Rebel to Redeemed…Sharing HIS Kind of Love
I previously shared why we should forgive those that hurt us. But God calls us to go even a step farther and pray for our enemies. Again, this is easier said than done. I have had several situations in which I was deeply betrayed by others I trusted and loved. This hurt deeply. But, I chose to forgive the and […]
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Recently I had a conversation with a loved one. A former boyfriend had recently died due to a short illness. We began to discuss the decisions this individual made and that she was better off without him. Even before they broke up, he was making bad choices and doing things that were harmful to both himself and others. This was […]
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Recently, I attended a conference and was confronted with my past. No, this was not one of my abusers, however it was a reminder of a difficult and unhappy time in my life. Yet, in a very strange way I felt as if I were: Liberated from that situation Had learned the lessons I was meant to learn in that […]
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I grew up where we speak only truth. If we told a lie, we were reprimanded and told how important it was to tell the truth. This is still a life lesson I strive to live by. However, when I was in the abusive relationship, I was often accused of lying, even when I wasn’t. There were times when I […]
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I recently heard the phrase the weak break the strong and realized just how true the statement is. While often the abuser appears to be the one that is strong, that person is the one who is weak. That person takes their insecurities, uncertainties, doubts, lack of validation and any former abuse out on the person they are abusing. This […]
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Last week, we discussed being alone and I shared to turn to God during that time. However, what happens when you are angry at God? If you’ve never been angry at God then bless you. However, at some point, something has happened in which you have probably been angry at God. In the Bible, Job was angry with God when […]
Read more There have been many times when I have felt all alone. During this time depression set in and I could not seem to shake it. This was greatest when I was in my abusive relationship, but that is far from the only time I’ve felt that way. However, that is where I’m going to focus at the moment. As I […]
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While I was in my abusive relationship, I was cut off from my family and friends. This happened so slowly, that I did not even realize what was happening at first. So, how is a person cut off from family and friends? Refusing to allow any contact Cutting off phone contact Cutting off letters {either through snail mail or e-mail} […]
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I had my heart broken and had been betrayed and I was angry. However, I had a choice. I could stay angry or I could learn to forgive. I chose to forgive. I forgave for my own good more than anything and there is nothing wrong with that. In the book of Genesis, is the story of Joseph. He was […]
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I often wondered how I would make it on my own, especially after I left that difficult situation. I was blessed in that I had a family to lean on and live with for several years while I rebuilt my life. I have a friend who worked three jobs when she left her husband to make ends meet for […]
Read more Last week, I shared 9 strategies when you want to return to the chaos. But, in addition to longing for the old, unhealthy patterns you may discover that you can’t stop thinking about the man you left behind. After all, you were together for years, you loved him, you may have children together, you have a past, and love does […]
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If you’ve recently left a difficult situation or relationship, do you find yourself longing to return to the chaos? I know, that sounds like a silly question. However, the situation had become so engrained in me and I had been so brain washed by the controlling of my abuser that I discovered it was much easier said than done to […]
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I shared last week, about developing a plan to leave a bad situation or relationship, but there are steps that need to be take in which to protect oneself. Some of the things I learned and discovered during this times, which I hope will help anyone in need include: Set up a post office box for mail Do not provide […]
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The time finally arrived when I said enough is enough and I began to prepare a plan to leave. I’ll admit this was a difficult decision and I second and third guessed myself time and time again. I often wondered if I was doing the right thing and would be able to follow through. Yet, the situation was so bad […]
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I was raised in a traditional, Christian family where marriage was meant for life. The idea of being the first in my immediate family to divorce was a hard pill for me to swallow. After all, I’d heard what was said about others that divorced. I was raised to believe that when you married, you remained married until death do […]
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From the moment I met my husband, he told me lies. When I realized this many years later, I was angry. I was angry at him for lying to me, but I was angry at myself for not seeing through his lies. Some of the lies were easy to discover. Lies such as: –I was […]
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King David took Bathsheba as his own and when she became pregnant he had to find a quick fix. He called her husband, Uriah the Hittite, in from the battle field. But instead of going to his wife, as David commanded, Uriah refused stating a code of honor to his fellow soldiers still on the […]
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Recently, I watched Beauty and the Beast and was reminded of the strong message in the story. The story is one of unselfish love. The prince is so self-centered he is turned into a beast and can only be transformed when he learns to love unselfishly and is loved in return. The beast meets Belle, […]
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Growing up we read and watch multiple fairy tales that until recently always ended with “and they lived happily ever after”. I don’t know about you, but I bought into that fairy tale. My parents had a happy marriage and my grandparents and great-grandparents {who were still living} had been married for what sounded like […]
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