Good words Sherri. Thank you. We have a large family with mostly grown kids. All raised in the church and in faith. We have seen the muddied down gospel and the pastors that succumbed to the boards advice. Many of this younger generation have rejected the religious , and I understand this , but they have replaced it with entertainment like Hunger Games and other movies and tv shows. Ones we would never take them to. TM, yoga, and other practices have become accepted once again and we are just being judge mental if we point out their origins. Our hearts grieve for them, but we must press on in our own walks. Thanks for the encouragement.
Thank you for so clearly stating what we are seeing happening in too many places that we call "church". Yes, we are rejected the moment we voice some of the things you write in your comment.
Thank you for putting words together that explain new agey practices. My 3rd child has chosen to leave behind all Biblical teachings she was raised with. This has broken our hearts and caused many sleepless nights of frying out to God. She chose her wedding to show us publicly how void of any love for God ( or us) she was living. Not one word of scripture, not a prayer nor hymn was uttered by the internet licensed frat bro who “married” them before the frat party ( we financed) reception. The gown $$$ she selected in our family “ yes to the dress weekend to Cincy’s designer bridal row, was ( secretly) swapped fir an illusion bridal gown ( see through neckline to her waist😢). Not one hint of God being welcomed or even thanked for the many blessings in her life. No love expressed to family ( not even a flower for the grandparents or Mom who traveled hours to attend. Just a big, drunken frat party for these 2 spiritually hollow persons. It was next to my only sin’s funeral, the saddest day of my life. Scripture informed me that is was not a marriage. She pursues feel good experiences; goat yoga, cruises, vacations, brewery tours with friends to any family contact. She is spiritually bankrupt and I am left with prayer as my only connection to this daughter, who says she demands unconditional love from me or no relationship! I don’t know how to do that! I do love her, but her choices/direction is not one that I can support. I can abandon my biblical beliefs and have a daughter in my life OR leave this child to God’s judgement and beg His forgiveness for my failures as a Mom.
Turn her over to the Lord. Read (and re-read and again) the story of the prodigal son. She's an adult. As my mom would say, "She made her bed - now let her lie in it." Yes, it breaks your heart. Think of how Jesus must feel when He looks as His billions of wayward children!! Cling to Him and pray that the Holy Spirit will bring something across her path to convict her spirit. That is your most important job.
The prodigal son story is a great reminder that God accepts us back upon repentance. In fact, throughout the Word of God, repentance is not only the requirement but the very thing that begins transforming us. Without repentance, we are just a sounding gong and clanging symbol when we declare we love, we believe or follow our Savior. "Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to life." 2Cor 7:10. Sorrow that does not bring repentance (turning around from breaking God's law to obeying God's law) does not lead to life; it reveals that the sorrow was only worldly sorrow which leads to death.
The prodigal son had no one out there who would help him. We need to remember that. No one would help him so it drove him to repent and go home. But why did no one help him? Because God says to "hand him over to Satan for the saving of his soul" when he refused to live as God commands. That means we do not help anyone who is blaspheming God even if it's our own children. That kind of judgment is to drive the person to their knees in repentance so that their soul can be saved. It's biblical love to hand our adult children over to Satan so they can see what it's like to serve the devil on this side of glory when something can be done about it. It's supposed to get really bad and if that child is prideful like my daughter, bad doesn't even drive her to her knees. I suspect it will take horrific to drive her to the feet of the cross so I pray for it. I pray her heart is softened before that time. And I pray for the strength as a mom to watch it happen. I do hope I get the prodigal son coming- home story of a repentant child before it's too late for her. But if I do not, I will still remain steadfast in my own faith and obedience to do this God's way.
Dear Dee, please do not blame yourself as failing as a mother. It’s the colleges and people attending who influenced her and she turned her back on you and all of his teachings. You raised her with God’s biblical teachings and a loving Christian family. I’ve seen this happen with friends daughters who turned on their faith and their family because of the indoctrination they get at these colleges. She WILL wake up one day and feel the impact in her soul of the emptiness and outright depth of her bad choices. Please do not abandon your biblical beliefs to have a relationship with her! Some day she may come running to you to save her from these satanic choices. For her to so drastically cut out everything related to God for her wedding proves signs of demonic activity in her life and that of the spouse she chose. I’ve experienced people like this in my life and had to deal with them by either walking away or help redirect them to God. Continuing to pray for her is your strongest weapon. Please, again, do not blame yourself. You did the best you could. The world today is unlike any evil we have ever seen. It’s going to take praying without ceasing for all of us to get through it and protect our families.
Very good advice. My only son’s father left after eleven years of marriage and three days before he turned one. I raised him with every fiber of my being and he has not spoken to me for eight years ....no explanation! It has been very painful, but we are all on a journey. I feel he was hijacked and thus, so was I. Had I had any idea of the rubbish being taught at the university level, I would have asked more questions!
On the positive side, he is a responsible adult and so, I didn’t fail in my role as a mom. So,hurts must be released. I cannot carry the burden of this sorrow.
Dear Jaci, I am so sorry for what you have gone through. No, you didn’t fail in your role as a mother. This has weighed on my heart all afternoon. I don’t understand why children do this when they have such loving mothers. I pray for Christ’s comfort and healing for you. You have too much to offer to carry this burden and it truly is his loss. May God always bless you and keep you. You had no way of knowing how evil these colleges and their professors have become. It’s beyond words.
