Continued from part I

I am also still parenting two of my three children (now teenagers) as a single dad and that added to my calling in this ministry makes for a full day - week - month and year. I am sorry that you felt left out during my short absense. Please understand that my plate is full and I am barely able to keep up with it all - it's amazing that I can accomplish what I do but I give my Lord all the praise, glory and thanksgiving for being able to maintain.

You identified, most probably by way of spiritual discernment, what else you must face and overcome in your life when you admitted to the need to forgive others who have harmed you. At times, it doesn't make sense but believe me when I tell you that when you can let go of your own unrighteous hatreds... you will likely experience a tremendous relief and a huge burden will have been lifted off your shoulders. If you can achieve this, know that God will faithfully do His part in seeing to those who have transgressed you and He will insure that each will be dealt with according to His right and just ways. This is surely a case where you must "let go - let God." He will do His part. If you are faithful in doing what you know you must... He will be faithful in doing for you what you desire according to His perfect will and plan of salvation. You must utterly TRUST (have faith in) the only God who is worthy to be obeyed.

Lastly, speaking of obedience and perfect love casting out fear...
1 John 4:17-18 "Herein is love made perfect with us, that we may have boldness in the Day of Judgment; because as he is, even so are we in this world. There is no fear in love: but perfect love casts out fear, because fear hath punishment; and he that fears is not made perfect in love." In the above verses, love and obedience are interchangeable thereby showing that the two concepts are inexorably tied together. When I was a child growing up and learning a form of discipline from my parents, I remember clearly how I felt when I had disobeyed or done something I knew was wrong. I remember the fears associated with being "caught" or what if my mother or father "found out?" This kind of fear was very troubling to me and acted like a conviction upon my heart because I knew there would be degrees of punishment for my transgression. As it always happened, my parents always discovered my transgression, followed through on their "promised punishment" and by the time I was 15 years old, I understood that obedience was the way to escape punishment. The fears associated with certain punishment escaped me when I simply chose to obey. From that time forward, I learned never to disobey or lie to my parents about anything ever again. So in this context, if you interchange the word love with the word obedience, you have the same effect and definition. This revelation came to me many years ago and helped me to understand the words of Christ; "If you love me you will obey me." Therefore, one can also say, "he that fears is not made perfect in obedience." 1 John 4:19 "We love, because he first loved us." Verse 19 then is also saying that He who came to do the Father’s will first, did such so that we will also learn to do the Father’s will. Jesus was the perfect example of love and obedience and became the very definition of such. He was always about doing the Father’s business, as we should also be.

Take care Berris and be mindful of the things which I exhort so that you may "prove yourself a doer" and become an example to others. Also remember that rejection will likely result from others but that is not a sign of being unloved by God but a sign of walking rightly on the path that Jesus first trod. "Fear not what man may do to you but fear the Lord for He is able to both save a destroy the souls of men." Feel free to write and continue to share and express yourself but just understand that many require my attention from time to time and my duty and responsibility is great in regards to all who are seeking true fellowship and witness of Christ in flesh. Your letters are an indication that you are of a sound mind but still have some issues that need to be dealt with. My prayers and the prayers of others are with you as you search out the things which are truly of God's desire and will. Shalom!

With all sincerity and love for the truth and our scattered brethren abroad,

Nicholas A. Stivers, a humbled God fearing man, scribe and messenger Author; Apostasy Revealed published 2003 by Mountainview Publishing ISBN: 1-928602-92-4