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face, and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor.
{New International Version}
Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
And because I know you appreciate a hardcore-straightup “real” Bible:
{Young’s Literal Translation}
Judge not, that ye may not be judged, for in what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged, and in what measure ye measure, it shall be measured to you. And why dost thou behold the mote that [is] in thy brother’s eye, and the beam that [is] in thine own eye dost not consider? Or, how wilt thou say to thy brother, Suffer I may cast out the mote from thine eye, and lo, the beam [is] in thine own eye? Hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then thou shalt see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.
What I absolutely don’t understand is why you feel you need to continue to harass me. I have done nothing to you. I respect your opinion. I get it. I get that’s the majority. But I happen to be the minority … the minority that understands judgement isn’t ours. The minority that understands I can only give what’s been given to me on the cross.
What I know for sure is that one day I will stand before the King and He will judge me. What I also know for sure is that I’m smiling thinking about the life I’m living, here and now, in anticipation for that judgement.