February 5, 2005
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Kids are in bed, Yeah!!! This was one of those landmine days. Teenagers, sigh. Does it ever get any easier. There are some days when you just can’t do or say the right thing, you are public enemy number one, and all pictures are crooked on the walls from slammed doors. If I survive the teenage years it will be a miracle. Thank goodness for the other days when they apologize, are sweet, and kind, and think of others. Gives one hope. If I hadn’t survived the teenage years myself, I think I would probably not realize that this too shall pass.
BIBLE STUDY NOTES [This lesson is one that is sitting heavy on me, so much truth and it is terrifying for me, but I also know that these are true steps to take]
THREE ENEMIES OF BELIEVERS IN CHRIST
1.satan
2. The world system, of which satan is the prince 1 John 2:15-17
3. Our own flesh, self, nature.
We can acknowledge satan as the enemy, rebuke satan, but often it is our flesh that is the downfall when we give over to it. We are so at risk because we are self destructive by nature. It doesn’t matter if it isn’t fair, it is a fact.
On the cross all our enemies were overcome, so why do we still battle these things? These enemies no longer can presume authority over you, only if they get authority by invitation from you. The self decides who is in control.
Why is self control so crucial. Prov. 25:28 a city is never any stronger than its walls.
Ezekiel 40:1-5 Vision of the end times temple
1 Cor 6:19-20 Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit. Walls around the temple, self control keeps the temple safe.
What happens when our wall is crumpled in one place. The wall is to keep the secular from the sacred.
Ezekiel 26:10 tremble at the enemy when he enters your gates as men enter a city that has been breeched
Ezekiel 38:11 invade land of walled villages.
Vulnerable to the enemy.
We must ask ourselves where is our area of vulnerability? food, trust, faith, anger
satan knows our weak areas
[Oh do I, have some weak areas, my past creeps up and colors my vision, I use food to stuff emotions. Diets fall by the wayside as visceral memories of the rape emerge, I have self doubts, fears, distrust, unhealty fear of God, so many areas that can be torn apart by satan]
The difference for believers is that we are sealed and satan can’t get in, so we can’t be possessed, but we can be oppressed. When satan gets entrance to an area of weakness, he tries to tear the wall down.
What can we do about that? How can we rebuild the broken wall of our life?
Nehemiah was about how walls are rebuilt.
Neh. 2:1-20
6 steps to rebuilding walls.
1. v. 11 enlist accountability partners , that is confessing to a few discrete people, the kind that won’t fuss but will hold you accountable. That requires an honest report from you because satan tends to take advantage of secrets.
2. v14 perform an honest self-examination of what areas we are lacking self control in. God shows us where we are out of control v.14-17, lack of self control does affect the people around you, we can keep our secrets but the effects of our secrets will be seen by those around you.
3. v.17 Admit you have expressed disgrace over this area. This is like step one of a 12 step program.
4. v 18 start rebuilding, begin the good work, don’t put it off. God holds us accountable for knowledge he wants us to start working now. The larger the time span between action and response to God, when God lets us know about a problem, the moe satan has power and gets more ground, tears down more. God’s comands are us-ward.
5. v. 19 expect opposition, not only from satan. Acknowledge it when it hits, for example, if you blow it, get back on the horse and ride again. It does improve over time, don’t give up. Also expect opposition from people youknow, righteousness is confrontational.
6. v.20 God of Heaven will give you success, claim it in advance. God is tronger than our problems, his power is sufficient to fight the battle.
Isaiah 58:11 God isn’t only about our victory, but reveals himself to us. We cannot do it without His help.
1 Thes 5: 23-24 He desires to sanctify us. to make us holy, to be rendered pure, mostly our soul needs more than unattainable desire to be pure. Who kept our dreams alive, only God, and it is only God who can purify us through and through. When God purifies us, it makes something peaceful. Until we let Him purify us through and through we will never have peace.