So wise Jaci, so much is not in our control. As difficult as it is, we cannot let our unhappy (lost?) child/children keep us from pursuit of our own happiness. But pray for them.
Jaco, it is so unfair, but this world is not our home. I agree demonic activity is probably the root of the evil behavior. I apologized when I saw her last...she took delight in stating it wasnt a true apology. It took so much courage to speak that to her...she was full of hate. I worked 3 jobs to pay for her private education, but she gives her Dad all the credit for supporting her in life. He is invited to her home and Im treated like poison! Such deep hurt. Im sorry you know it, too! 🙏
BTW, there is no such thing as unconditional love. God has conditions. "Repent or likewise perish." There is a condition upon all of us if we want His love, His blessings and His offer of life eternally.
Man has simply made up a fairytale god that doesn't exist and doesn't judge sin. That fictitious god is much easier to live with according to the false converts.
Thank you so much for reminding that there are conditions to God's love. I have been horrified by the statements of the Pope of the Catholic church: 'who am I to judge'. That was the final end for me giving any respect or reverence to the Church
God loves unconditionally. The power of God cannot be described in human terms.
“The Divine being what it is, how could it contradict its own nature if compassion had no place in its qualities?..The discovery that the forgiveness of sins is a sacred fact should fill us with inexpressible joy. For it is the discovery that there is compassionate love at the heart of the universe.” - Paul Brunton, The Gift of Grace
God does not love unconditionally. No where in the Bible does this notion exist. He has conditions; obedience. That is why He has said "obey Me and live" and every other writer has confirmed it. His Son said "repent or perish" "count the cost" "if you want to enter life, keep the commandments" "I know that His command leads to eternal life." It is a false narrative that anyone loves anyone unconditionally. Agape is doing the right thing for others despite how we feel about it and without conditions to that person. But agape itself has a condition on it to another; we agape because we're commanded to do so by God or we are not in obedience.
Remember "Jacob I have loved, Esau I hated." It's easy to be an Esau and give up all that is available to us when we refuse to see the value in serving our Father.
Dee, I just read your comment because I too, have a 3rd child, a daughter, going down this path. She has rejected the God of the Bible to invent the god she desires. She's done a lot of damage to her children, lost her marriage, her health suffers. We are heartbroken and have been for years. We did the hard thing that God requires of us, which is to "put her out of our midst, hand her over to Satan for the saving of her soul." She is not welcome at our home with her blaspheme. So our godly/righteous actions have driven her to criticize us more, lie about us, get on podcasts and make up things that never happened all while trying to discredit true faith in a Holy God and what that entails. I'm sorry anyone else is having to experience what we are experiencing. Almost nothing is as painful so I relate to your words. I encourage you to keep praying and know that if you walk according to the Word yourself, you will indeed be hated; even by your own children. While this does not feel good, it is a sign of what happens to someone abiding in Christ. I hope you can take courage in that and allow Him to fill the void and soften the pain that wayward children cause. I never thought I would be the enemy of my own daughter but I do read it in scripture as a probability. Remember, you are not the problem. You are not a failure. Job, as wonderful as he was according to our Father, he still could not influence his children in the way they should go, so be encouraged. This scenario is what God says will happen. I promise you it will get easier. Your pain will lesson and you will be able to get through days without heartache. I know that doesn't change your daughter but you will be changed and at least there is peace in that. I will mention you in my own prayers. Not many parents would draw a line in the sand as scripture says to do.
Thank you for the kind words. And I appreciate your statement below, "please do not abandon your biblical beliefs to have a relationship with her" because 99% of all parents would make the relationship more important than God. He says if anyone comes to you with a different message, do not welcome them or you share in their wicked work. It's difficult for most to think our God requires that kind of allegiance to Him but He does. Mostly, I am the only one who shares that with others so it is a blessing to read another share it as well. Thanks again.
My daughter had been wandering down the prodigal path as well, but I was probably not as Biblically strong during her teen years especially, as it sounds like you all are/were. I always directed her to prayer and scripture for answers, but she eventually "chose" to love an atheist and things in her life spiraled down until God called her home. We all need love and grace constantly. Tell your daughters in a non accusatory way, how much you love them and will be there for them through their bad choices when/if they need you. Leave it at that. They'll remember when, not if, the time comes.
Amazing insight! Currently she is fixated on how “toxic” I am. My words of love were rejected coldly at Thanksgiving. She left 10 min before our feast began, to add insult to i jury after telling me my tearful apology wasn’t a real apology! She chose to spend the weekend with her mate’s family 10 mil s away. MIL is on marriage #3, but she is a good role model 🤷♀️
So you know this deep sense of sadness. I remember praying (after finding I was pregnant) I want to do this for you Lord, raise her to be mighty in spirit and love and serve you forever! This was my offering to Him, yet I Couldn’t deliver. I know He knows my heart, but I am so sad! Thank you for truth to ponder, she makes her choices, and will stand before Him.
