Intimacy Testimonies and More
Feb 13th, 2008 by Jack
Welcome to the Crossroads-ne blog site. We hope you will become a frequent contributor to our blog. We want this to be an ongoing dialogue with those of us who are seeking to deepen our relationship with Jesus Christ.
If you got here from our web site you probably know something about the Crossroads, Inc. ministry and us, Jack and Nancy Gerry. We live in Maine and are excited by what we are witnessing here in Raymond. Jesus is making Himself known to several long time believers that we have come to know.
At this juncture 2009 we spend our days (and many evenings) talking with other fellow-travelers via the phone, email, and this blog who are on a spiritual journey like us.
Although we connect with people all across the country - and even in Europe - our heart is with New Englanders; and our present most extensive and meaningful dialogue is with people here in Maine.
Whether you know us from the past or are new to Crossroads-ne we would love to meet you; please leave a message telling us a bit about yourself. If you simply want to post a word, just leave it in the box below. We review our blog twice a day. You can expect to hear from us within 24 hours.
You can visit our website homepage via the link in the side bar. Please drop us an email if you want to talk about your faith-walk. We are blessed just to connect with others who are on this intimacy pilgrimage; and we are amazed at how many great people share our passion.
Or email address is jackgerry@aol.com and our phone is 207-627-4685
Dear Fellow Travelers,
I now know what it FEELS like to be reborn! To be born again! I feel
like I’m just now starting my journey w/ Jesus. Throw out the meat &
potatoes - I need the milk. I crawled into bed tonight, pulled the covers up and just sobbed. I cried, “God, I don’t know You!”. I DO know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that if I’d died yesterday I’d be in the presence of Jesus right now. I’ve known the God of the “church” but I haven’t known the God of the universe! I feel like someone introduced me to Him tonight and I screamed, “Wait! I’ve known you! I’ve served You, believed in You and loved You for as long as I can remember!” But, He isn’t who I thought He was. I thought He wanted me to do - He wants me to be. I thought He wanted me to toil - He wants me to rest. I thought He wanted me to judge - He wants me to love. I thought He wanted me to save the world - He just wants me to be thankful He saved ME! I’ve been so busy trying to set a portion of my day aside for Him that I missed the fact that He wants my WHOLE day! Imagine that! He wants me in His presence all day long - side by side - hand in hand. I have so much to learn about Him. I realized tonight that I’ve spent the last year unlearning Him and now I just want to know Him. The REAL Him - not the “Him” I’ve been fed. My son Riley knows stats and bios on everymajor sport’s figure there is but if He was to meet them He’d still be clueless because he doesn’t REALLY know them. He doesn’t know their hearts. He knows everything about them, but he doesn’t really know THEM! That’s where I am. I know God’s ’stats’ - I want to know His heart. I don’t know what the journey looks like but I’m thankful I’m on it.
AND, I’m SO very thankful you’re walking it w/ me…
Donna :o)
Wow! Such words of wisdom. I’ve been a “Christian” for over 35 years, and have learned so much theology about Jesus, but Jack has helped me to realize that I didn’t really know him. This journey is exciting and difficult, and the only way to really live. It’s about moving my knowledge about 12 inches - from my head to my heart. It’s a difficult trip but the rewards are immense - not just tolerating this life until I die, or until Jesus returns, but living in the kingdom every day.
Dave
From Kari Suderly
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about life and the changes I’ve gone through in less than a year. I would say the greatest change has been following Jesus anywhere and everywhere He has led. He’s led me to a place of intimate friendship. That is more profound than I can even explain. Many of you know that He asked us to leave organized religion. It seemed the oddest thing to do, but it has been the most rewarding experience. He’s brought me to many places this last year that required me to lean on Him and Him alone. He’s given in abundance as we lost everything. He’s given us a place to live, food on our table, and most importantly; faith. He’s given me the faith I needed when I didn’t think I could muster it myself.
God’s opened my eyes to what is most important in my life. Even when I fail at those things…He steps in and helps me then too. I never knew how much I was doing to try to make my relationship with Him work. When I sat back and allowed Him to show me what a relationship with Him really meant: giving Him the control. I’ve found God not to be the task master others would make Him into. He is the most loving, caring friend I could ever know.
As I sit here healing from a surgery that scared me to death, I know that Jesus was not surprised or disappointed in my fear. He and I both knew it was all in His hands anyway and that fear is a human emotion.
Jesus walked, talked, felt, and suffered on this Earth; who better than He knows what I’m going through. The Holy Spirit has comforted me and guided me to do His will when I listen. How can I not share just how wonderful He really is. I want everyone to know how awesome He’s been to me and I want to thank Him for all He’s done. I just had the need to share that with friends and family. Thank each and everyone of you for your prayers and support.
I pray that God blesses you more than He’s blessed me!
Love to you all!!
Kari
I heard a great quote the other day while I was watching an episode of Heroes. One of the chracters in the show said “People need hope but they trust fear”. For some reason that just hit me right between the eyes. I had seen this episode a couple of times before but that phrase never caught me like it did the other day. As I thought more about it I realized that is exactly where I was a few years ago. I believed in Jesus and said that I was saved by grace but I was living in religion and not the hope of Father’s love. All people need is Jesus but for some reason they trust a fear and guilt based religious system. People are afraid that unless you have that safety net the system offers you will fall into sin or heresy. When you start to realize the love of Father in your heart, the overflow of that truth alone is a life of holiness and righteousness. When you allow Christ to live his life in you and through you, the fruit of the spirit will be a natural outpouring in your life. Religion will always put you in bondage but a love relationship with Jesus will set you free to be everything that God intended you to be.
From Joe Panzera
For many, many, many years I have tiptoed around my relationship with Christ and thinking that I was abiding in Him. It was more of a flesh abiding rather than a spiritual abiding. Failing to understand that God has always been with me and waiting to develope a deeper and more spiritual relationship with me. Thinking back, which is good to do sometimes, I was more into me than deloveloping my relationship with Christ. I paid the price for it. I was brought to my knees by a man who has been ever so important in my life, Jack Gerry. Yet still did not come to the realazation of abiding in Christ or the importance of the Holy Sprit in that relationship. After reading Andrew Murrays books “The Fullness of the Spirit of Penecost and Deeper Christian Life” the light has come on. I always knew that God was with me, but never uderstood that I could have the fullness of Him thru the Holy Spirit. So this prodigal son has come home to partake of the Fathers Love that He has for me. Not only to deepen and widen my relationship ship with Him, but to truly love Him and to honor the God who is ALL IN ALL.
I Love you Lord.
If you are new to the spiritual intimacy message go to our main web site by using the side bar link at the top of the side bar. And, if you are seeking and want to embrace this experiential message, go to the “How to’s” page on the main web site.
When most people begin to investigate the spiritual intimacy lifestyle they have many questions. And, one of the most frequent questions is, “Where do I begin to learn about this spiritual intimacy message?”
Although there are a number of good books that speak to the
“Christ in you” message, the book “Grace Walk” by Steve McVey
is the most comprehensive and easy to read that I’ve found.
Steve’s writing style is both easy and enjoyable to read. He is not
overly academic; yet he is thorough in his teaching. But what makes his work so appealing to me is his running testimony of his
own personal struggle. Steve spent many years in ministry before he discovered the “Christ in you” Truth. It was only when he had reached the bottom of the barrel that he truly came-alive in Christ. I like his quote from an old saint; this is my paraphrase of it:
Jesus died for you so that he might come alive in
you so that He might live His life through you.
I have included a few excerpts from some of Steve’s monthly new
letters on our web site. I think they are all worth the read.