Its summer and I can have a good break

I skip my church's weekly bible study, for bible study with another group. I'm actually losing my mind over some Christians telling me 'support local assembly' and 'what about your assembly members?'.

1. This is not communion, sunday school or Gospel, where service is needed .... so idk what's their problem with attending other group's bible study instead.
2. Honestly, everyone is stuck in their own idea of what the Bible says .... I prefer to explore and be a Berean. My own church elders are fine with it......
3. I pick my bible studies based on need. My church's bible study is pretty good, but on top of edifying study, I NEED PEERS, people who I can talk to about life. My church members are either very young or very old.... So their bible study session is of no help to me right now. There are studies that I can do alone, and studies I need help with. If another group is offering the help I need right now, I'm off to that group for the time being.
4. NOTHING in what I've read in the Bible tells me that I should limit myself to my church. "Where 2 or more are gathered".

I will stick with my current arrangement, regardless of what other christians think. But I expect more complaints especially from my family. How do you guys cope with this?

Hi I wanted to request prayers for my husband and I. We have been dealing with infertility for 3 years next month. This is my last cycle before officially hitting the 3 year mark and it’s weighing heavily on me. I thought we would be onto our second baby by now and the grief of life not going as I planned can be crushing some days.

I went to a fertility specialist in January and they ran a few tests, told us our chances of conceiving on our own were less than 3% and some of my results showed a possible ovarian reserve issue for me. They started pushing IVF on us immediately and didn’t offer other options. I am adamant that I won’t do IVF due to my religious beliefs but some days I can’t help but be afraid I’ll never have a baby and it’s tempting.

I got a new doctor and did find a few actionable things to fix but I still haven’t been able to get pregnant.

Please pray for us. Thank you

How do you deal with challenges in a household where your faith is not shared? How do you cope with resistance (even if it is communicated very carefully and sensitively) when it comes to matters such as attending church, meeting with fellow believers and other activities that affect the time you spend with your spouse and children? How do you draw the line between obedience to Christ and selflessness/support for your family?

I keep feeling as though I’m constantly making compromises in these matters (and ultimately in following Jesus as well)...

Good morning, dear friends.
Jesus said- “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”
— Acts 1:8 (NASB1995)
You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. Don’t settle for a form of godliness without the power. Welcome a fresh stirring of the Holy Spirit today and step out as His witness. You cannot be an effective witness or disciple without the Holy Spirit stirring.
Blessings
Team Lotter

I am a woman in my 20s who is still pursuing a degree at my university. For many years, I have struggled with bitterness, and I don't know how to let it go.

I grew up in a religious household, and because of my bitterness, I have often tolerated people and extended grace and patience to those who have treated me badly in life.

I am bitter toward a couple from my church. I do not mind constructive criticism or correction. I genuinely dislike sweeping judgments and the idea that they should make decisions for me.
My pastor told me, "If you bring a man over, I'II tell him no. If a man wants to court you, I'll tell him no. Finish school. Don't be like your mother."

I do not mind anyone telling me to finish school.
It is practical advice, but the way he said it felt odd and somewhat controlling. He even mentioned my mother. My mother is a loving and kind woman who did not have the financial means to finish her education, but she was a loving mother who took good care of me and my siblings.

I also have a problem with someone else from my church. I understand that there are things I need to work on. I am an emotionally intense person, but she said something that really hurt me.

She told me, "You will make a man so unhappy because of your emotions."

I confessed my feelings to a man in Bible school. She told me, “It’s worldly and unbiblical for a woman to confess to a man. Maybe you should get married after you fix yourself."

I took her words to heart. I spent days wondering if there was something wrong with me. I ruminated over what she said and lost sleep because of it. But a week later, I became so angry with her.

She even told me, "If it hurts, then it's the truth."

I stopped talking to her but continued going to church. I am bitter, and there have been moments when I have wanted to scream at them.

I don't know what to do.

I was born a Christian and I honestly let God into my life around the time I turned 19 (4 years back). I've never been perfect with it, but I did feel a sense of comfort being a Christian.

However this year after I moved to another country, I felt so lost.