Body – Soma – not only flesh Sarx – but muscle tissue, lungs, heart, brain, temporal
Soul – Psyche – Inner man, seat of our senses, our desires, affections, appetites, passions feelings, dislikes, preferences, personality
Spirit – Pneuma – innermost man, Inmaterial, nature that has ability to communicate with God.
Genesis 1 Created physical beings, then created soul in animal, but we were created in God’s image. He placed inside us a Spirit. It was not His will for us to perish. We yearn for things of the Spirit that can’t be satisfied with the flesh and soul. God makes us yearn for Himself. When we become a believer 1 Cor 6:17, we unite with God as one with His spirit. Our Spirit is occupied by the Holy Spirit. The three parts never work together, one is always in charge at all times, either the body, soul or spirit is in charge. That is why we must exercise control, or we will have a major authority problem.
We do not want to lose control in the flesh, sometimes we are controlled by the body or the soul, but that is not optimal. We really need to seek to let the Spirit be in control., Christ has to be in control for us to be healthy.
Some are afraid of Christ as he is an authority figure. [boy can I relate to that!!!] We have lost control before and we don’t want to do it again.
Romans 6:16, says we are slaves to the one we obey. We will be slaves to something, so we ought to choose to be slaves to Christ so that we are slaves to one who loves us and seeks our best.
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Well this Bible study gives me something to mull over. I remember when I first started going to this church I was afraid to go forward to the altar, afraid that the pastor would blurt out all my sins, that God would point a bony finger my direction and say something like out, leave this place and never come back.
It sure took a long time before I could approach God. I must have spent two years going over things with the pastor, listing all my sins, making sure that there was nothing that would cause God to reject me. It took a long time to take that fearful step, and a lot of fear and trembling before I obeyed enough to be baptized.
I sometimes wonder if there is something wrong in that I feel that I cannot forgive myself for all the stupid things I did as a youth. I still feel like somehow I have to earn God’s love, that if maybe I do enough things, then He will love me. I know this is not Biblical, but it is how I see God. My perception of him is tough. One person on Xanga mentioned wanting to please Daddy (meaning God). I wouldn’t know how to deal with God as Daddy. Not sure He really would want me in that role.
My walls are strong, but they are also strong against God, and inside I am like a trapped moth, one day, I will just die, and that will be the end. Does relationship with God ever become free and easy if you lived through much abuse? Is it always a struggle?
Thanks for listening,
Heather
Comments (36)
HEATHER …….YES, I was a tortured child………….my children were tortured children…………I BROKE THE CURSE with my grandchild IN JESUS NAME…………………..The relationship with GOD for me THIS DAY is beautiful……………….I am restored! This was a good lesson……I love reading your words…..
I know both my children were the result of a mother who was tortured and abused who brought that out in her mothering…..and also when they were taken by thier father HE totally tortured and abused them…so they got it double.
I have one who is DEEPLY in LOVE with JESUS and one who is struggling..albeit they are both in thier 20s………….( yes and still giving me a hard time)
SO my outtake on this is YES even through ABUSE…..it takes HEALING….and the ENEMY will use it against you all your life IF YOU ALLOW HIM TOO….( and dont think I dont sometimes) …..even as I say I have been restored…every day GOD shows me more and more to be healed from…………and HIS LOVE covers me and helps me through. SERVING AND LOVING IS NOT EASY….it is a struggle HEATHER…..we fight the enemy constantly…he does NOT want GOD TO WIN..but the GOOD NEWS IS…we already KNOW HE DOES……
I beleive HIS LOVE over any LOVE. I TRUST HIS LOVE over any LOVE. ITS REAL….took me along time…but I do BELEIVE…I am praying always for you…………………love you Robin
This was an awesome study. The first section up there with the 3 things was enough to talk about for days. James explains the process perfectly well (Jas 1:14-15). I didn’t notice that particular reference in your text, so thought I’d throw that in. The process you outlined above for walking forward, from darkness into light, is very good. As for giving up control, I don’t think Jesus or any other character in scripture said that was easy. In fact, Jesus seemed to go out of his way to make it challenging. I have a good hummel story about this, but no time to tell it tonight. Be blessed, and thanks again for keeping the thread alive!!!