You DID deliver. You raised her to be something she is rejecting. But you did your job and she is turning away of her own free will. It is hard not to self reflect and ask where you went wrong. I know for us, we actually did go wrong. We taught a false grace gospel to our kids that is prevalent in modern churches today. But when we finally surrendered ourselves to the truth, she was already in college and then married with kids followed. It was too late to have the kind of influence we needed. That was 5 years ago when she divorced and now has decided to serve Satan. She doesn't call it that but has a buddha and involved in seances and palm reading. We don't speak now, it escalates too easily. Anyway, I know how you feel bc I felt worse. But I did the best I could with what I knew and as soon as I knew better, I spoke truth. Deep down, she knows. But she is very prideful.
You have given me much to consider in prayer. I know God is able, but in my pride I am taking back responsibility for her bad decisions. That is exalting myself above Him. I’ll be battling with this and taking back ground the enemy of my soul has taken. I was not a perfect Mom but I was focused on pleasing a d honoring God and He knows both my heart and my weakness! 🙏❤️
I also have a prodigal daughter. It is unsettling to hear that you are experiencing the same thing as I am. My daughter also wants no communication with me unless I accept her alternate lifestyle that goes against my faith. I have had not heard from her in one and a half years and she has moved so I do not even have her address. I always thought we were close and I loved her dearly, but she has changed so much. It is like she has a spirit of rebellion with no compassion and has turned her face from God. Prayers for your daughter and mine that they find their way back and that we are forgiven for any mistakes we may have made.
There seems to be a prodigal epidemic these days, most likely from social media and colleges, heartbreaking. Satan will not win, prayers my sister in Christ.
What would accepting her alternate lifestyle mean, according to her? Just verbal affirmation? Or accepting certain behaviour in your home that you cannot quare with your faith? I am trying to figure out what this would mean in practice, and what it is you cannot give her?
I ask this because "accepting an alternate lifestyle" is very abstract. It seems we have to ponder certain issues ourselves in the near future, and where to draw lines. So I want to learn and to avoid mistakes.
Her situation is quit unique, but I told her that I love her no matter what and that I am here for her. She is not in a typical alternate lifestyle (I know that is vague but this is a public forum), but even before this relationship she was (in the last 3 years) very protective of her private life. She is not living in my home nor was she at the time. At some point in the last three years she started saying I was "controlling" which is strange considering I have always respected her free will as an adult child and always offered her help if she needed it. I feel it is more of her not wanting to feel convicted.
I don't feel I made a mistake in sticking to my beliefs any more than the prodigal father did. Sometimes you just have to let them learn the hard way and leave it God's hands while all the time praying for their safe return.
This generation is under full attack from social media, entertainment, and the school system. Problems arose when she left private school to attend a public/charter high school. If I had it to do over, I would have homeschooled her. Hindsight is 20/20 but I must leave it in the Lord's hands at this point.
Thank you for this reply. This helps. I recognise a lot in what you write, especially the social media/entertainment thing. My child lives at home still, but I think not for long, but it's a continuous battle, about accepting we are a Christian home and this comes with a set o values
(which makes for certain rules) that are maybe stupid or just an annoying burden for an unbeliever. So we stick to "our home, our rules". But it's sometimes so hard, and we're tempted to let things go for the sake of peace. But then, what kind of peace would that be. So far I know no one else battling the same issue, so we've not really any examples of how to do this well. So I try to leave it to the Lord, but I am constantly taking it back in my own hands, and then I have to release it again.
I have invested in "The Power of Praying for Your Adult Children" which has prayers and guidance for Christian parents. I have met two other moms in church that have prodigal daughters, so I think this is becoming more common. Going along to get along is tempting but I refuse to allow a compromise in my faith, even for my child. Our children are being brainwashed into a world where Christian parents are controlling and judgmental, a world where "do what thou wilt" rules.
My daughter and I had a close loving relationship before all of this, it's like she is under mind control or something. I would never dream of treating my parents like this when I was her age, and I had a crazy upbringing. Hopefully she will see the light some day and we can get past all of this. It is nice to talk to someone going through a similar situation. I pray that yours never gets as bad as mine.
That book is now on my wish list. It seems it could be a great help in years to come. I pray for both our children to return to the fold, and to the Lord. It’s all we have left, and it’s not the worst. I can see it’s helpful to know people who go through the same. But I also can see the positive side of not knowing anybody in this situation (yet).
Dee, we who have learned the hard way, understand fully, God will do nothing which impinges upon our free will. Yet at the exact same time, his incompressible LOVE for us never waivers. That said, your daughter has chosen a very hard path to travel, but it may well be the exact path she needs to learn, and grow in whatever ways she needs too.
Thank you Dr. Tenpenny for speaking the truth no matter the cost. Since I gave my life to Jesus, I have never regretted loving Him first. Lost my siblings and grandchildren for the most part but God has made up for the loss.
I live in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Last week I attended an ecumenical service and it felt like a philosophy seminar that kicked off with a lot of announcements & then had some singing then more seminar material. It depressedme. This week I attended a Thai language service at Sacred Heart Cathedral. It felt like a worship service that celebrated God. It's strange how specific simple practices have huge effects: kneeling, meditation, moments of expanded silence, & more. I'll continue going to Sacred Heart.
Dr. Tenpenny, your meditations and insights are beautiful. In my life I have guarded my heart against lies, deception and ugliness. Instinctively I knew that love and truth and beauty are interconnected and must be from God. How many do not hear the bids, the leaves, the waves, the laughing and crying of children, the pain of the faces of others because their minds are never quiet. They pray but do not listen. Jesus said, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength." In that passion for Truth, which is Love, which is God, we become less and He becomes more. This is the only real meditation. It is how I came to realize that truth, love and beauty are God... and is Jesus!
"Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path." Psalm 119:105 NLT
"Fill us with a passion for Your Word. Mold us, transform us, and sanctify us for Your purpose." Sherri
Let us pray. . . Abba, Father in Heaven above, we come to You this day with hearts of sincere gratitude and praise. We ask that You make Your Words come alive for us. We ask that we discover anew the deep well of revelation within the pages of Your book, the Bible. Thank You, LORD. Amen.
Thank you Dr. Tenpenney, I hope you keep on with this New Age thread and hit on a different aspect each time. Many are being deceived. Right after I read and commented on your last one, Dr. Ana Mihalcea posted on her substack. She wrote a very New Agey Christianity type post. Many people in her comments were giving their approval of what she said. She normally posts about her work and she is uncovering some shocking things in regards to nanotechnology in blood. I am praying for her that she will wake up in her spiritual life and learn the truth of the Gospel.
Thanks so much for a truth filled post. This is why we need discernment that comes from searching the Scriptures daily. It causes me to pray for pastors even more!
I’m thankful for my pastor who preaches truth continually to his “flock”.
The adage of “We must STAND for something, or we will fall for anything”, is a most apt description of what has happened to far too many “Churches” who CLAIM to be “Christian”. The creation of the 501-C3 status affecting churches was never anything but a political ploy and a weapon to remove solid Bible based teachings and Preaching within Christian communities. Watching the local churches in my area rollover and lay down to mandates instead of rallying and organizing a pushback against those Constitutionally Repugnant mandates grieved my heart and Soul, because it signaled the end of the Republic which once was on this continent.
The Almighty Creator and the Lord of the Universe are not the least bit interested in having “religion” with us, they only want RELATIONSHIP with us fragile little children.
There is a youtube Podcaster named Melissa Dougherty who is an apologist who centers her, usually humorous, podcasts on the falseness of new age Christianity.
Not that I care to give attention to "new-age-Christianity, but if this person is supposed to be witnessing the falseness of it, what is the apologist part? Sounds like another way of confusing bad with good.
Melissa Dougherty (her name is the name of her YouTube channel) is a strong Christ follower, and a fellow spiritual warrior. She's a Christian apologist, similar to Sean McDowell, Josh McDowell, J. Warner Wallace, Lee Strobel, and many others. Melissa clearly discerns the false from God's truth. Check out her YT channel when you have time. I subscribed to her channel a couple of years ago.
What Night Owl Christian says. She thought the new agey stuff taught was a form of Christianity until she learned differently, and now helps others discern the two are opposed to each other.
Yes, good purpose of meditation is to relax and calm the racing of one's thoughts to be able to quietly focus on a spiritual connection with god. So much noise and technology items to keep you focused on anything but God. It's satan's goal to keep us from acknowledging God or reading the bible and the world in general has done this by taking God out of school, sports and out of our daily lives. This is why the world is in such an evil mess, like the U.N. ignoring that Hamas murdered and mutilated women, children, men and the elderly on Oct 7th in Gaza. The U.N. is now pressuring Israel to cease fire or they will withdraw the support of all countries. Obviously the U.N. is supporting these terror groups. Israel needs our support and prayers for God to thwart the evil intensions against Israel.
Good words Sherri. Thank you. We have a large family with mostly grown kids. All raised in the church and in faith. We have seen the muddied down gospel and the pastors that succumbed to the boards advice. Many of this younger generation have rejected the religious , and I understand this , but they have replaced it with entertainment like Hunger Games and other movies and tv shows. Ones we would never take them to. TM, yoga, and other practices have become accepted once again and we are just being judge mental if we point out their origins. Our hearts grieve for them, but we must press on in our own walks. Thanks for the encouragement.
Thank you for so clearly stating what we are seeing happening in too many places that we call "church". Yes, we are rejected the moment we voice some of the things you write in your comment.
Thank you for putting words together that explain new agey practices. My 3rd child has chosen to leave behind all Biblical teachings she was raised with. This has broken our hearts and caused many sleepless nights of frying out to God. She chose her wedding to show us publicly how void of any love for God ( or us) she was living. Not one word of scripture, not a prayer nor hymn was uttered by the internet licensed frat bro who “married” them before the frat party ( we financed) reception. The gown $$$ she selected in our family “ yes to the dress weekend to Cincy’s designer bridal row, was ( secretly) swapped fir an illusion bridal gown ( see through neckline to her waist😢). Not one hint of God being welcomed or even thanked for the many blessings in her life. No love expressed to family ( not even a flower for the grandparents or Mom who traveled hours to attend. Just a big, drunken frat party for these 2 spiritually hollow persons. It was next to my only sin’s funeral, the saddest day of my life. Scripture informed me that is was not a marriage. She pursues feel good experiences; goat yoga, cruises, vacations, brewery tours with friends to any family contact. She is spiritually bankrupt and I am left with prayer as my only connection to this daughter, who says she demands unconditional love from me or no relationship! I don’t know how to do that! I do love her, but her choices/direction is not one that I can support. I can abandon my biblical beliefs and have a daughter in my life OR leave this child to God’s judgement and beg His forgiveness for my failures as a Mom.