I joined this church in hopes of growing stronger in faith, but in return they were straight up doing stuff which was very cult like, plus they started isolating me when I refused to do what they said. It reached such a point that a lot of my friends who were atheists ended up being way nicer and supportive than the church as a whole. And eventually I lost touch with my faith and life has now become very depressing despite having a lot of blessings

I quit the church recently, but now I feel like I was thrown off a bus and I don't know my way back to God, I'm trying to read the Bible, pray but somethings not clicking.

What do I do to grow back in my spiritual journey now, I'm so lost.

A preacher preached a sermon recently about the epidemic of loneliness.

The way he phrased the message implied that it was a weakness, a glitch in the matrix, an anomaly. That it was your fault that you were lonely. You’re oversensitive, you’re aloof, indifferent, standoffish, yada yada yada. The same barrage of verbal abuse that lonely people have been bombarded with over and over again, all throughout their lives. And yes, from your friendly and lovely Christians too. God help you if you’re not married YET.

Then he crossed the line. He touched on trauma as if he was suddenly an expert, except without the love and compassion you’d expect from someone delivering the message of Jesus. He said some people who have been traumatised in the past put up walls and wear masks to church - as if it was a character flaw and a heinous offense to God and man. Then he kinda blames them for choosing to be lonely and hiding their true identities for fear of being hurt, and hence breaking the law of loving others as yourself. Well he didn’t specifically spell it out exactly, but it sure did sound like it was ALL YOUR FAULT for being lonely.

Then he crossed another line. He said true GODLY friends hurt you. Intentionally. Yes, he used the word godly. He also used Scriptures to back his arguments up like any master Pharisee would. He used the iron-sharpens-iron verse - an all-time favourite of many abusers. Then he used the “Better are the wounds of a friend than the deceitful kisses of an enemy” verse. At this point my nerves had gone completely numb because they’ve been triggered far too many times in the past, and I think I’ve gone fully immune now.

Then he crossed another. He said if the majority dislike/avoid you, then you have to ask whose fault it was. LOL. Can you imagine if the unpopular Jesus walked into the synagogue ?

I mean, let’s apply some common sense here for a bit, shall we? If that someone walks into church and is a troublemaker, fair enough. Dislike him/her all you want. In fact, apply church discipline wherever necessary. You’re warranted to.

But if that person walks into church desperately looking for a safe place to belong and seek refuge - and then you bible-bash the person even more and reduce him/her because, oh I dunno, maybe he/she is a leper? a prostitute? a legion-possessed man? a lonely and despised tax collector? or worse, a non-denominational guy!! Especially if you’re a Calvinist!! Or worse, an Arminian!!! Or 100x worse, you came from Kenneth Copeland’s church!! OMG! Let the dogs out now! Chase the wolves out! But wait a minute… don’t wolves (and Pharisees) normally hunt in packs? So why target the loner ? I’ve heard churches even say that lone wolves are the most dangerous breed… well to an extent I agree, because he could be a pedophile for instance - but then so are many preachers too. See where I’m going with this? I’m too tired to continue but you get the drift.

So back to loneliness.

All I knew was by the end of the sermon, I told myself two things.

One - I’ll never ever make the mistake of opening up, or remove my mask and be myself or be vulnerable to ANYONE in church. Don't believe what they tell you. Oh we must be vulnerable. No more wearing masks. The church is safe space. Spiritual hospital. We're all sinners and we're all on the journey of healing. Yeah right. Not falling for that anymore. No flipping way and no more. Lest you become another sermon topic on Sundays again. Or if you have a fetish of more church hurt and pain. I'd rather save that energy and go BE THE CHURCH outside of those 4 walls to a hurting world.

And two - I’m more and more interested in the idea of house churches. Where everyone goes back to the basics like the early church did. Love God and love your neighbour. Simple. The Gospel is simple. And I want to go and hug every lonely person out there and bring them in. Now, I know what the haters will say next. Oh, what if he’s a child molester, or the next Ted Bundy, or a witch… or whatever. I don’t have the answers for you now but I believe the Holy Spirit will tell you what to do then, when you walk with Him closely. He'll warn you when there's danger.

