Open Letter to My Brother

Dear Brother,  

I am sorry today we upset each other…..HOWEVER…..time is running out on God's timetable…both for you and the people in this world. 

I see a pattern in our lives Brother.   And in love, I give you this pattern on what I have observed….the difference between what you chose and what I did.   I think my choice was not caused by my own great intellect or goodness….but because when I did not get love in my home, I looked for it in God's creatures and in Him.  The reason I want to give you this pattern…..is because you need to break it….your choice…the pattern of all of your life….you need to break it and choose the other road. 

The Pattern: 

 As a young, young child, two children, in a home without love, in a home of anger, selfishness, hurt, pain, and self centeredness…..looked to their parents for love.   It did not come because those two parents were each seeking their own "love" and appreciation.  Neither parent could step outside of their own unfulfilled needs and give to their children what those children needed…..love, and guidance.  The children were subjected to the disease and emptiness of their parents in many ways…..and sometimes those ways were totally unfair, totally wrong, and caused harm that should not have been, but none of it should have been lasting harm.   One of those children (you) continued to look towards his parents for justice, love, and understanding….which never came….because the vessels were empty.   Then that child looked towards himself for that love.   The other child (me) realized the damage that was within their parents and looked elsewhere for understanding and love and justice.  This took place at a very young age….pre-school age.    

Eventually, as I was going inward and up to God, through His animals, continuing to be obedient within the home…..even tho it was unfair, I did not lie, tried my best in all things, and took the pain internally without acting out or becoming rebellious.   I looked forward to a time when I would have my own life away from the injustice. I started learning about God by reading Revelations in the Bible and realizing where we were at in the world and what was to happen.  I saw the pain in the world and corruption and prayed to God at this young age that He would hurry and destroy the earth….even if it included me because I wanted His goodness restored and His perfection.   I also prayed for knowledge and understanding….which He gave me.   That is what helped me survive and come out of our home situation.  I looked away from myself and towards a greater perfection and truth and goodness.  I was not able to make friends because of being in a small town and probably due to gossip….and my lack of social skills and my indrawn nature.  I was too obedient to the rules.  My life was very lonely…except for my pets and the woods.  You were not there for me, nor were my parents….except for providing food, a comfortable place to live, clothing, and security.   In their own fashion, they did as much as they were able.  I was obedient to them, and received more rewards for that obedience.  I started reading books, and through books I found other worlds…and friends.  But, every moment of my life, except when I was learning something, in the woods, or with my pets, was lived on the edge of crying from loneliness.   That did not cause me to rebel or become disobedient.   That is what saved me from the route you chose…..that is what gave me a path to God…..not satan.  By remaining humble under my situation, and by remaining obedient to my authorities, by forgiving them for their wrong…..God was able to bring me out of it, with blessings and success in my future.  It was not my brains, or my specialness that helped me.  It was by being obedient.    

You started looking towards other people (all imperfect), fun, excitement, and disobedience….rebellion.  You did not live with honor…lying to get out of things or to get your way, cheating in school.  You did not respect others or their property.  You sought your own forms of pleasure and acceptance.  You did not give much thought to others, even as you grew into your teens…..(killing my only friend, my beloved innocent cat….a dear friend and companion to a child that was very much alone….an example of where you were). You were not pleased because he scratched you because you were holding him against his will….subjecting your will upon him.  Then, without any honor, you lied and blamed someone else because that made your life better.)   You lived for the moment, not thinking about your future or anyone else.  You used everyone around you for your own pleasure.   Subjecting your will on others by whatever means you could…to get the pleasure, love, fun, excitement, that you felt was your due is how you continued to react towards life.  Your father was not a perfect man…..but he did want you to learn how to follow rules, which would have helped you be a success in life.   You rebelled.   You succumbed to your hatred.  You had only those rules which glorified your life.  Whenever things got tough you did not see them through….you left, always seeking a better place to get your fun and pleasure.  You did not become humble, and accept the rule of your father (even tho he was imperfect…he was the head of the household.) which, had you done that….even tho it seemed unfair to you….God would have honored that and brought you out of it, and you would have achieved success in your later life.   You might have even found out that the life in your father's house would have improved and you may have actually gotten what you wanted from him.  That is God's way.   Unfortunately you chose the easy way….satan's way…..and you became trapped in that lifestyle.  