Robin, thanks for the encouragement. I know that I too broke the curse because I would never have allowed myself to have kids if I thought I would have brought abuse in their lives. My kids are fortunate for they have two parents that passionately love them and care about what touches their lives. From their point of view, the abuse they receive is being denied privledges their peers get (when it is something not in their best benefit), being forced to do homework, and to get along with siblings, etc.
The one who still gets abused is me, and it is myself doing it to me. Erroneous thoughts like, If only I had been a better child, then they would not have hurt me, if only I was smarter, if only….. Fill in the blank. Still crowd my mind. My parents died before I was strong enough to speak to them about the abuse so there are many unanswered questions. I wonder how I could have made God love me more so he would have cared to protect me. Things like that. I don’t know if I will ever come to the point you have of believing his love, trusting in it, and trusting him. Thanks for praying, prayers I can use big time right now as I am battling depression.
FKI Professor, I am glad you are liking the study, it is one that that is to be continued, I have condensed about two hours of teaching into this, so if he adds more, I will continue writing it, but my pastor is also into Revelation right now because of so many signs of the times. This man is so well-versed in the Bible that no matter what question is thrown his way he knows just where to go, and even my husband respects him and tells our children he is like a Professor of the Bible, this is the first born-again pastor that my husband has ever formed a respect for. I would go to every Bible study I could under him. Maybe James will come up in a future study, but thanks for the reference.
HEATHER even though your parents are DEAD you can break away from that emotional bond they hold over you………………..and the one still living tortuing today……………….DONT LET THE TORTUE be stronger then YOUR LOVE FOR GOD………………….you have such a beautiful and amazing soul and love……I just cant see allowing the enemy control over something so amazing……………………………..! JUST because someoene is dead does not mean you cannot break free from them……….amen.
I LOVE YOU HEATHER and I SPEAK truth unto you…..GOD loves you and wants a deeper relationship with you…BREAK DOWN THESE WALLS…………………hugs Robin
If it makes you feel any better, I appreciate my mom so much more now that I’m in college. You step back and realize why your parents made the descisions they made. Plus getting out of the house makes you miss them even more. I hope you and your teens make it through.
Hehe, teenagers. So, the body’s an enemy to Christ? Interesting…
Oh, I’m sorry! I didn’t clarify. There are two Leigh Ann’s — the one I meant was WhenAnimalsAttack not Snowberries
Xanga does do weird things sometimes, doesn’t it? Meh. ((hugs))
No disappearing. I went home Friday which is why I didn’t post. I wrote about it in an earlier entry but it’s probably one I took away hehe.
((hugs))
<3
thanks for visits and comments. wa loking thru your posts (but not comments) and it got me wondering, how DOES salt loose it’s savor? what is savor? gonna go check in greek. ttyl!
Hi Heather,
Neela just answered for me. She knows another Leigh Ann, and I think she knows her more personally. It was very confusing for me at first when I saw “my name” in her posts, but then I noticed the one time she mentioned me, she used “snowberry” not Leigh Ann. That cleared a lot up for me since she already mentioned to me that she knew another. Of course by the time I got there to check it out, the post was gone. Thank you for the concern.
Good study.
<3 {{{HUGS}}}
Leigh Ann
My father had an abusive mother and an alcoholic father. He in turn was abusive. I was determined to break the cycle. However, I married abusive alcoholics. One day I decided to step away from all relationships with men and to just concentrate on serving God and being a mother to my children. I prayed for God to break the cycle and had faith that He would. He did. I am now married to a wonderful man who loves and serves God, who is a loving husband and wonderful dad to our 3 girls. I am so grateful and give all the credit to Adonai Y’shua haMashiach (Lord Jesus, Messiah).