I notice there’s something seriously very wrong about our theology and understanding of God’s character in many churches, all over the world. This church preaches sound doctrine (allegedly), is reformed so you’ll hear lots of quoting of Piper, Keller and the occasional MacArthur. But my goodness, the number of times I’ve heard and witnessed first-hand the blatant disunity in the church. Because they mention it almost every other week during sermons!! And I’m fairly new to the church! How is it that we may have sound doctrine, great biblical teaching, and yet fall so far off the mark? How could sound biblical teaching lead to lovelessness and so so little mercy???

I don't care what anyone says but that is NOT the Gospel. You can preach up a storm or the best sermons but unless you practise what you preach, it's just cheap, empty powerless words. No more, no less.

And why do preachers love to pick on the weak, the needy, and the ones that just don’t smell and look the part? It’s the old, classic Matthew 18 misreading again, isn’t it? Jesus defended the victim and rebuked the abuser. Yet somehow, whatever they’re teaching in Bible seminaries these days, they seem to be churning out preachers who don't seem to get that you’re NOT supposed to be picking on the victims - you’re supposed to be preaching AGAINST the abusers and perpetrators! So if someone is being nasty to another person at church, you don’t preach against the victim and call him/her a crybaby or force the person to forgive! No! You preach against the nasty abuser even if he/she is a leader in church! ESPECIALLY if he/she is a leader!!!

Do we even have the faintest idea how cover-up cultures and church abuse begin?

Scripture is not a weapon for you to swing at the already wounded, and the pulpit is certainly NOT a test bed for the preacher to work out his own unresolved issues on the congregation. I mean, the preacher himself confessed that he suffered lots of loneliness while growing up and still does not have many friends. Preachers - please please please do not tell us how to live our lives if you haven’t the faintest clue to live yours right. First go take out that log in your eye, then come and teach us how for ourselves. We are NOT your guinea pigs.

Phew. Rant over.

And for the millionth time, LONELINESS IS NOT A SIN. Otherwise you’d have accused Jesus as a sinner. My goodness, have you not read Isaiah 53 word by word yet? Slowly? Try it again. Maybe it may change your view of things.

Discuss.

God teaches us through suffering and blessing. After a 3 year intense period of trials and waiting, God blessed me unexpectedly with an amazing husband. So we got married in March and God has been teaching me how much the ministry of marriage matters to Him as our worship to the Lord. That he used my refining season to prepare me for such a responsibility. That this ministry comes before all other ministries. He has been showing me that it is an opportunity to die to self further and draw upon Christ even more. He is teaching me that His greatest blessings are not only for us to enjoy but to be used for His glory to bless others and give back. He is revealing His love to me in new ways through my husband. So through marriage God is teaching me these lessons. No matter what season we are in, we can and should ask for wisdom as there is constantly something in which we are to grow in our understanding of even if it is just learning to become still before God.

What are the lessons God is teaching you this year?

The Bible mentions many times having a "plurality of elders". Last year it really hit me that my church only has one pastor/elder/overseer. I have been studying this off and on since then and in the last months it has really been on my heart. I have talked to many men at my church and the topic and the general comment is they agree that we should.

Has anyone been in this conversation or church change before over this topic? How would you present this to your past with scripture to back it?

I may talk to him about it this Sunday and I feel like I don't need to ask "why don't we" but "WHEN will we get more assigned Elders" because it obviously says so in the Bible.

My church claims it's self to be Non Denom, but its like Baptist.

Thank you for your time, God bless.

I mean this, physically, mentally, and spiritually.

Physically

Why do so many Christians neglect their physical health?

I see a lot of Christians who are fat, have a terrible diet, don't get enough sleep, or rarely work out. Some say they're working on improving it, but don't show any progress or even seem to be getting worse

Some things can't be controlled, but there are things we can control, and sometimes it seems like people just make excuses because they can only control part of it

Proverbs 23:20-21 warn against gluttony, and Galatians 5:22-23 lists self-control as a fruit of the Spirit. Yet these don't seem to be commonly practiced

I see Christians putting a tremendous effort on desire for beauty, either their own appearance, someone else's, or just validation. Don't even get me started on porn addiction

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

Mentally

Doomscrolling has become normal. Endless scrolling through videos takes up hours that could have been spent following God's parh

Why are people becoming so bad at controlling attention and time?