Turn her over to the Lord. Read (and re-read and again) the story of the prodigal son. She's an adult. As my mom would say, "She made her bed - now let her lie in it." Yes, it breaks your heart. Think of how Jesus must feel when He looks as His billions of wayward children!! Cling to Him and pray that the Holy Spirit will bring something across her path to convict her spirit. That is your most important job.
The prodigal son story is a great reminder that God accepts us back upon repentance. In fact, throughout the Word of God, repentance is not only the requirement but the very thing that begins transforming us. Without repentance, we are just a sounding gong and clanging symbol when we declare we love, we believe or follow our Savior. "Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to life." 2Cor 7:10. Sorrow that does not bring repentance (turning around from breaking God's law to obeying God's law) does not lead to life; it reveals that the sorrow was only worldly sorrow which leads to death.
The prodigal son had no one out there who would help him. We need to remember that. No one would help him so it drove him to repent and go home. But why did no one help him? Because God says to "hand him over to Satan for the saving of his soul" when he refused to live as God commands. That means we do not help anyone who is blaspheming God even if it's our own children. That kind of judgment is to drive the person to their knees in repentance so that their soul can be saved. It's biblical love to hand our adult children over to Satan so they can see what it's like to serve the devil on this side of glory when something can be done about it. It's supposed to get really bad and if that child is prideful like my daughter, bad doesn't even drive her to her knees. I suspect it will take horrific to drive her to the feet of the cross so I pray for it. I pray her heart is softened before that time. And I pray for the strength as a mom to watch it happen. I do hope I get the prodigal son coming- home story of a repentant child before it's too late for her. But if I do not, I will still remain steadfast in my own faith and obedience to do this God's way.
Thsnk you, Sherri. God is my only sanctuary❤️🙏
Sorry about my fat finger typos! 🤦♀️
Dear Dee, please do not blame yourself as failing as a mother. It’s the colleges and people attending who influenced her and she turned her back on you and all of his teachings. You raised her with God’s biblical teachings and a loving Christian family. I’ve seen this happen with friends daughters who turned on their faith and their family because of the indoctrination they get at these colleges. She WILL wake up one day and feel the impact in her soul of the emptiness and outright depth of her bad choices. Please do not abandon your biblical beliefs to have a relationship with her! Some day she may come running to you to save her from these satanic choices. For her to so drastically cut out everything related to God for her wedding proves signs of demonic activity in her life and that of the spouse she chose. I’ve experienced people like this in my life and had to deal with them by either walking away or help redirect them to God. Continuing to pray for her is your strongest weapon. Please, again, do not blame yourself. You did the best you could. The world today is unlike any evil we have ever seen. It’s going to take praying without ceasing for all of us to get through it and protect our families.
Very good advice. My only son’s father left after eleven years of marriage and three days before he turned one. I raised him with every fiber of my being and he has not spoken to me for eight years ....no explanation! It has been very painful, but we are all on a journey. I feel he was hijacked and thus, so was I. Had I had any idea of the rubbish being taught at the university level, I would have asked more questions!
On the positive side, he is a responsible adult and so, I didn’t fail in my role as a mom. So,hurts must be released. I cannot carry the burden of this sorrow.
Dear Jaci, I am so sorry for what you have gone through. No, you didn’t fail in your role as a mother. This has weighed on my heart all afternoon. I don’t understand why children do this when they have such loving mothers. I pray for Christ’s comfort and healing for you. You have too much to offer to carry this burden and it truly is his loss. May God always bless you and keep you. You had no way of knowing how evil these colleges and their professors have become. It’s beyond words.
So wise Jaci, so much is not in our control. As difficult as it is, we cannot let our unhappy (lost?) child/children keep us from pursuit of our own happiness. But pray for them.
This 15 minutes on our ‘prodigals’ is so good for anyone who has a prodigal Read or watch Dutch Sheets. https://us5.campaign-archive.com/?e=50735d1b68&u=21ae4b9aa9f11e4a8320b5ed6&id=d04b3191cf
Jaco, it is so unfair, but this world is not our home. I agree demonic activity is probably the root of the evil behavior. I apologized when I saw her last...she took delight in stating it wasnt a true apology. It took so much courage to speak that to her...she was full of hate. I worked 3 jobs to pay for her private education, but she gives her Dad all the credit for supporting her in life. He is invited to her home and Im treated like poison! Such deep hurt. Im sorry you know it, too! 🙏
Thanks, Joni! I value your kind insights and kind words.
You are so welcome, Dee. I will keep both of you in my prayers. God bless you and protect you!
BTW, there is no such thing as unconditional love. God has conditions. "Repent or likewise perish." There is a condition upon all of us if we want His love, His blessings and His offer of life eternally.
Man has simply made up a fairytale god that doesn't exist and doesn't judge sin. That fictitious god is much easier to live with according to the false converts.
Thank you so much for reminding that there are conditions to God's love. I have been horrified by the statements of the Pope of the Catholic church: 'who am I to judge'. That was the final end for me giving any respect or reverence to the Church
God loves unconditionally. The power of God cannot be described in human terms.