Robin, thanks for your prayers. For me, it is tough to break down these walls.
HPU, I know that my kids know they are loved, and they feel safe enough to react to what we do as parents. They are also now beginning to realize that it is in their best interests, but being a teen is tough. As far as my mom is concerned, you are right, being a mom, I appreciate much of what she did. But in my case there is a history of abuse that makes most of what my mom did terribly wrong, and it is my great joy that I am NOT doing to my kids what was done to me by my parents. So I broke a lot of that.
Whispers, I am so very glad you are ok, I really was concerned for you. Hope your visit home is restful.
Linda, check out the comments on the salt, you will find out that people did a lot of research and gave so much information that that passage opened up a lot. I am grateful for all who contributed to that question!!!!!!!!
Oh Sandcastles, I am so pleased you were able to break away and find a loving husband. I too made a mistake in a marriage, and waited a long, long, long, long time before starting a new relationship. My husband now is awesome and a wonderful father. In that I am truly blessed.
Heather
My sweet friend HEATHER….whom I adore so much! I did read your post you left me to read….reading I read my life……………..You know I truly beleive God puts people into the lives of others for a purpose for the healing and steps they need for that healing……right now actually through this XANGA I am counselling quite a few young teens and young adults going through this very thing amongst many other deceitfulness of the enemy! YES as you say it does take quite a few baby steps…….many of them………………as a matter of fact I am still taking a few myself I find each day! As I counsel God shows me those steps……and I find that healing in myself still comes through helping. AMEN.
FIRST AND FOREMOST I am and let me say this passionately in love with GOD…and will NOT give up on you!…nor anyone else HE brings into my life!…………………
Because I know their is a reason for it all! God knows the day we are knitted together in our mothers womb each day of our lives…..the whys of our past as we live them then we do not understand and as we grow older without healing we still cannot………..BUT through healing and those baby steps…..each day I use those experiences to help heal one more with GODS help make it…show them HEY he has helped ME make it through…….HE CAN HELP YOU TOO!
I tried secular counseling..was on all kinds of medications …I drank..anything to try to just find a way out of the past to make it go away……………….BUT I FIND that GODS love is the only thing that gets me through each day……HE LOVES ME unconditionally……its never ending……………….when I mess up he forgives and doesnt hurt me for it…he blesses me more and more when I bless others….
I truly beleive in my spirit and heart that he will do the same for you………
You have such a beautiful spirit and the ones like us that had these past are the ones with the spirit of meekness that God talks about…HE USES it for GOOD for others………….Take it and use it as an advocacy for other young girls like I do….its such a great healing process for me to help these girls through their pain…..and show them how much GOD LOVES them when they feel no one else does…………….
YOU are loved HEATHER….you are BLESSED HEATHER….you are GODS CHILD and he made you a beautiful mother………….and mothers are the most beautiful people in the world……………
Love you with all the love God gives me within…………………Robin
Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith: and not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Sweet, sweet Heather, did you know that none of us have deserved to be in God, and that none of our works were able to bring us before him. Grace is a gift. This gift is a favor from God. It is God’s favor that he gives us “the measure of faith”. We are all given a measure by faith, because we are saved by faith, so God gives us some to get us started. Salvation is a multifold word which means, to be delivered from sin, sickness, dis-eases of all kind, spirit, soul and body. It only takes a little measure to believe unto salvation. After we are saved, we have to take that measure and plant it deep within our heart.
If God says it, then believe it. Romans 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. When we take the word into our heart, we must start to confess the word of God. This is what changes us into faithfilled believers…confession. Not continual confession that we are sinners, but confession of who God says we are. Our words can be filled with doubt and unbelief, but if we speak the word of God, then faith will come by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
I don’t know the things that happened in your life, but they seem to be having a profound effect on how you recieve the word of God. You may have been dealt with in a manner where no grace was given to you and you were made to feel that you did not deserve anything good. I don’t know, I am just speculating. The enemy will use all kinds of tactics to keep us from total salvation. We can be saved from our sins which is a promise when we give our life to God, but that does not stop the enemy from wreaking havoc to our minds trying to make us believe that God doesn’t want us because of some kind of flaw. Did you know that he constantly accuses us before God? and to us?