The End 

You chose DISOBEDIENCE, and REBELLION.   So also did satan, who rebelled against God, in the heavenly home.  "Rebellion" is the opposite of "humble".  To be humble, means one is teachable.   You continued to this day on in your 60's, in that lifestyle….and that is why God cannot bless you much because you have put that barrier up which turns the blessings away.   You are not being punished.  Your illness and state in life is directly related to the lifestyle you chose to live.   No one is at fault.   God wants to bless you, Brother.  What happened to you as a child is in the past.   You had free will….you could have chosen another way to deal with what was going on.  Many children were subjected to what you were….and still also did not have a good place to live, enough food, and a comfortable place to stay….and many were still able to choose the right way when given the chance as adults.   We cannot continue down a path of destruction because of self pity, or because of what happened in the past.  To every person comes that time when they can make a choice.  The "Orrick vacuum cleaner incidence" today, (wherein you told me you were going to take advantage of their TV offer of "using it for 30 days and returning it if you are not satisfied"...lying and stealing another's property) was just one more opportunity to choose another pattern. Those choices will be presented over and over, until finally time starts running out. 

It is not enough to proclaim oneself as a Christian for the benefits that being Christian might bestow on one.  One must want to be one….desire it in their heart because they admire the nature of God and Jesus Christ.  I think you think you love Jesus.  I think you are confused and have not realized that when you love someone, you want to be like them and you want to please them.   Find out what pleases Jesus, find out what He is like.   Jesus would like that. 

This earthly life is not about what we get for ourselves, but about what we do for others.  Most people on this earth, tho, including you, believe that this life is about what can be gotten for their own benefit and pleasure, or for those who belong to them.  Which is totally apposed to that which God set up from the beginning…..even those beginnings wherein satan rebelled because he didn't like the plan of God. 

Brother, accepting Jesus Christ is the only way out of the "death", forever death, that we are all headed towards without Him.  You say you have accepted Him, but you are still in this world, thinking as this world does.  If you lie, or steal you will have no part of Christ, unless you feel bad for doing so, when it happens, and turn away, repent, stop doing it.  PERIOD.  You are facing your end, perhaps sooner than we would like, or sooner than others.  You probably think that is the most important thing in our life right now.  But it is not.  Getting into the next life is what is most important.  Nothing here compares with the neat things there….and it is forever….and a totally fair and just place.  To do that you need to walk with Christ….not yourself.  You need to break that old pattern that doesn't work but condemns you to death as satan desires.  Everything you talk to me about shows that you still lean on your ways, not God's.  There are many people who like satan's ways….self appreciation, lying, cheating, greed, pleasure seeking, anger and hate and revenge, taking instead of giving; and they will never change, even when God puts the world under Tribulation…which will probably start making an appearance in the latter part of 2008.  No matter how bad it gets, they will not turn towards God, but will still continue to walk with satan, who glorifies SELF.  Some will finally, out of fear, turn towards God and ask for forgiveness, repent, and accept Christ, and start helping others to do same.   But, most will not.  

God wants you, not just your mouthings that you want Him, with no substance of change behind the words.  He wants you to be truly wanting Him, attracted to Him, wanting to tell others about Him.   But gee, to do that you have to learn about Him, don't you.  If you truly were attracted to Him you would have gotten a Bible by now, so you could learn about Him, or found the Bible I sent you many years ago.  You would be watching the Biblical programs on TV.  He would have been your top priority, considering the little time you may have left.  Your own tribulation period…God getting your attention by putting you in a corner, where you can contemplate your life and what is left…which is eternity.  You could be doing everything possible to accept Christ and learn about Him, and tell others so they could have eternal life with you.  I would be warning them of what is coming and that the only way out of this mess we are in is eternal life….and that eternal life does not come from emulating or following satan, it comes only through Jesus Christ as our Savior and Teacher.  Some of us do not need to be backed into a corner to realize this and we do it with love for Him because we recognize that His way is the best for all.  We reject all that satan has to offer because it doesn't last. 

You have been rebellious all your life, seeking your way.  Please, before it is too late, seek God's way….the God of Christ, not satan.  Stop lying, stop stealing, stop taking advantage of others.  Orrick Vacuum cleaners has the right to buy time on the air of TV and advertise.  Orrick's value has nothing to do with how you perceive them.  How you perceive anything does not give you the right to steal from them and take advantage of them.  Especially if you are a Christian as you profess to be.  Love your enemies….is what Christ says.  That means treat them fairly.  Let God dispense His justice to them when the time comes….which is just around the corner.  A good estimate is within 7-10 years Christ will have come back.  The world as we know it will be mostly devastated.  All those who emulate or follow satan will be destroyed.  God's vengeance will have come.  He waits only for those last few who will turn to Him during the Great Tribulation that is coming.  Most won't, just as you are not during this tribulation you are going through.  When He does come back after the final devastation,  He will rule for 1000 years with an iron rod.   Do you know what that means?  An iron rod does not allow room for any other standard other than God's.   His way Rules.   To bad if you don't like it.   Sound familiar?   As imperfect as our father on earth was…..he did have the authority….and we should have obeyed him….until we had our own authority in another home other than his.   Now…the good thing about God's rule is that He is perfect…unlike our earthly father.   But there will be work, and there will be folks during that time who think He is wrong and that there is a better way.  Just like satan thought there was a better way when he was at home with God, before our time.  At the end of this 1000 year rule, those who are rebellious will once more be allowed to mingle with satan….and they will gather to defeat Christ…..and they will all be destroyed.   God hates evil.  He will eventually destroy all evil because it cannot continue to fester in God's perfect eternity. 

