Susan,
As I listened to you teach on being doers of the Word from James 1 this afternoon, I just wanted to encourage you to keep teaching that truth of Matt 7:24ff and James 1. It sounds like you got some blank stares from your audience that night, and I'm sure many in the church don't realize how deceived we can be. But you and I do. When you testify to how you thought you were saved because of all the things you did, I go back and recall the same scary position I was in. Sometimes I think you are describing the pre-Oct 21 Beth! And then I am melted to tears to think how Jesus "brought me forth" as James 1 says and you so well pointed out, by the Word of truth. I believe there are many just like you and I in the church and there aren't many who are willing to publicly exhort us to periodically examine ourselves, and that is what we do so desperately need. I continue to do so periodically in my short 4 months of being saved and aim to make it a practice in my life. Have you heard of Paul Washer? He too is burdened for the lost church members and has some powerful messages on you tube and www.sermonaudio.com. anyway, as you may have some who don't like your teaching, I just wanted to say keep it up! It encourages my heart!

I also wanted to thank you for your messages on prayer in Florida a couple of weekends ago. What a schedule you had teaching us 8 times in such a short period of time! I know it was God who kept your energy up! Although we didn't have time there to reflect on the truths taught, I did do so when I got home. I was struck by Jesus' model prayer to lead us not into temptation and did a deeper study on that and now have made that a daily prayer of my own. And then I studied Jn 17 and was struck by Jesus' prayer to "keep us in Thy name" and studied that and have made it my prayer as well. And to continue growing in this area I found Lockyer's book "All the Prayers of the Bible" on my bookshelf and am going through the NT prayers. It has been a blessing so far and I know it will continue to be.

And then as you bring out points that I never saw before, it has given me a strong desire to slow down in my reading and really dissect the scriptures and meditate on it so I can also see the truths for myself in various passages. You make it seem so simple, and although I have done homiletics for years, the lack of the Holy Spirit had blinded me to so much of it. I"m excited to dig in and understand the truth now for myself.
Thank you again, and press on with and for the Master,
Beth Karadeema