“The Divine being what it is, how could it contradict its own nature if compassion had no place in its qualities?..The discovery that the forgiveness of sins is a sacred fact should fill us with inexpressible joy. For it is the discovery that there is compassionate love at the heart of the universe.” - Paul Brunton, The Gift of Grace
God does not love unconditionally. No where in the Bible does this notion exist. He has conditions; obedience. That is why He has said "obey Me and live" and every other writer has confirmed it. His Son said "repent or perish" "count the cost" "if you want to enter life, keep the commandments" "I know that His command leads to eternal life." It is a false narrative that anyone loves anyone unconditionally. Agape is doing the right thing for others despite how we feel about it and without conditions to that person. But agape itself has a condition on it to another; we agape because we're commanded to do so by God or we are not in obedience.
Remember "Jacob I have loved, Esau I hated." It's easy to be an Esau and give up all that is available to us when we refuse to see the value in serving our Father.
I believe God/Creator knows your heart. “…we’re commanded to do so by God or we are not in obedience.”
I believe one should “walk with God”. We have Free Will to walk with our Creator, not to be “commanded”. God wants His children to come to Him freely.
Do you see my profile picture? I took that picture on my walk I take daily. THAT is God. It commands nothing but LOVE.
So you are going to ignore the verses I just posted? His words don't matter but your opinion is truth? Come on..............
Are you God?
Dee, I just read your comment because I too, have a 3rd child, a daughter, going down this path. She has rejected the God of the Bible to invent the god she desires. She's done a lot of damage to her children, lost her marriage, her health suffers. We are heartbroken and have been for years. We did the hard thing that God requires of us, which is to "put her out of our midst, hand her over to Satan for the saving of her soul." She is not welcome at our home with her blaspheme. So our godly/righteous actions have driven her to criticize us more, lie about us, get on podcasts and make up things that never happened all while trying to discredit true faith in a Holy God and what that entails. I'm sorry anyone else is having to experience what we are experiencing. Almost nothing is as painful so I relate to your words. I encourage you to keep praying and know that if you walk according to the Word yourself, you will indeed be hated; even by your own children. While this does not feel good, it is a sign of what happens to someone abiding in Christ. I hope you can take courage in that and allow Him to fill the void and soften the pain that wayward children cause. I never thought I would be the enemy of my own daughter but I do read it in scripture as a probability. Remember, you are not the problem. You are not a failure. Job, as wonderful as he was according to our Father, he still could not influence his children in the way they should go, so be encouraged. This scenario is what God says will happen. I promise you it will get easier. Your pain will lesson and you will be able to get through days without heartache. I know that doesn't change your daughter but you will be changed and at least there is peace in that. I will mention you in my own prayers. Not many parents would draw a line in the sand as scripture says to do.
I am sorry to see you have gone through this, but you have explained it very well.
Thank you for the kind words. And I appreciate your statement below, "please do not abandon your biblical beliefs to have a relationship with her" because 99% of all parents would make the relationship more important than God. He says if anyone comes to you with a different message, do not welcome them or you share in their wicked work. It's difficult for most to think our God requires that kind of allegiance to Him but He does. Mostly, I am the only one who shares that with others so it is a blessing to read another share it as well. Thanks again.
My daughter had been wandering down the prodigal path as well, but I was probably not as Biblically strong during her teen years especially, as it sounds like you all are/were. I always directed her to prayer and scripture for answers, but she eventually "chose" to love an atheist and things in her life spiraled down until God called her home. We all need love and grace constantly. Tell your daughters in a non accusatory way, how much you love them and will be there for them through their bad choices when/if they need you. Leave it at that. They'll remember when, not if, the time comes.
Amazing insight! Currently she is fixated on how “toxic” I am. My words of love were rejected coldly at Thanksgiving. She left 10 min before our feast began, to add insult to i jury after telling me my tearful apology wasn’t a real apology! She chose to spend the weekend with her mate’s family 10 mil s away. MIL is on marriage #3, but she is a good role model 🤷♀️
Heartbreaking for you. She's going to learn the hard way.
So you know this deep sense of sadness. I remember praying (after finding I was pregnant) I want to do this for you Lord, raise her to be mighty in spirit and love and serve you forever! This was my offering to Him, yet I Couldn’t deliver. I know He knows my heart, but I am so sad! Thank you for truth to ponder, she makes her choices, and will stand before Him.
You DID deliver. You raised her to be something she is rejecting. But you did your job and she is turning away of her own free will. It is hard not to self reflect and ask where you went wrong. I know for us, we actually did go wrong. We taught a false grace gospel to our kids that is prevalent in modern churches today. But when we finally surrendered ourselves to the truth, she was already in college and then married with kids followed. It was too late to have the kind of influence we needed. That was 5 years ago when she divorced and now has decided to serve Satan. She doesn't call it that but has a buddha and involved in seances and palm reading. We don't speak now, it escalates too easily. Anyway, I know how you feel bc I felt worse. But I did the best I could with what I knew and as soon as I knew better, I spoke truth. Deep down, she knows. But she is very prideful.