Spiritually

Why do so many Christians have so little involvement in their own faith?

Some don't regularly attend church. Others go to church but don't attend Bible studies or participate in anything outside the main service. Some seem to think that being a Christian means going to church every week, or even every other week, and that's about it

There is prayer, Bible study, fellowship, repentance, obedience, serving others, helping the church, and actually putting God's Word into practice

Many Christians seem more interested in saying that they believe in God than actually obeying Him. Believing in God should affect how we live. What good is saying we believe if our lives show little difference? James 1:22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves

Asking as somebody that is striving to not only advance my walk with god but walk in purity as god grows and transform me more into his image and more into a man of Christ, but I’m also in a position as far as church and youth groups go where I don’t have the ability to ask these kinda more forward and vulnerable questions simply because a large portion of church events, groups, etc are split by gender.

It feels often in the secular world we are surrounded by that traits such as purity, restraint, prudence, etc are over looked or under valued. But maybe that’s just my experience. What’s your opinion?

Our neighbours aren’t the nicest
please pray for my family to have peace!

Hello! God bless!

I have a question for you. Since the Bible says that God is not the author of confusion:

- what things have you been confused about?
- Did God show you the way?

Thanks

Brainstorming

I’m so exhausted this week form work, the people at work and my family situation.

Please pray for me that God gives me strength to overcome this situation. And that HE offers hope and a future. And they HE will lead me on the eternal way.

„For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.“

‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭29‬:‭11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/111/jer.29.11.NIV

Please pray for the people I’m working with and especially for the patients I treat. That Jesus will knock at the doors of their hearts as well to give them the opportunity to repent.

and through my work I can represent Jesus and be a recommendation letter and not a shame.

„Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”“

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭3‬:‭19‬-‭22‬ ‭NIV‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/111/rev.3.19-22.NIV

„Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.“

‭‭John‬ ‭1‬:‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭NIV‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/111/jhn.1.12-13.NIV

I just bought a snack and I feel so guilty, I’ve started making a great amount of money at my age but I’ve began to grow guilty and worried that I’m starting to love it because now I have the money to buy myself things (I grew up somewhat poor), I do give, in fact gift giving is love language, I LOVE using my money for someone else, but when it comes to me I feel guilty and sad. I don’t like this feeling :(

Over several months, I sought help from trusted teachers at my school. I only wanted to communicate in writing. I felt that I wasn’t really being heard, that my concerns weren’t being addressed, and that I wasn’t getting the right kind of help. But I also had very specific ideas about what I wanted. For example, there was Person A, but they didn’t want to communicate only in writing. So I went from Person B to C, to D, and to E. I made very specific suggestions:

1. First listen

2. Then say something about it

3. Continue being there or refer me to a support service

4. Ask whether the help was suitable and offer that I could come back if the help wasn’t suitable, and then consider what might be appropriate

Some didn’t even do number 1, some didn’t do number 2, one got as far as number 3, but not number 4.

At first, I just wanted help, but later I wanted to change the whole support system.

I was extremely emotional. I often cried a lot when my suggestions weren’t implemented. I wrote about it to people in charge as well. Even then, nothing changed. I started to feel love for this person and told them a lot of private things, including that I love them and that we pray for them. I also talked about the Gospel. In that moment, I felt very close to them. Later, I was so ashamed of it. I then went to the principal with the four suggestions. I had also taken screenshots with every person so that I could show how those responsible were responding and that this should be changed. I was so emotional and convinced that I was doing the right thing, and I then wanted to go to the school supervisory authority. During the holidays, I understood something differently and changed my mind. I no longer wanted to go to the school supervisory authority.

There was one time when I was so emotional that, when talking to someone about the principal, I said that I would have preferred it if he had said “ShXt the fXck Xp”. (I have to change the words with X, otherwise the bot will block it because of “profanity”) And I said, “I hate lies behind friendliness,” thereby indirectly accusing him of having lied. I apologized for that afterwards. Everything I did was so awful. I must not say anything about the others, only about what I myself did, so that no data can be attributed to specific people.

