Just Because He Never Hit You...

You exalted me above my foes; from a violent man you rescued me.  Psalm 18:48

Just because he has never hit you, doesn't mean it's not abuse.  My husband never hit me. He threw things at me occasionally, but he never put his hands on me.  I was still abused. 

He kept me isolated from my family and friends. I wasn't allowed to have a driver's license or use the phone whenever I wanted. I couldn't work, but when I did, he kept the money.  I was belittled and made to feel like I was always the one in the wrong.  I was called names.  My children and I were made to live with no heat, no electricity, and sometimes no running water.  He told me that nobody else would ever want someone like me.  He told me once that he would kill me and then kill himself.  I believe he would have.  And the lies....the many lies he told.

I'm writing this to let you know that you can make it.  I know the lies you believe, because I believed them too. You don't think you can do it, but you can.  You are worth more than the words he says.  There are people who love you and will help you.  Most importantly, there is Jesus.

I never thought I would be free, but I am. I never thought I would have enough strength, but I did.  I never thought  anyone would love me, but He does.

And you are loved, too.

If possible, find someone you trust to talk to.  If there isn't anyone, talk to me.  God has plans for you. He has an abundant life waiting for you. He has an amazing future with your name on it.  Delight in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:4), just like He has done for me.
 

Jesus Is Enough

It's hard for me to be vulnerable...at least in front of people. Most of the time I'm strong and hopeful;  I know that everything will turn out okay. Today is not that day. Today I'm not okay.

My heart hurts. My mind is racing and guilt is consuming me. I'm sitting here this morning, trying to read my Bible, but I can't even open it.

All I can whisper is, "Jesus".

But that's enough.  His name is enough.

His name is above all names (Philippians 2:9). 

Jesus can handle all that I am feeling. While I am overwhelmed with emotion and too weak from the weight,  He is there. When I am weary and burdened, He will give me rest (Matthew 11:28). When there is so much darkness surrounding me, He is the light (1 John 1:5).

Jesus is enough.

He takes my worry and guilt and He gives me peace (2 Thessalonians 3:16) and joy (Romans 15:13). He has given me hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11).  It doesn't matter how much pain I'm feeling in this temporary life, I'm going to fight the good fight, I will finish the race, and I will keep the faith (2 Timothy 4:7).

He is enough.

Head Full of Doubt

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said. "why did you doubt?" Matthew 14:31

There are always whispers in my ear that convince me to doubt, even though I know what God's Word says. Sometimes I think there is no way out of the mess I am in.  I will worry and complain and become depressed and anxious. My problems seem too big for God.

Jesus said that if we have faith in God and do not doubt, we can move mountains (Mark 11:22-25)!  How can we have that kind of faith?

When I start to feel doubt creep in, I start dwelling on what God has already done for me (Ecclesiastes 7:13).  Our lives are full of miracles if we would just look for them.

God miraculously saved me from an abusive marriage. He put people in my life at just the right time to help me escape from a life of hell. He has provided for me when there was literally nothing there (Philippians 4:19). He has healed me and delivered me from the lies I believed for so long. He has provided a godly therapist and people who are working to bring justice to my children. What the Lord has done for me is too much to write.  

That leaves no room for doubt.

Remember the things I have done in the past. For I alone am God! I am God, and there is none like me (Isaiah 46:9 NLT).

Finding Satisfaction

Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life." John 4:13-14

I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you.  Psalm 63:4-5

You give and you give, while they keep taking and taking. You're empty; you're longing for affection. You search, but nothing satisfies.

Your soul craves more than the ordinary; your heart begs to be loved. You are lost and just want to be found.

The Lord says that if we delight in Him, He will give us the desires of our heart (Psalm 37:4).  The answer to all of our longing is Jesus. He will always guide us and satisfy us (Isaiah  58:11).

We were created to love God.  It says in Psalm 84:2 that our soul yearns and our heart and flesh cry out for the living God. Nothing of this world will truly fulfill us.

The Lord longs to be gracious and show compassion (Isaiah 30:18). He is waiting on YOU to seek Him with all of your heart and soul (Deuteronomy 4:29) and look to Him to fill your empty places. He is the the only One who can satisfy your deepest desires.

Let Jesus fill your soul. Seek Him and find Him. Chase after the One who created your innermost being. Let His love be all you need.

He's Waiting

But my people would not listen to me; Israel would not submit to me. So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts to follow their own devices. Psalm 82:11-12

If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored. Joel 22:23

There have been many times when I have ignored God and gone my own way. I bought into the lie that I knew what was best for me and I just wanted to do what I wanted to do (Romans 1:25). It never ended well.

The good news is, I was able to cry out to God each and every time I strayed and He took me back each and every time. The Lord says to return to Him and He will return to you (Zechariah 1:3). He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love (Joel 2:13).

We are so much harder on ourselves than Jesus is. When He died for our sins, he meant it. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). He says he will not always accuse and he will not treat us as our sins deserve (Psalm 103:9-10).  We are no longer supposed to live in guilt.

Is guilt or shame keeping you from a relationship with Jesus?  Just know how much you are forgiven and loved.

Run to Jesus. His arm is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear (Isaiah 59:1).

Everyday Jesus

Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.  1 Thessalonians 4:11-12

People are watching our every move and some of them can't wait for us to mess up.  How do we look to unbelievers?  Are we patient and kind (1 Corinthians 13:4) or are we frustrated and inconsiderate?

We have a responsibility as Christians to live as children of light (Ephesians 5:8-9).  It says in Colossians 4:5 that we are to be wise in the way we act to outsiders, or unbelievers. We must make the most of every opportunity we are with them and make sure we are always full of grace.

We don't have to make some grandiose display, we can show people the love of Jesus in our every day life.  More people look at our behavior on a day-to-day basis rather than what we look like on Sunday when we are at our best.

Our testimonies are a powerful weapon against the enemy to win the hearts of unbelievers. It says in Revelation 12:11 that we will overcome by the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony. What have you been through that would change someone's life? What did God do to change your heart?  How can telling your story make a difference to someone who doesn't believe?  I pray that My Story will tell the love and mercy of Jesus.

The Mind of Christ In Marriage

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.  Philippians 2:5


Jesus isn't sitting in heaven arguing with the angels and He isn't looking at us with anger, cursing us every time we make a mistake. He isn't selfish or arrogant and He isn't proud.

How much do we look like Jesus in our relationships with our husband or wife?

Colossians 3:7-8 says: You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. We are to let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts and be thankful (Colossians 3:15).   We can't look like Jesus when we look so much like the world to our own spouse.

So how can we make this change?  We set our minds and our hearts on things above, instead of earthly things (Colossians 3:1-2), like selfishness and pride, and refuse to conform to the pattern of the world (Romans 12:2). We have to realize that marriage is a gift (1 Corinthians 7:7) and every good and perfect gift is from above (James 1:17).  We need to be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires (James 1:20).

Satan hates marriage. He wants to destroy mine and he wants to destroy yours, but Jesus brings life (John 10:10). Choose life for you marriage today. Let God give you beauty for ashes (Isaiah 61:3).