You have given me much to consider in prayer. I know God is able, but in my pride I am taking back responsibility for her bad decisions. That is exalting myself above Him. I’ll be battling with this and taking back ground the enemy of my soul has taken. I was not a perfect Mom but I was focused on pleasing a d honoring God and He knows both my heart and my weakness! 🙏❤️
I also have a prodigal daughter. It is unsettling to hear that you are experiencing the same thing as I am. My daughter also wants no communication with me unless I accept her alternate lifestyle that goes against my faith. I have had not heard from her in one and a half years and she has moved so I do not even have her address. I always thought we were close and I loved her dearly, but she has changed so much. It is like she has a spirit of rebellion with no compassion and has turned her face from God. Prayers for your daughter and mine that they find their way back and that we are forgiven for any mistakes we may have made.
Your story is just like mine. So sorry; it's heartbreaking.
There seems to be a prodigal epidemic these days, most likely from social media and colleges, heartbreaking. Satan will not win, prayers my sister in Christ.
What would accepting her alternate lifestyle mean, according to her? Just verbal affirmation? Or accepting certain behaviour in your home that you cannot quare with your faith? I am trying to figure out what this would mean in practice, and what it is you cannot give her?
I ask this because "accepting an alternate lifestyle" is very abstract. It seems we have to ponder certain issues ourselves in the near future, and where to draw lines. So I want to learn and to avoid mistakes.
Her situation is quit unique, but I told her that I love her no matter what and that I am here for her. She is not in a typical alternate lifestyle (I know that is vague but this is a public forum), but even before this relationship she was (in the last 3 years) very protective of her private life. She is not living in my home nor was she at the time. At some point in the last three years she started saying I was "controlling" which is strange considering I have always respected her free will as an adult child and always offered her help if she needed it. I feel it is more of her not wanting to feel convicted.
I don't feel I made a mistake in sticking to my beliefs any more than the prodigal father did. Sometimes you just have to let them learn the hard way and leave it God's hands while all the time praying for their safe return.
This generation is under full attack from social media, entertainment, and the school system. Problems arose when she left private school to attend a public/charter high school. If I had it to do over, I would have homeschooled her. Hindsight is 20/20 but I must leave it in the Lord's hands at this point.
Thank you for this reply. This helps. I recognise a lot in what you write, especially the social media/entertainment thing. My child lives at home still, but I think not for long, but it's a continuous battle, about accepting we are a Christian home and this comes with a set o values
(which makes for certain rules) that are maybe stupid or just an annoying burden for an unbeliever. So we stick to "our home, our rules". But it's sometimes so hard, and we're tempted to let things go for the sake of peace. But then, what kind of peace would that be. So far I know no one else battling the same issue, so we've not really any examples of how to do this well. So I try to leave it to the Lord, but I am constantly taking it back in my own hands, and then I have to release it again.
I have invested in "The Power of Praying for Your Adult Children" which has prayers and guidance for Christian parents. I have met two other moms in church that have prodigal daughters, so I think this is becoming more common. Going along to get along is tempting but I refuse to allow a compromise in my faith, even for my child. Our children are being brainwashed into a world where Christian parents are controlling and judgmental, a world where "do what thou wilt" rules.
My daughter and I had a close loving relationship before all of this, it's like she is under mind control or something. I would never dream of treating my parents like this when I was her age, and I had a crazy upbringing. Hopefully she will see the light some day and we can get past all of this. It is nice to talk to someone going through a similar situation. I pray that yours never gets as bad as mine.
That book is now on my wish list. It seems it could be a great help in years to come. I pray for both our children to return to the fold, and to the Lord. It’s all we have left, and it’s not the worst. I can see it’s helpful to know people who go through the same. But I also can see the positive side of not knowing anybody in this situation (yet).
Dee, we who have learned the hard way, understand fully, God will do nothing which impinges upon our free will. Yet at the exact same time, his incompressible LOVE for us never waivers. That said, your daughter has chosen a very hard path to travel, but it may well be the exact path she needs to learn, and grow in whatever ways she needs too.
Read or watch this 15 minute discussion & prayers for our prodigals with Dutch Sheets. It could change your life. https://us5.campaign-archive.com/?e=50735d1b68&u=21ae4b9aa9f11e4a8320b5ed6&id=d04b3191cf
Dee, check out Dutch Sheets’ daily prayers & messages “Give Him 15”. Last several have been on how to pray for the prodigals. https://us5.campaign-archive.com/?e=50735d1b68&u=21ae4b9aa9f11e4a8320b5ed6&id=fd5c64ebda
Find Dutch Sheets “ Give Him 15” daily discussion & prayer . He recently did several days on prayers for the prodigals. Sign up for free daily emails. https://us5.campaign-archive.com/?e=50735d1b68&u=21ae4b9aa9f11e4a8320b5ed6&id=fd5c64ebda
I thank God for you, may He richly bless you!
Thank you Dr. Tenpenny for speaking the truth no matter the cost. Since I gave my life to Jesus, I have never regretted loving Him first. Lost my siblings and grandchildren for the most part but God has made up for the loss.
Thank you for your testimony, RoseSea, it has touched my heart in a deep way.
I live in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Last week I attended an ecumenical service and it felt like a philosophy seminar that kicked off with a lot of announcements & then had some singing then more seminar material. It depressedme. This week I attended a Thai language service at Sacred Heart Cathedral. It felt like a worship service that celebrated God. It's strange how specific simple practices have huge effects: kneeling, meditation, moments of expanded silence, & more. I'll continue going to Sacred Heart.