God sent his word to heal us, to open our blind eyes, to set us free from captivity. We all have been captive to the enemy’s lies, to us and about us. That’s why the word tells us to “cast down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God”. Try this Heather, get in the word and find 3 things that God has said about you and salvation. Example: St John 3:18 he that believeth on him is not condemned. Take that word and confess it out loud…I am not condemed because I believe on you. Ephesians 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, he hath made us accepted in the beloved……I am accepted in the beloved because of his grace. So forth and so on….because I abide in him, he abides in me….I am more that a conqueror through Christ Jesus. begin to confess the word of God.
Proverbs say ‘life and death are in the power of the tongue and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof”. There is power in your mouth. Our word are spirit and life. What we speak of ourselves we become. If you want your life to be more fruitful in God….speak the life of God in it, say what God says about you. Take a lesson from Abraham, it says that he calleth those things that be not as though they are. God had spoken to him about being the father of many nations. he didn’t even have a child and was a hundred years old to boot. But he believed God against hope, he was an old man and probably didn’t function like he did back in the day…( lol, you know what I mean), but he didn’t consider the deadness in him, he believed God against the natural circumstances. He called himself, what God called him.
God is moved by faith in his word, just believe it and confess…his word does not come back void. God is faithful.
Father, I pray for my dear sister and I ask that you give her a revelation of your grace. I pray that your word of faith will grow on the inside of her and she begin to see herself as you see her. I pray that the eyes of her understanding be enlightened that she may know the hope of your calling and what the riches of the glory of your inheritance is in her. Let the same mind be in her that was in Christ Jesus. Give unto her the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of you to know the greatness of your power toward us who believe according to the working of your mighty power. I thank you for the stirring in her spirit and I give you the praise for what you are doing in her life. thank you Jesus. Amen
I love you Heather
I am touched to tears by the outpouring of love that I am receiving here. Perhaps it is in that that one finds God’s love, I don’t know. Robin, thanks for not giving up on me. I just wish you had not had to deal with what I dealt with. You are right, the only way I find peace is by reaching out, and I do that as well. It is the only way to redeem some of what happened.
Angel, if you want to see the kinds of things I am sorting out, check out the Dec. 31, 2004 entry on this site, it will show you some of what I was dealing with. I know that I have to go forward, and I have come to God about two years ago. There is a miracle in that, but the relationship you seem to have formed with God is not yet there for me. I am still struggling, and still wanting a few questions answered. Of course, perhaps God will keep being mum on the answers I so much need to know. I don’t know what will happen if this standoff still keeps occuring, but before I throw my whole trust into God, I sort of need a bit of reassurance that He really will be there. His track record in my past was not all that great. I have been praying Ephesians 1 lately, trying to have the enlightenment that I need to move forward. And I am begging God for answers.
Thanks so much for prayers and concern, it is nice to know that I am not struggling alone.
Heather
((((((((((((((HEATHER)))))))))))))))))) you are not alone……….GOD IS always by your side………………..love you…and YOU ARE ALWAYS welcome………………………..
Heather,
I was abused as a child and raped at age 10 by my brother and his friend who happened to be the son of my moms best friend. I’ve lived a life full of abuse, emotional and physical. But I am an overcomer.I still struggle but I know that God is bringing me thru all of it. I too broke the cycle. We dont even spank our kids, we take priviledges away. I refuse to lay a hand on my kids. Mine are in their teen years as well. But I love them so much. I just wanted you to know your not alone. It took me a long time to trust God but now that I do I will never go back.You are a precious sister and I will help you in any way I can. Blessings.
