FrankForum (Frankness IS Forum)

Hi, just joined the frankforum. I was watching some of your vids and they were quite interesting and encouraging, but now I cannot upload youtube vids at the present time, have limited access.
Anyway, I saw that no questions were posted about Masons. I have a family history of Masons. My grandfather was 32nd degree, his father was a Mason too, along with other relatives. My grandma was Eastern Star as were aunts and great grandma. My great grandfather on other side was an odd fellow and he committed suicide by drinking acid.
This might sound crazy, but my Mom gave my sister her father's gold Mason ring. I told my sister to get rid of it but she felt guilty about doing so, but now says she is ready to get rid of it. I told her she could sell it and send the money to charity if it made her feel better. The reason I told her that is because a lot of bad things have been happening in her family. Two kids with anxiety and depression, a daughter having nocturnal seizures, other bad stuff too. Just seems like she can't get a break from one bad thing leading to another.
I found a pin up in my Mom's jewelry box with a #32 written on it and I threw it into my Mom's burn barrel, though I could not burn it as of yet.
Now I believe that Christ did pay for all the sins of the world and my sister is also a believer but I just have this nagging feeling to get rid of any Masonic items left over from my grandparents.
In our generation, one of my siblings was extremely rebellious and used drugs, one had bulimia and was suicidal and one had extreme crippling anxiety. I wondered if the Masonic activity in the ancestral line might have opened the door for it all.
Anyway, brainout and any others, would love to hear your thoughts on this.I am staying and caregiving for my elderly Mom and just got rid of that pin with the number on it today. Maybe I am crazy but had a bad feeling about it. Thanks one and all.
eirene

Here's what you do, and teach your family and friends to do: USE 1John1:9 like breathing. People suffer cuz they don't use it, once a believer. Masonic stuff per se has no power, but if folks get hooked on it or anything else such that it takes time away from learning God, then it's a snare. But getting rid of the Masonic stuff will do NO good if you're not using 1Jn1:9.



So start there. Use it now, ask God to remind you if you need it. He will. Will take maybe 7 days for it to become a habit. Seriously, my mom died cuz she wouldn't use it, tho she taught me to use it. Same for others in my family, none of whom are Masons, so it's not about Masons but about not using 1Jn1:9.



Try it. Here's the video playlist for it if you want Bible backup:

I do understand about naming my sins and make it a habit. I also have a pastor and take in the Word every day. My family are also believers and I frequently try to encourage them in the faith. Just talked to my Mom about 1 Jn. 1:9 and she started quoting the verse with me. I was happy to hear it. Right now I am in a new role, being her caregiver and living with her after my father died last fall and she came back from living with my sister.
Just wondered about all the Mason stuff and about getting it out of the house. BTW, her parents were Masons yet claimed to be believers. I don't know how you can be a high degree Mason and profess Christ too, but I hope I will see them in heaven some day.

_________________
HEB 4:12
The word of God is alive and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of the soul and the spirit, of the joints and marrow, and is a critic of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Thank you both. Very sound and Biblical advice. I have been reading The Unfailing Love of God by Thieme and am quite encouraged in His love and grace.
eirene

If it helps, please know that everyone here knows what it's like to feel at the bottom with no hope. Sometimes I think we need to be in that place to truly depend on God rather than ourselves, but at other times the lesson is the desperate condition of those who don't know him, so we can empathize better rather than judging.

King David was at the bottom, often. So too Moses, and Christ. It's a paradigm.

Thieme did spend a lot of time at the bottom, too. It's something that's supposed to happen; that knowledge does not lessen the pain, but does encourage keeping on.

You're in my prayers.

Thank you so much for your prayers. Some things happened today and helped Mom to realize that she does need us, and she thanked me for helping her. It was my late father's birthday today and it was tough for her. One day at a time.