It is not too late, Brother.  Stop lying.  Try to live by the 10 commandments…..I sent them to you.  Meditate on them whenever you are inclined to break them.  Honor (you never honored your father, even tho he may not have been the best father….he did provide food, shelter, clothing, security, creature comforts, etc.)  You did not honor your mother….you left her life pursuing your own happiness and never gave her a thought or checked in with her to see how she was doing or relieve her of worrying about you.  You never tried to make her life better.  You put the world and your own pleasure as a god, putting that before the will of God.  We should want His will, not ours.  You have made alcohol an idol, looking to it to solve your problems.  You have misused God's name, claiming to be a Christian, swearing by His name and not meaning it.  You don't keep the Sabbath Holy.  Have you committed adultery?  Have you murdered for gain?  You have stolen, and plot about doing it again. (Orrick.)  You lie as a way of life. (Orrick again.)  Have you ever testified to something falsely, blamed someone else?  Have you coveted someone's goods or status, blaming them for your condition in life? 

Now….I tell you, I am guilty of all these things.  I knew I needed a Savior because of my transgression against God's law condemns me to eternal death.  I would rather die 1000 times here on earth, rather than die to my eternal life with God, which only God can give.  Once dead, there is no second chance.  All our chances are here.  You are guilty too, and only true repentance and desire to follow Christ, be His slave, will save you. 

In one second He can blot out all your sins.  But, the minute you break just one commandment, they all come back, you are condemned once more.  If you don't again truly feel bad and repent, they won't go away.  Every time you truly repent and ask forgiveness He will once more forgive you.  In the same manner, you as a Christian are to continuously forgive those who trespass against you.   A circle.  God expects us to walk with Him, continuously trying to honor Him and the great gift He has given us, the death of His Son, Christ, who paid our debts once and for all, defeating satan's plan from the deception and fall of the first man, Adam.    He paid with his Blood, and His life, for us. 

Every night, think over what you did wrong that day, feel genuinely bad about it, and ask for forgiveness and it will be done…..if you are sincere. 

All of my words to you, apply to me, too.  God knows we are weak, but He expects us to grow and learn, and be sinless through the process I just told you….repentance.  The only way we can do that is through constant picking ourselves up and asking for forgiveness when we fall, and trying hard to change….not accepting that within us that is contrary to God. 

Christ is not a band aid, or a lollypop, something to make us feel better  in a moment of pain or fear or despair (tho feeling better comes with being a true Christian, knowing what has been promised to us when we are once more restored and with God, knowing that He will make all correct again.  That is where we get our joy!   In His Will.).  He is a way of LIFE, and He is the WAY to LIFE. 

You may be on the last steps of your life….make the most of it, in the ways that count.   If all goes well….and you have many more years…you will be able to utilize and enjoy them in a manner which you have never before experienced…if you follow Him.  God's ways, Christ's ways.  

Have you talked to your roommate about his condition and future without Christ?  Have you talked to your adopted daughter?  They are doomed if they have not truly accepted Christ.   Are you ashamed of Him, that you do not want to share Him?  It doesn't matter if you are laughed at or mocked for His name's sake.   Share Him.    

The only thing that is truly important, the only treasure in this life, is that which transcends this life into one that is lasting and perfect, good, and true.  That LIFE is through Christ and it is forever. 

I could not love you more, than to wish this for you, Brother.  It is the greatest form of LOVE.  I would give it to you, but only Christ can….but you have to be sincere in wanting Him.  He cannot be fooled as can humans, nor can He be used.  I take the time to write these words for you because I do love you as I do other humans in this world.  What I hope for you I hope for all.  If you accept the challenge of God's walk, pass that challenge on to others.  All people are our brothers and sisters.  The only blood that counts is the Blood, that perfect Blood, which Christ shed on the cross for us.  If that Blood is within our veins…..we are of the family of God.   That is the only family I care about.  I want you to be truly a part of that family.  All other families will go to Hell with satan, if they have not the Blood of Christ within them.   (You might be interested to know that I have written such letters as this to our earthly father.  I wonder if he accepted Christ before he died?)  I also gave our earthly mother a chance to accept Christ.  If she was sincere….she will be part of the family of Christ also.   Christ is so forgiving…..I chose to forgive as He does.   