Hugs,
Patty
I empathize on the teenager thing. My youngest daughter has had it rough since July. She just got to liking somebody that was really doing wonders for her and all the sudden he changes his mind. Then she is hurt all over again. It hurts so much when they hurt and of course they don’t want to talk to you about any of it. I am so willing to help, and to listen. Sometimes it’s like banging your head up against a wall, they can hurt you sometimes too. I feel like I don’t have a life without them yet feel like they don’t want me to be a part of it either. Take care, Debbie
Heather, I did a protected post to you. come on over.
WhimseyDeb, I know what you mean, and they need us all the more now. I have to keep reminding myself that they are kids in adult sized bodies. They care passionately and it is important to be aware of their feelings. It is little things, and I have found that sometimes when my middle son is very angry an apology, even if it is not my fault, will do a lot to bust the bubble and let some communication in.
And little things mean so much. One day we were at Friday Bible study and my daughter was writing her name in balloon letters, so I did a bit of that with her and her name (I figure that if she is there the words sink in and not to make an issue of listening with rapt attention), then I noticed my middle son watching me and her, so I all of a sudden started writing Ed in balloon letters, and doing silly things with his name. He enjoyed it, and I think his feelings would have been hurt if I hadn’t included him in that, but he wouldn’t have said anything, but I could see his pleasure. Little things mean so much.
I hope your daughter does realize that she has a friend in you. From what parents who are older tell me, the kids finally begin to realize that you have some intelligence when they turn about 25 and when they become parents themselves. So I guess we will at one point miraculously go from know nothing parents to geniuses over a few years. (She says smiling)
Heather
Patty, thanks for the support. I sure hope lots of people break away from that cycle of abuse, because there is enough abuse and hurt out in the world, and if people don’t break away from it, there will be even more. I am pleased to know that you have done this.
I too do not spank my kids (although a couple of times when they were kids they got a small spank, but only over life-threatening things, like running across a parking lot or touching an electric socket, or crossing the street -and they were too little to reason with), but between my three kids, I think the sum total of spankings was five. I prefer to intervene before it becomes a problem.
Lately I just stop and pray before reacting. My middle son is the toughest, and he really needs lots of prayer. But, by not reacting, but talking when he calms down, it seems to have worked. Now, if he explodes (verbal only), he will apologize a few minutes later for what he realizes was wrong. So we are making progress.
One thing kids need more than anything else is to know that their parents passionately love them, and I think ours know that. And another good thing (though challenging for us) is that they feel free enough to show their emotions the good, the bad, and the ugly. If they did not feel loved, I suspect many of those emotions would not be shown.
Heather
Heather
sometimes we are our own worst enemy, I know what you mean about the flesh war. But know this God already loves you and he always will you do not have to earn his love you already have it. It will always be there.You only have to realize it .God Bless
PastorZ
Heather… Copied and pasted from Angel’s site. GOD BLESS YOU!
NEVER FORGET THAT GOD IS IN CONTROL! I DON’T MEAN SOME OF THE TIME, ALL THE TIME!!
Jesus, I do not know Heather, but I do know that we come to you now. We ask you to protect Heather against any lies that the deceiver would try and make us believe. We pray the blood of Jesus to come down and flow and protect Heather against any enemies of the deceiver. Jesus, your comfort and sinless self was sent so that we may truly live through you. Show, Heather the way. We are told that you are the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Nobody comes to the Father except through you. We ask for a light unto the path of glory.
God, Holy Jesus, thank you for loving us enough to give us your Son.
We love you Jesus
Robert
Thank you so much for all of your kind words and wonderful comments. They mean so much to me.
Apologies for not commenting on your site for a while.
Hehe. Your comment on teenagers above… I find that somewhat interesting, looking at the perspective of a parent. Good luck.
We are incredibly difficult sometimes.
I read in one of your posts somewhere you are involved in BSA. So am I. Great gang for kids to join. TTFN.