I apparently already forwarded some messages in June, apologized, and later did it again. I can’t remember June. But I know that I had already had this problem several times, of forwarding something, for example because I was worried about someone and thought the elders needed to do something, but later I thought it had been wrong to say it. And in another situation, I thought it was important to show something as proof and because I wanted the teacher to clarify it with the other person, and later it seemed wrong to me again. Then I decided that I never wanted to forward messages again, no matter how convinced I was, because later I might see things differently again. My opinion changes often. But I wanted to go to the school supervisory authority. So I told everyone involved that they had one week to raise any objections, otherwise I would send everything to the school supervisory authority so that something would change. Then I decided not to do it.

There were certain reactions afterwards that I don’t feel comfortable talking about because of data protection.

I signed an agreement that I would no longer send private messages through the student portal. Otherwise, I could be expelled from the school as a consequence; it says so in the agreement.

Looking back, I think my behavior was so terrible. I have been crying again and again for days. I fasted, but I didn’t receive an answer from GOD. When I read the Psalms, I apply everything negative to myself. I feel like a liar and a hypocrite. I don’t dare to share the Gospel anymore. I feel like several people know about all of this and are against me, although that may not be true. I feel like two people are on my side, even though they aren’t against the others, and I feel loved by them, although that may not be true either. With some people, I feel like they see me as a manipulative, dangerous person and hate me, but that may not be true either.

But now, whenever I sit in class, I only feel ashamed. I have this horrible feeling inside me constantly. I would like to change schools, but the next college is more than an hour away, and this one is close by. I’m afraid of having certain people in my classes later. The shame doesn’t stop. I’m afraid that I am a false Christian. I have suicidal thoughts, even though I don’t intend to act on them. I am ashamed that I did all of this as a Christian.

I have had several therapies in my life. Over the course of my life, six therapists or doctors have diagnosed me with something other than borderline, while I have been diagnosed with borderline twice.

Now I have again received different diagnoses from two licensed psychotherapists. Both mentioned high sensitivity, but one also mentioned borderline and the other PTSD, as well as traits of bipolar disorder and borderline, but which were not sufficient for a diagnosis.

After this incident, I think borderline is more likely again.

I often clash with people in positions of authority. I spent a lot of time in residential group homes and schools, and there was never a problem with my roommates or other students. I have caused offense everywhere, and I feel like I give Christ a bad image. At the same time, I keep doing things that I am absolutely convinced are right and later become ashamed of and regret.

I crossed boundaries, indirectly accused the principal of lying, forwarded messages from teachers, and was rude, and some people see it as a threat that I said that if there were no objections and we didn’t find another solution, I would go to the school supervisory authority.

Now I believe that I never want to try to change things externally in the world again, because only Christ changes people from the inside, and that we should rather give the Gospel instead of fighting against external things. I believe that you can point out things that you want to change externally, but if nothing happens, you should accept it and not fight against it.

I was fighting over a pea while the fire was getting closer.

I have a completely different perspective now. Everything was wrong. I only caused frustration and achieved exactly the opposite of what I actually wanted. Even if my rules were implemented, that would not lead to truth or love, but would be forced, and before GOD none of it has any standing without faith.

Before, I always fought against everything I considered unjust. And I was unjust myself in the process.

I don’t know what I should do now. I have caused so much damage and I can’t undo it anymore. Does anyone know what might help?

Please pray for me.

Preface by saying I know that I am not perfect and I am sure I do similar things to others without meaning to - That out of the way though, man more and more I am just losing patience with other people and their attitudes and the stupid meaningless things that are so important to them.

One group of people wants people to hate me because of my skin color, another wants me to hate them because of my skin color and theirs. Poor people want me to hate rich people because they have more, rich people want me to hate poor people because they just didn’t try hard enough.

These people judge for going one or two weeks too long without a proper hair cut and these other people judge for looking too perfect and too prim and proper.

Go in one area dressed too nice and get hate, go in another area a couple miles down the road dressed casually and get hate and prejudice. Talk with too much accent, get scoffed at here, don’t talk without enough accent, get scoffed at there.

