Some days the price of following Jesus feels a lot higher than others. Earlier this week, prompted I believe by the Holy Spirit, I reached out to a small group of unbelieving family and friends with what felt to me like a final email appeal to trust in Christ before Daniel's 70th week begins. One of the email recipients was my biological older brother, who is also my only sibling. Here is his response: i have told you numerous times i am not interested in your rhetoric. it’s so arrogant that you continue peddling it. perhaps you think writing something like this is impressive or shows what a caring person you are. it is just ego and bravado. i will never understand what trauma in your life took you so far from your true self. it’s just so very very sad. please don’t respond. there is no conversation to be had and i am not interested. To the best of my knowledge, I am the only person in my extended birth family, which is Jewish, who has come to faith in Yeshua. Nothing short of heartbreaking. Though none go with me, still I will follow... Luke 12:51-53 "Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.” I genuinely tried, Lord. His blood is not on my hands. wow...i'm sorry... i get a whole lotta silence when i send a link or write something about End Times stuff (or sometimes even just a great encouraging Christian message) and share it with siblings and nieces &/or our kids...but i have parents who are like minded and will talk w/ me about it and my husband, thank the Lord... and i'm talking about people who i'm almost positive would say they are Christians if asked...having Jewish family seems to take it to a whole other level for you....i'm sorry for the pain of fear and sadness for them and the pain of rejection to not even be kind and talk with you respectfully or at least be thankful for your heartfelt concern even if they do not agree... but, yes, you've obeyed God and as Dr. Charles Stanley says Obey God and Leave the Consequences up to Him...you planted seeds...God is able to water with the Holy Spirit to bring life to His Truths...i would suggest to just trust Him and try to let them go to Him and just let Him love through you towards them in other ways i guess...i know it's incredibly hard to interact with loved ones and feel like you are having to bite your tongue but i'm learning that's what i have to do except when i really feel like the Holy Spirit is prompting me to share something- & it seems for me i have to not be the one to help reach them with any more input at all directly...God is able Similar family issues for me. Although I've been able to share the gospel with my brother and sister, I must leave the rest to the Holy Spirit! Having helped my daughter buy her first home and sharing a in-law unit that we live in as our retirement, we have just been evicted! One daughter serving the Lord, the other is self serving, controlling and bitter! Breaks our heart! Having extended ourselves in every way for both, one has chosen to dishonor her parents! Retired and broke and having been taken advantage of in every way, we now must scramble to recoup emotionally and make provision for a new home! God is good! Hurting, but not without hope! Prayers for His .eighty provision and healing needed. TR I am so sorry TR. That news is saddening. Everywhere I turn there's news like yours and watchman's. While I as disappointed that we're still here I know the time is near. One of my favorite sayings: It is far better to please God and disappoint man than to please man and disappoint God Father God, Jehovah Jireh I pray for providence for TR and his wife. Lord open the floodgates of Heaven and pour out your financial blessings on them. Find them a place to live and the means to sustain themselves until you bring us all home. Your job is to plant the seed, give the truth, now just pray ... it is up to God to do His part and if they reject God, they reject Him, I know this is hard to hear, but freewill means, people have the right to make the wrong decision. Even if it means their eternal soul. God showed me through his word that some people will literally need a brick wall (rapture) to fall on them before they realize what they need ... they will have a very hard and painful time but remember it’s only 7 years or less but they may have a blessed eternity. Leave the answers and Bibles around for them to find ... they will seek you when we are gone! :prayer-hands: Praying for you Watchman. I know how hurtful that must have been for your only brother to respond that way. Praying for his salvation. Oh T.R that sinks about being evicted! Seemed like the perfect ideal situation all around but sadly I learned we can never rely on humans ... only Jesus because He never disappoints. With my grandparents they gave their entire inheritance to their son and left out my mom and my aunt completely. The stipulation was their single son would take care of them in their old age and in return they would give him their house, bank account and all sentimental items. Then soon after the legal agreements were signed ... he gets married and does a no show. My grandfather said he made a very big mistake by leaving his daughters out with nothing and yet his daughters were there for both their parents. It was heartbreaking to see my uncle’s wife and her family get all my grandmothers things including her sewing machine, etc. when it should have gone to either my aunt or my mom. My mom said “well its only going to burn someday anyway ... we will be walking on streets of gold.” Praying you find the perfect housing situation ... better yet that the rapture will happen and we all move upward to our heavenly dwelling place! :whistle: I'm counting on the Rapture and His mighty provision! It's a heartbreak on so many levels for sure! A sign of the times we live in! TR Truly sorry for your heartache and the betrayal you and your wife are having to endure, TR. That is so wrong!! It is just unthinkable that our own children could treat their parents that way. It must also break the heart of God. Praying for God's peace, provision, and power to be manifested on your behalf in ways that are not even on your radar at the moment. And continuing to cry out to the Lord to rescue His Bride. The Spirit and the Bride say come. Maranatha!!! I'm sorry Watchman35 and tenderreed! What can I say that will make it better -- nothing! However, I can empathize and commiserate with you because not one person in my family, and only a minuscule amount of my friends, are born-again. In addition, the more I reach out to others in God's name, it seems like the more I am attacked by the enemy. Some days it is just overwhelming. We do the best we can do, and that is all we can do. Each day is another day of reaching out to strangers in an attempt to plant a seed for God. We can water, or we can sow, but only God brings the increase! (1 Corinthians 3:6-8) I gave my family and friends over to the Lord years ago, and it has been a weight off my shoulders ever since. I can't drag them to Salvation kicking and screaming. That is their choice. I have decided that if they desire to go to h, then that is their choice and I won't stand in their way and fight with them any more. All they do is get more agitated, angry, bitter, and out of control. They are almost possessed to drive down that Highway to h and they will destroy anybody in their path that provides resistance. Good luck to them, right? Stay strong, and keep reaching out to those that are still open to The Word! Humbly Prayers for the families here of TR, Humbly and Watchman. It is hard to watch loved ones struggle and especially with their salvation being the issue ?. I think the rapture is coming soon. Praying for your housing TR. God bless this place and all those here. Love in Christ!! ?