Dr. Tenpenny, your meditations and insights are beautiful. In my life I have guarded my heart against lies, deception and ugliness. Instinctively I knew that love and truth and beauty are interconnected and must be from God. How many do not hear the bids, the leaves, the waves, the laughing and crying of children, the pain of the faces of others because their minds are never quiet. They pray but do not listen. Jesus said, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength." In that passion for Truth, which is Love, which is God, we become less and He becomes more. This is the only real meditation. It is how I came to realize that truth, love and beauty are God... and is Jesus!
Said perfectly. I agree 100%. He's always there and lets us know but most people love themselves and the world more.
Because the eGO needs to be reigned in. Much easier said than done.
Amen
"Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path." Psalm 119:105 NLT
"Fill us with a passion for Your Word. Mold us, transform us, and sanctify us for Your purpose." Sherri
Let us pray. . . Abba, Father in Heaven above, we come to You this day with hearts of sincere gratitude and praise. We ask that You make Your Words come alive for us. We ask that we discover anew the deep well of revelation within the pages of Your book, the Bible. Thank You, LORD. Amen.
The King is coming, the King is coming. . .
MARY DID YOU KNOW? | From Nazareth | Hebrew - Arabic - English https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7tfBYESaoo
MARY DID YOU KNOW?
"Mary, did you know.
That your Baby Boy would one day walk on water?
Mary, did you know.
That your Baby Boy would save our sons and daughters?
Did you know?
That your Baby Boy has come to make you new?
This Child that you delivered will soon deliver you.
Mary, did you know.
That your Baby Boy will give sight to a blind man?
Mary, did you know.
That your Baby Boy will calm the storm with His hand?
Did you know.
That your Baby Boy has walked where angels trod?
When you kiss your little Baby, you kissed the face of God?
Mary did you know. Ooo Ooo Ooo
The blind will see.
The deaf will hear.
The dead will live again.
The lame will leap.
The dumb will speak.
The praises of The Lamb.
Mary, did you know.
That your Baby Boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary, did you know.
That your Baby Boy would one day rule the nations?
Did you know.
That your Baby Boy is Heaven's perfect Lamb?
The sleeping Child you're holding is the Great, I Am."
GOD bless you all!
"And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name JESUS." Luke 1:31 ESV
Hirlelings is he perfect word for them.
I know a pastor who said, "my suitcase is packed IF my elders ever told me to not preach the truth".
Thank you Dr. Tenpenney, I hope you keep on with this New Age thread and hit on a different aspect each time. Many are being deceived. Right after I read and commented on your last one, Dr. Ana Mihalcea posted on her substack. She wrote a very New Agey Christianity type post. Many people in her comments were giving their approval of what she said. She normally posts about her work and she is uncovering some shocking things in regards to nanotechnology in blood. I am praying for her that she will wake up in her spiritual life and learn the truth of the Gospel.
Unconditional love is for babies & small children. Not adults.
Thanks so much for a truth filled post. This is why we need discernment that comes from searching the Scriptures daily. It causes me to pray for pastors even more!
I’m thankful for my pastor who preaches truth continually to his “flock”.
God bless and keep you Dr. T.! 🥰
The adage of “We must STAND for something, or we will fall for anything”, is a most apt description of what has happened to far too many “Churches” who CLAIM to be “Christian”. The creation of the 501-C3 status affecting churches was never anything but a political ploy and a weapon to remove solid Bible based teachings and Preaching within Christian communities. Watching the local churches in my area rollover and lay down to mandates instead of rallying and organizing a pushback against those Constitutionally Repugnant mandates grieved my heart and Soul, because it signaled the end of the Republic which once was on this continent.
The Almighty Creator and the Lord of the Universe are not the least bit interested in having “religion” with us, they only want RELATIONSHIP with us fragile little children.
There is a youtube Podcaster named Melissa Dougherty who is an apologist who centers her, usually humorous, podcasts on the falseness of new age Christianity.
Not that I care to give attention to "new-age-Christianity, but if this person is supposed to be witnessing the falseness of it, what is the apologist part? Sounds like another way of confusing bad with good.
Melissa Dougherty (her name is the name of her YouTube channel) is a strong Christ follower, and a fellow spiritual warrior. She's a Christian apologist, similar to Sean McDowell, Josh McDowell, J. Warner Wallace, Lee Strobel, and many others. Melissa clearly discerns the false from God's truth. Check out her YT channel when you have time. I subscribed to her channel a couple of years ago.
What Night Owl Christian says. She thought the new agey stuff taught was a form of Christianity until she learned differently, and now helps others discern the two are opposed to each other.
God Bless You Dr.
Your words brought me to tears.
Yes, good purpose of meditation is to relax and calm the racing of one's thoughts to be able to quietly focus on a spiritual connection with god. So much noise and technology items to keep you focused on anything but God. It's satan's goal to keep us from acknowledging God or reading the bible and the world in general has done this by taking God out of school, sports and out of our daily lives. This is why the world is in such an evil mess, like the U.N. ignoring that Hamas murdered and mutilated women, children, men and the elderly on Oct 7th in Gaza. The U.N. is now pressuring Israel to cease fire or they will withdraw the support of all countries. Obviously the U.N. is supporting these terror groups. Israel needs our support and prayers for God to thwart the evil intensions against Israel.
Thank you for taking the time to send me hope and encouragement! Greatly appreciated!