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Feelings, nothing more than feelings …

by TerryLema January 2, 2022

I am a bundle of feelings this morning, many left over from last month and some new ones from this month already. I used to be constantly overrun by my feelings, but over the years the LORD has taught me a few things. (Still there are times when it seems my emotions have control.)

One thing I have learned is that feelings are neither good nor bad, they just are. They are common to all people. How we handle our feelings, however, is what is really important.

Another thing about feelings is that feelings are not facts and don’t always express the truth. Many times they are far from what is true.

The third thing about feelings is that they are not to lead, they are to follow.  Scripture is quite clear that believers are to be led by God’s Spirit. “All those led by God’s Spirit are God’s [children.”  [Romans 8:14 HCSB]

Being led by the Spirit of God is the same thing as walking with the Spirit. That is not always easy because walking with the Spirit is not simply a matter of passive surrender. It means we actively and knowingly yield to His control. We follow His lead with purpose. We allow Him to exert His influence over our decisions, our choices, our activities, our attitudes, and yes, even our emotions.

Believers do not need to pray for the Spirit’s leading, because He is already doing that. What we need is to seek for willingness and obedience to follow His leading.

So, feelings, get in line with the Spirit’s leading!

January 2, 2022 0 comment
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Does Not Disappoint

by TerryLema March 29, 2020

I was reading Alton Garrison’s book, “A Spirit-Empowered Church*” for our Act2Journey at The Way when I came upon these words: “We know faith is a process—comes by hearing and hearing the Word of God. The more Scripture you get inside you and the more you believe it, the more faith you will have. Faith is almost educational in nature. But hope is emotional. You can’t educate people into hope. Yet even in our darkest moments of disappointments and heartache, the Spirit of God can renew our hope.”

Then Garrison quotes Paul in Rom 5:3-5 “Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.”

This is a difficult time as we walk through this COVID-19 pandemic. We are isolated. We are forbidden to “gather.” The relationships that we often depend upon in our daily walk aren’t there. As I got up this morning I was sad as I remembered I wouldn’t be heading over to The Way building to set things up for all the people I love who would normally “gather” at the 10:30 AM service.

My faith in God is not diminished. We serve an Almighty LORD. If anything, faith is stronger because many of the things of this world that distracted me are gone…I’m locked away with just my LORD.

But I miss my brethren. And I know that they probably miss me. My hope diminishes just a bit. So, my beloved, this morning I pray for you and for me that through this time of distress, we persevere. That our character will be shaped by our faith, and that character strengthened in faith will produce hope. And that Holy Spirit given hope will invade our emotions – and when it does, it will not disappoint us! God bless you this Sunday!

*Influence Resources

March 29, 2020 0 comment
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Pastor Terry Lema

Pastor Terry Lema has been married for 53 years, and has 3 children and 3 grandsons. Terry graduated from Trinity Bible College, and and recently retired as Lead Pastor at The Way Church in Middleton, Idaho.

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