CTM Newsletter - June 2024

 

 

INSPIRATIONAL THOUGHT

How many of you have been asked these questions multiple times…?

Have you met someone yet? When are you getting out there to find someone special? When are you getting married and having kids?

Don’t get me wrong, these aren’t horrible questions, they are fair and valid. But what bothers me about these questions is that they imply that this is the goal that everyone should be working toward. They imply that only when you get married and have kids is your life is now set and complete. It’s like a process you have to go through; go to school, study, get a job, get married, and have kids. That’s what your life should look like.

This ideology was very scary to me. I never saw myself as normal, as one following the normal trend of life. I couldn’t see myself reaching that life goal of society. And when I realized that I couldn’t meet those life expectations, I became depressed. I felt like a social outcast and that I would never be able to meet people’s expectations.

I also didn’t understand why people have to get married. Why can’t they just stay together for as long as they want? Then if they are tired of each other, why not just leave instead of going through the horrible process of divorce? But when I found Jesus and made Him part of my life, I discovered the significance of marriage and why God instituted it.

When Jesus came to earth, he lived his life like any other child; growing up with his mother, doing chores at home, going to school. At 30 years old, he started His ministry.

The very first miracle that Jesus did was at a wedding feast. So, I started to analyze this event. First off, why a wedding and what significance does the wedding have? And why turn water into wine at the wedding?

The Bible puts it like this: “From the beginning of the creation, God ‘made them male and female.’ For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, . . . Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate” (Mark 10:6-9).

Marriage mirrors God’s relationship with His people

“As the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you” (Isaiah 62:5). Throughout the Bible, God presents Himself as the husband of His people. His church is His bride whom He loves and cherishes. Marriage is the closest, most intimate relationship we can experience here on earth, and so God uses marriage to illustrate the intimate relationship He wants to have with you and me!

God used illustrations and parables of the things we know and understand here on earth to explain Heavenly things.

For Example, here are some marriage illustrations in the Bible:

Isaiah 62:5 “…,as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you.”

Ephesians 5:23 “For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior.”

Ephesians 5:25 “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,…”

Ephesians 5:29 “For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church,…”

1 Corinthians 15:9 “For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.”

(Paul, who was Saul, persecuted those who believed in Jesus and only worshiped God)

Matthew 25:10 “And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut.”

So, a wedding is a sacred union between 2 people. God is using the illustration of marriage to explain that He is the bridegroom, and we are the church. There will come a time soon when the bridegroom (Jesus) will come and be forever united with the church (children of God).

Ok, so now we understand the connection of why Jesus chose a “wedding feast” for His first miracle.  So now let’s look at the connection of the water to wine.

First off, what does the wine symbolize?

At the last meal Jesus had with his disciples, Jesus Christ told them to eat bread and drink wine as symbols of His body and blood.

Notice the meaning Jesus gave to the Passover wine: “Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. (So, Jesus is saying that He is going to die to save us from sin)

“But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom’ ” (Matthew 26:27-29). (So, the new wine will be a new life that we will live with Jesus when we are united with Jesus Christ in the heavenly kingdom).

So, Jesus’s blood is a symbol of the covenant; a sacrifice Jesus made to save us from sin by giving up His body, shedding His blood, and dying so that we can live. The body of Jesus became an offering for sin.

We have been sanctified (made clean) through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”

Back to the wedding:

Jesus waited until the cheap wine at the wedding was finished, then He gave them new wine. We have all tasted what the world offers us, which is not satisfying at all. But what Jesus gives us is new wine, new life- a life that is way better and more satisfying.

OK… so let’s put this together. By attending a wedding feast and turning the water into wine, Jesus prophesied His mission on earth. He plans to save us from sin and its counterfeits. Our Savior Jesus Christ died so that we may live, and one day be united with Him forever.

Because the church is the bride and Jesus is the bridegroom, our goal in life should be to be like the 10 virgins preparing to meet their bridegroom. Our aim in life is to drink the new wine of Jesus; to taste and see how good God is.

Such beautiful significance in a wedding- an illustration of Christ being united forever with His church!

Are we preparing ourselves like the 10 virgins to meet the bridegroom and to be ready for the great wedding of Jesus and His church? Or are we fine with just living life the way society tells us to live here on Earth, to keep on drinking the cheap wine that Earth has to offer? And remember, even of the 10 virgins- only 5 had oil (the Holy Spirit) in their lamps and went into the feast.

I don’t know about you, but I want to be part of the wedding feast of Jesus’s soon coming!

I encourage you to try out the new wine Jesus is offering you. Ask Him to help you prepare your life for the bridegroom which is Jesus Christ our Savior. The choice is yours.

What is your lifestyle portraying, cheap wine, or new wine?

Are we living our lives in union with Christ, or are we living according to the world’s expectations?

What is your goal in life? Do you want to meet Jesus, do you want to be in that sacred union with Christ? Jesus has a love for you far greater than what the world offers, and He wants that sacred union with you! All He asks is that you hear Him out, to let Him tell you Himself how much He loves you- so much that He wants to be with you forever and ever!

Only God can give you a new life! Ask Him today to show you what kind of life He has planned for you. After all, He promised to never leave you or forsake you.

This is a vow He had made to us:

Jeremiah 29:11 says:

“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.”

Let God show you that there is a better life for you! Start by asking him today to be part of your life. He is the only one that can fully understand you so why not trust Him with your life? Let Him who started a good work in you, finish it.

 
 
 
 

 

SPECIAL UPDATES

 

 
 

 

Q&A

 

 

Question: Having chosen to turn away from homosexuality, I still sometimes feel very weak, almost overwhelmed with temptation. How do I successfully maintain my new direction in life?