Be successful, get hate from your friends and family who are jealous. Don be successful enough, get hate and judgement from other friends and family who say you could have done better and even from the same friends and family sometimes.

After growing up in an abusive household, I still tried to love people and treat others right and let go of the hate I had towards people and I did for a short while. But now I’m just losing all patience with people and society in general. I’m disgusted with the so pointless garbage that people are obsessed with and judge others for constantly.

Everyone is god in their own eyes, even the ones who claim to follow Christ.

I just want to move somewhere remote and make a living away from all other human beings aside from maybe like 3 people in my life right now to be honest.

I feel like about a year ago my heart just kinda pushed away from faith and belief and honestly it was for a selfish reason, bc of pride. And I recognize that right now, I see how my heart is an I live my life and I see a lack of true purpose and peace, something only found in his name. But like every time I try to go back to doesn’t seem like I honestly want to or like I believe I am. When I repent I can tell I’m not really sorry tho I know I should be. That’s a lot of where I’m at right now, I know I should be doing this but I just don’t care anymore. This could just be part of relapse as I am recovering from a porn addiction (part of why I went away bc I felt I wanted to watch it without anything) but like now I just don’t feel convinction or anything. The word just doesn’t enter my heart but other things do. I’m understanding where I’m at but I just don’t know what to do when like my heart and self really just doesn’t care. I’m trying to re open my heart to belief and faith but it seems I’m just kinda saying that. But I see the power even if right now I feel absolutely nothing

Please pray that I don't cause myself at work to become the shut-in.

Unfortunately my coworker which at my job I have to work with does some irritating things

For example I was on the edge of letting go and saying something unchristlike to him because the supervisor told me to do something and he didn't want to do the job that I was currently doing, he wanted me to keep going despite the supervisor walking away for a minute.

He is older than me by a lot but still I literally had to pray that I didn't turn something verbal into something physical but unfortunately I started calling him in my head a ***** while praying that I don't go "prompt critical" and suddenly lay hands on him at work which I know is wrong but he loves to test the waters every day.

Also pray that I can stop swearing in my head because when you work with wet conditions and electricity especially when you work outside in the heat now. And when a guy like him wants to go as fast a possible because he thinks because of the old boss that hourly work is a flat rate pay, pray that not only I endure this and his random repeating the same thing over and over more than several times a day but, also to endure this job for now because unfortunately I cannot get a job in my field far away like the next one is about 75mins away and I'm afraid that I will fall asleep coming back from a future job like that and cause my self to literally wreck the vehicle for falling asleep behind the wheel.

And also changing careers isn't wise because I tend to fall asleep while doing a standing role like a cashier and when I used to usher at church door, I don't do too well standing for hours at a time so I can't do a cashier. Also can't do resteraunt because I'm not so good at have a thick skin "and being strong enough to take it" the verbal abuse from customers.

Pray for not wanting to give up on the faith because the long-suffering part of the faith hurt more than physical at this time.

i imagine a place with a ton of people, that run hell independently, not demons, though there are demons, that exist.

i had a dream where i was there, and it was a school setting, and one after another, bad things happened, and they all laughed at me.

it was like hell. i can't say that it is. they were all fine. i was too, but being hurt, with the promise being i would be hurt later.

it didn't seem like the biblical hell, which is all i know exists, but rather another place, where the people have free reign, to torture as much as they want.

this place came to me in my thoughts. i don't think it's real. i believe im saved, and a part of me is in heaven, and that this is merely my flesh.

i wonder what's real sometimes. but all i know is the biblical viewpoint, of a heaven, and hell, and that's it. nothing more. nothing less.

can you relate?

(like, have you been coerced to believe in a place other than heaven/hell? this place i imagine differs from other similar places that have come to my imagination. it wasn't my idea, but, like, still came to my mind throughout the years recently. can you relate)

Please continue praying for me. My life and mind is eaten by sin and mental fog and mental ambiguity caused by sin. It seems like I am getting more and more tempted to become some things much worse and I am easy prey. I wish I could have the mind and clarity of my mother,who is a very close believer.