Heather,
You are absolutely right about teens showing emotions. When we were in public, my parents were constantly praised because we were such “angels” (except for one incedent with cavier and escargot, but I won’t go there now). My parents would thank the person, then often mumble under their breath, “Yeah, you don’t have to live with them.” We felt comfortable in their love to know we could be ourselves at home…”the good, the bad, and the ugly”. So as difficult as it is to deal with when the bad and the ugly arise, know they are comfortable in your love.
Heather, revist the protected post on my sight, there are some awesome prayers being prayed for you!!! Praise God!
I saw your post on my sisters site Chiggi. UPC stands for United Pentecostal Church. I was reading some of your post and you know. In order to get over the past, You need to forgive the one who did this to you. Just say it it helps a lot. and it is good that you can break the cycle. Remember to say it out loud , I for give you. Say it until you mean it. God didn’t let that happen to you, but you can use it for good to help someone else that it has happened to. Who better to help someone than one who has been throught it. Give it all Give it all to Jesus
You know what this is the voice of experience. satan brings up your past, which has been forgiven and if all he has is your past then that is under the blood and you can tell him satan you may know my past , but I know your future and I read the back of the book and I win.
Heather, God’s love is coming to you more and more each day! How fabulous is that? Love, Sandy
UPC stands for United Pentecostal Church….. to answer your questions
Yah, I was elated at the half time show… Hopefully the entertainment industry sticks with it… Thank you, Paul, for good clean fun, and some killer tunes…
That was a great Bible Study !
And ” YES “… you can forgive yourself … as there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ !
We have to realize …
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 2Co 5:17 (God doesn’t remember or see our pasts as we do !)
I can not exactly remember when it was that I finally forgave myself … but I do know when I look at my past… I have no longer have any regrets.
I look at my life and I see that if any of those things were lacking, I could not be who God has raised (and is still raising) me up to be. God HAS taken all the things (my doings and those of others) that were meant for evil in my life and turned them around for my GOOD !
That is the nature of the God we serve !
The best way to move forward, is to set our hands to the plow and never look back !
Lotsa love…
Tracy
Your relationship with your husband (in reference to your church “arrangement”) is honorable and Biblical and I admire it. So many women would be the virtual “nag” and cause their husband to shy further and further away from the truth. Keep up the good work girlie – it will one day pay off (especially in Glory)!
Hey Heather, I left you another comment on the protected post. love you
((hugs)) Thank you.
Hi Heather,
I too have been through some really bad abuse in my life. Thank God, He put people in my life that reached out to me and loved me. He revealed His awesome love for me through these awesome good and faithful servants of His until I came to a place of deliverance and total surrender to Him. I know it’s hard right now to see where He was in your life when you were going through that horrible abuse, but someday you will see how His hand sustained you. I am agreeing in prayer for you with the others here who love you so much. There is a book written by Bishop T.D. Jakes called “Woman Thou Art Loosed”, that helped me big time. The enemy does not want to see you set free from this torment because he sees the potential in you. I can tell by reading your post that you are an awesome mother and lady. God bless you Heather. I will keep praying for you in agreement with all the others here. It is God who puts this deep love for you in our hearts because He loves you so much Heather.
Father God, I stand in agreement with all the prayers that are going out for our sister Heather. Please shut the mouth of that lying devil and reveal to Heather the height and width and depth of YOUR awesome love that You have for her. Nothing can separate her from Your love. No abuse the enemy tried to destroy her with can separate her from Your unfailing love. Nothing can. Please pour an increased measure of Your Holy Spirit onto Heather and shine Your light of truth and healing into every scarred place in her heart and mind. I ask for total healing and restoration for Heather in Your holy and powerful Name Jesus. Amen
Please visit Angela’s site where we have been agreeing in prayer for you. We are prayer warriors in Christ Jesus and we love you.
Thank you for all the prayers and support. It really means a lot to me. This has been a tough day, and depression is rampant. Hope things improve. One thing is certain, there is a lot of love here that I never expected, and I am very grateful.
Heather