Reply:

Tips for a consistent walk in the path of victory:

  • Maintain an attitude of gratitude and praise.

  • In Psalms 18:3, we read the words of David who, though at one time appeared to be a hopeless sinner, was referred to as a man after God’s own heart. He says, “I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.”

  • This can be personalized to, “So shall I be saved from my enemy Satan, for he is my chief enemy and the author of sin.”

  • The apostle John counsels us, “And they overcame [the accuser of the brethren, Satan] by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony...” (Revelation 12:11 emphasis added).

  • As you confess before men and women your confidence in the Lord, additional strength is given to you. Determine to praise Him. With firm determination comes increased willpower, and soon you will find that you cannot help praising Him, for with each victory comes new strength and cause for rejoicing.

  • “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

  • “Rejoice in the Lord alway” (Philippians 4:4).

  • “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31).

 

 

Q&A text taken from:

 

 

WHAT WAS I…?

 

 

I was an only child. My parents got divorced when I was in grade 1 and I lived with my mom until I was 18.

I always thought I was a boy, so I acted like one without really realizing it. I started to have sexual attractions to women, I felt safe with them. Due to my life experience, I saw men as only wanting one thing and that is sex. I got that example from my mom as she jumped from boyfriend to boyfriend after my parents divorced. She was afraid of being alone and every time she met up with a boyfriend, I knew she was having sex with them. She wasn’t secretive about it. I learned then that men only want one thing, so I didn’t want anything to do with them. I saw men as selfish. I needed motherly love and attention but didn’t get it, so I sought it out in other places. In school I realized that girls are more sympathetic and empathetic, they really cared. And I wanted that care and attention. When puberty hit, I felt drawn to women and wanted to be in relationships with them.

My whole life has been full of humiliation and shame because of my physical appearance. I looked like a boy, and on top of that I developed severe eczema. I developed a fear of people and became an extreme introvert. In the hottest weather I would cover myself with my clothing so that no one would see me and my ugly skin.

I suffered with rejection and loneliness and withdrew myself from people because they were always staring at me. They wondered if I was a boy or a girl and were disgusted by the sight of my skin condition.

In grade 7 we finally found a doctor that could help me with my skin condition, and he gave me medication that I still use today. My skin cleared up, but the mental damage was still there. After my skin cleared up, I would still wear heavy clothing to cover myself up, even in extreme heat. Slowly I started to wear short sleeve shirts, and now and then short pants. But it was always boy clothes.

It was in my matric year (grade 12) that I got into relationship with a girl. The relationship was mostly physical. Because of the example I had as a child, I saw lust as love. So, I explored that as much as I could, trying to feel accepted and wanted.

At the age of 18 I went to stay with my dad, to study for 3 years. I met a girl there who became my best friend, we got along quite well. She was in the Adventist church, but she didn’t behave as if she were part of the church. We both were very rebellious.

I visited her often, and of course her parents didn’t approve of me. I looked like a gothic boy. Her parents mentally abused me to the point where I hated myself. I had no self-image; it was completely gone. Her parents were regular SDA church members, so my picture of the SDA Church was not a pretty one. 

This went on for almost 3 years. Near the end of my 3 years of study, my friend started to be a bit more serious about her church and what she believed.  She began to share what she believed. I listened and became more curious of these Bible truths that no one had ever shared with me. I had never known that the Bible was so alive and real. I no longer paid her parents any mind, I just wanted Jesus and His love.

By the end of the 3rd year my friend invited me to a church youth camp, it was December of 2008. Long story short, at the end of camp, the director asked if there were 5 people that would like to sign up for the evangelistic youth ministry called “Abundant Life”. This ministry was started by a young SDA pastor in 1994 and it had grown exponentially. I applied to the ministry in 2009 and served there for 10 years.

Still confused about my sexual identity in 2009, I didn’t really know anything about God except the truths that my friend shared with me. But as the years passed, I grew closer to God and in that journey, I learned my true identity in Christ, that I am a woman of God, created in His image.

I was a front runner in church and served in many church roles. I was on a spiritual high. I only had eyes for God and wanted to do good by Him and sincerely serve Him as best I could.

But Satan was not done with me. I worked so hard for God that my body and mind became weak. I experienced a burnout and fell into a deep depression, to the point that I wanted to kill myself. God prevented that from happening through my friends, I’m so grateful for them. God has been with me the whole time, even when I couldn’t hear him.

2018 and 2019 was the worst time for me. But with lots of prayers, support from my friends, therapy, and counselling I began to live a new life. I started to look and act more like a girl. God has been holding my hand the whole time and can say with confidence that I do not struggle with masturbation and pornography. The same sex attractions are no longer controlling me, and I don’t practice that lifestyle anymore. The transformation is not just mental, but spiritual and physical too.

I don’t want my past to just be in the past.  If I can use my past to give others hope, I want to take that opportunity and let God use me. For ten years, I worked at “Abundant Life “ministry and God equipped me to face my fear of people and to work with people of any age. Now I am an Associate Speaker with ‘Coming Out’ Ministries and share my testimony worldwide along with doing some graphic design.  

I no longer believe the lies of Satan and desire to serve God. I have learned so much and God has given me talents that I never could have imagined. He has blessed me greatly and He will do the same for you!

Daisy Snyman

 

 

SPECIAL UPDATES

 

 
 

 

Please consider making a donation to our ministry to help spread the message of God’s love and redemption! Kindly visit our website www.comingoutministries.org and select the Donate button, or you can send a check or money order directly to

‘Coming Out’ Ministries at P.O. Box 285, 115 N. Main Street, Berrien Springs, Michigan, 49103.

May God bless you for your support!

 

 
Harrison Umaña