RELIVING THE MOMENT I KNEW THEY WERE LYING

Link to the video on YouTube, just in case this doesn't work for some reason: Pulled Into Letting Go - Vlog 3

Product mentioned in the video:

Part of a chat from my beautiful friend
on the rough day when I first opened
the court papers and needed this message.

Stay tuned for another episode. I aim to crank out the blog posts three times a week on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. See you next time! And remember, if you or a loved one is in danger, get help immediately, and don't stop talking until someone acts on your words.

National Domestic Abuse Hotline: 800-799-7233 Hours: 24/7. Languages: English, Spanish, and 200+ through interpretation service. SMS: Text START to 88788

National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-4673 Hours: Available 24 hours. https://www.rainn.org/

988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Hours: Available 24 hours. Languages: English, Spanish. https://988lifeline.org/

In Christ alone our hope is found

Run, don't walk for help! You're worth it.

 

 

 

CAGING THE LION

I have a theory as to why some people claim to be Christian but do not attend church. It stems from observing my stepdad and others, like him, who have committed big sins in the past. It's pretty simple, really. I don't believe he has forgiven himself. I don't believe he sees himself as loveable, forgivable, or worthy of the love of Christ. 

There is some part of us as sinners that wants to hold onto the pain of the past and refuse to let it go. We don't like to admit we've messed up. The punishment for the crimes committed can be so painful that we don't want to chance any more pain. Does that sound like someone you know?

I know a lot of people who behave this way, including myself from time to time. When this happens, it means we have yet to recognize the strength that comes from believing in and having a full relationship with Jesus. Folks who habitually behave this way are bound to the past, and Satan's henchmen are keeping them there. 

Christians walking with the Lord, need to pray for all to be released from the bonds of the past so that we may embrace our future with the Lord. Otherwise, we're going to face judgment someday and the Lord will say "I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness." (Matthew 7:23 ESV)

The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.

-1 Corinthians 2:14 (NIV) 

Healing isn't done on our own. I've said that time and time again. The kind of healing that can be accomplished in the secular world isn't complete. There isn't a full regeneration of the spirit. Often, the secular world will advise victims to seek retribution. Christ doesn't ask that of us, because He knows it causes us more pain to do so. Instead, He asks us simply to trust Him and to walk with Him.

"Never take revenge, my friends, but instead let God's anger do it. For the scripture says, "I will take revenge, I will pay back, says the Lord." (Romans 12:19 GNT) I assume that this also means we are not to continue punishing ourselves for our sins of the past as well. In fact, I am sure of it. 

Jesus forgives all of our sins. That's what He was doing up on the cross at Calvary over 2,000 years ago. There is no special formula. Not everyone who has been saved needed an altar call or a special "sinners prayer" to be saved. Do you remember the story in Luke of the two thieves on the crosses next to Jesus? It's found in Luke 23:39-43. In verse 42, only one of the thieves is saved. Here is what was said  And the thief was saying, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom!”  And Jesus said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” 

Everyone in the crowd saw the man's nakedness, but only Jesus saw his entire soul at that moment and renewed it. The other thief never made it to Heaven, yet he had all the same opportunities as the one who did. 

I'm not a Pastor. I'm not a professional theologian or an apologist. I'm simply a woman who loves Jesus, studies His Word, and observes human behavior in my everyday life. I find it utterly fascinating that so many abuse survivors go on to embrace Jesus and find amazing healing in their relationship with Him, while so many abusers suffer unto their dying day. It doesn't have to be that way. 

I've also seen the opposite be true, where the abuser becomes saved and the victim never becomes a true survivor, finding healing. That's also very sad and unnecessary. Jesus is for all of us. So many people can quote John 3:16, but how many know what comes after that? How many people believe it with their whole hearts? I do. It's why I pray for my abusers. 

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.  This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.  Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed.  But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God. -John 3:17-21 (NIV)

Did you notice I made part of that bold and underlined it? I believe that part applies to folks who will not come into the light for fear that their sins are too big and will be exposed again and they will again suffer the consequences of them. When in fact, they're suffering now because they refuse to step into the light. 