We need to reach up for His hand and want to be like Him as much as we are able in these weak bodies.  He knows we are weak, but He forgives if we are truly sorry. 

Children can pretend to be sorry with their mothers and fathers to avoid punishment, but continue behind the parents back with bad behavior.  God is not human, He knows what is in our hearts and He sees what we do.  We cannot fool Him like you did with Mom, or may from time to time do with me.  God is not about avoiding punishment.  He is about genuine life change and heart change. 

I hope you are sincere, if you are not, it is not too late.  It is not about rewards and gain in this life.  I would like to see you on the other side in God's world, in His family.  We will have all eternity to enjoy and do things that are good, of God, Holy, as we will be when we are changed.  We must endure our circumstances and look forward to eternity, bringing along as many as we can. 

Share this (black and white) letter with your friends.  It is not couched in flowery words, but in truth.  If God wants them they will want Him, forsaking the things that satan offers here, which are not lasting, and only bring temporary pleasure, and an eternal death sentence.  Do not fear that which can take your life here on earth…..but fear He who can destroy and kill your soul (God)! 

Satan has planned from the beginning to distract mankind from returning to the glory that God planned for mankind.  Satan wants us all dead, forever.  Christ wants us all alive forever.  Whose team are you on?  Christ has already won, by dying on the cross.  Satan will not die for anyone, tho he seeks our eternal death. (tho in tribulation, he may pretend to die and be made new.  Do you see why reading the Bible is important….so we will be warned?)  In the next few years the anti-christ will appear and will try to eventually pretend to be Christ returned.  He will be possessed by satan.  Many, many will flock to him.  Many who attend church will be deceived by him, because their commitment to Christ was not sincere, and they did not get the gift of the Holy Spirit which keeps God's people from being deceived. This is satan's last attempt to LIE and deceive many to their eternal death, as he planned from the beginning.  It comes soon, Brother, be prepared in your heart, or you will be deceived.  Come out of the world of darkness which satan temporarily rules, into Christ's light, and stay there by daily commitment and repentance.  Satan most wants and delights in stealing from God those who had the most promise.  Don't let him, Brother.   Turn your tribulation into a glory for Christ, not a grave for satan. 

I love you, 

Your Sister Claudia

A YOUNG SOLDIER'S DESPAIR

	A young soldier found himself in a terrible       battle. The enemy was soundly defeating this young man's platoon. He and his comrades found themselves hastily retreating from the battle field in defeat, running away in fear of their very lives. The enemy gave chase. This young man ran hard and fast, full of fear and desperation, and soon found himself cut off from his comrades-in-arms.
	He eventually came upon a rocky ledge containing a cave. Knowing the enemy was close behind, and that he was exhausted from the chase, he chose to hide there. After he crawled in, he fell to his face in the darkness, desperately crying to GOD to save him and protect him from his enemies.      He also made a bargain with GOD, one which I (and perhaps you too?) have made before. He promised that if GOD saved him, he would serve HIM for the remainder of his days.
	---------------------------------------------------          HE LOOKED UP IN DESPAIR ---------------------------------------------------    When he looked up from his despairing plea for help, he saw a spider beginning to weave its web at the entrance to the cave. As he watched the delicate threads being slowly drawn across the mouth of the cave, the young soldier pondered its irony. He thought, "I asked God for protection and deliverance, and he sent me a spider instead. How can a spider save me?" His heart was hardened, knowing the enemy would soon discover his hiding place and kill him. And soon he did hear the sound of his enemies, who were now scouring the area looking for those in hiding.
	---------------------------------------------------  ENEMY SOLDIER AT THE CAVE  ENTRANCE --------------------------------------------------- One soldier with a gun slowly walked up to the cave's entrance. As the young man crouched in the darkness, hoping to surprise the enemy in a last-minute desperate attempt to save his own life, he felt his heart pounding wildly out of control. As the enemy cautiously moved forward to enter the cave, he came upon the spider's web, which by now was completely strung across the opening. He backed away and called out to a comrade, "There can't be anyone in here. They would have had to break this spider's web to enter the cave. Let's move on." Years later, this young man, who made good his promise by becoming a preacher and evangelist, wrote about that ordeal.
	---------------------------------------------------   WHERE GOD IS... ---------------------------------------------------      What he observed stands by me in time of trouble, especially during those times when everything seems impossible. He wrote: "Where GOD is, a spider's web is as a stone wall. Where GOD is not, a stone wall is as a spider's web." --Author Unknown
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