Jesus came so that we may have life and have it abundantly (John 10:10). Embrace it. Embrace Jesus. 

"The Gospel is like a caged lion. You don't have to defend it.
Just let it out of the cage." - Charles Spurgeon

Stay tuned for another episode. I aim to crank out the blog posts three times a week on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. See you next time! And remember, if you or a loved one is in danger, get help immediately, and don't stop talking until someone acts on your words.

National Domestic Abuse Hotline: 800-799-7233 Hours: 24/7. Languages: English, Spanish, and 200+ through interpretation service. SMS: Text START to 88788

National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-4673 Hours: Available 24 hours. https://www.rainn.org/

988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Hours: Available 24 hours. Languages: English, Spanish. https://988lifeline.org/

In Christ alone our hope is found

Run, don't walk for help! You're worth it.

 

 

 

WHY I PRAY FOR MY ABUSERS

Have you ever prayed for those who hurt you? It's hard the first few times, isn't it? It doesn't feel natural - it feels hard. Wrong, even. I remember thinking "I'd better get this right because I don't want to do it again." In my mind, praying for my abusers was a one-time event and then I'd pass some sort of cosmic test and be done with the whole thing. Wrong! The more I pray for my abusers, the freer I feel. I realize that sounds completely backward, but it's not. When I hold on to unforgiveness, anger, bitterness, or any other negative emotion, it mainly hurts me. It's like drinking poison and expecting my enemy to suffer the consequences. It will not work. I am the one who needs to take responsibility for my own thoughts and actions. 

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,  that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.  If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?  And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?  Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. - Matthew 5:43-48 (NIV)

Lao-Tze famously said "Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words; they become actions. Watch your actions; they become habits. Watch your habits; they become character. Watch your character; it becomes your destiny." While I don't completely buy into the destiny part of that statement, I do believe that thoughts and words ultimately affect our actions, which affect our character. 

Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. -Proverbs 4:23

When we allow bitterness, hatred, anger, pain, or any other negative emotion to overtake us, we become bitter, hateful, angry, pain-causing human beings. This isn't to say that we shouldn't allow ourselves time to feel and process big feelings. We absolutely should! That's what therapy, prayer and quiet time with God are for. What I am saying is that we should not allow it to control us. 

There is a season for pain, there are more seasons for healing, thriving, and living into the plan God has for our lives. Don't sit for so long in the pain that it becomes your entire world.

You're not a tree. You're not planted in one area, expected to stay there for life. Move away from the abuse, from the pain into something better - a renewed heart, stronger faith in God, and total healing. Know that it is a process and will take a long time. Don't expect it to come easily and don't attempt it alone. Here's a great resource to jump-start your healing today: Faithful Counseling Online

Have I forgiven my abusers? Yes, however, it's a choice I must make daily - sometimes hourly. Some triggers hit my emotional buttons sometimes and I have to take a moment to stop and pray for God to grant me the strength to forgive them. I don't have the ability on my own. I need God's help. 

Just because I pray for my abusers, that doesn't mean I want to hang out with them or even be in the same room as them. I don't even want to be in the same town! God has given me a unique love for them in that I don't desire any harm to come to them. I hope to see them reformed, in Heaven with me someday. I like knowing that God is so big He can change and heal everybody. That tells me that no matter what I personally go through, God's got me in His hands and there's absolutely nothing for me to worry about. 

Stay tuned for another episode. I aim to crank out the blog posts three times a week on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. See you next time! And remember, if you or a loved one is in danger, get help immediately, and don't stop talking until someone acts on your words.

National Domestic Abuse Hotline: 800-799-7233 Hours: 24/7. Languages: English, Spanish, and 200+ through interpretation service. SMS: Text START to 88788

National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-4673 Hours: Available 24 hours. https://www.rainn.org/

988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Hours: Available 24 hours. Languages: English, Spanish. https://988lifeline.org/

In Christ alone our hope is found

Run, don't walk for help! You're worth it.