MIRACLE in a Domestic Abusive Relationship

ne of the sweet, poignant miracles the Lord did, when I felt unloved and trapped in an abusive “Christian” marriage:

(NOTE: background music can be paused below.)

CLICK HERE to hear: ("Rain Down"-- Hillsong)

MY KIDS AND ME, about 1982

Just before my 2nd marriage

Comfort Songs:

(NOTE: background music can be paused below.)

I Will Run to You -Hillsong

Come To Jesus--Chris Rice

Sweetly Broken--Jeremy Riddle

Facedown--Matt Redman

[Gonna be] Worth it all-- Rita Springer

If You Want Me To--Ginny Owens (Especially poignant: she is blind.)

You Raise Me Up -- Selah (Best Version--Gotta watch!)

My Redeemer Lives--Nicole Mullen

Lyrics to one of my songs: "The Comfort Song"

If something about your relationship with your partner

scares you (or affects your self-esteem),

or if you need to talk,

please call the

National Domestic Violence Hotline at:

1-800-799-SAFE (7233)

or TTY 1-800-787-3224.

Help is available to callers 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Assistance is available in English and Spanish with access to more than 170 languages through interpreter services.

http://www.ndvh.org/get-help/

Steven Curtis Chapman Lyrics:

"Well, who is this angry man I see
In the mirror looking back at me?
It's a man who's tired, a man who's weak
And it's a man who needs a Savior."

Note: background music can be paused here

Dear ones

I’m going to share a (very) personal testimony with you

about one of the miracles,

that Lord did for me one day in my abusive marriage.

My hope it will give you a glimpse of the Lord’s love for us,

and if you're suffering something similar

you will know that God is with you, and that you aren't alone.

I always felt so, alone in my suffering...

Over 17 yrs ago, I was far away from my family & home

(nearly 3,000 miles--each of us at the opposite ends of the country).

There were many times I was homesick during

those 17 long and lonely years away from home & loved ones.

Being a young single mom, with no child support, no family near,

And I didn’t even have the money to visit them.

While living in Calif, I only got to visit one time.

(In addition to the two brief times later,

when friends chipped in for me to fly home

to my brother’s, and then 18 mths later, my sister’s funeral.)

But I am ever grateful that at least I got to go then.

I was in my early twenties, divorced, going to college,

was professional musician, and

had two preschoolers with learning disabilities.

Then I met a Christian man who brought me back to my Christian roots.

He shepherded (mentored) me, and tenderly taught me.

He carried his Bible wherever he went.

He had a heart for the lost in Christ,

and was a strong believer in sharing the Hope of Salvation.

When he read the Bible to me, he touched my heart, because

often he would get choked up and teary-eyed--moved by the Spirit.

I fell in love with his heart first...

One of my dearest memories is my first visit back home

(before I lost my siblings and mother.)

I hadn't seen them in 7 years.

My boyfriend had paid for me and my children to fly home to visit

the first time I spoke of.

I remember getting off the plane and seeing my mom & dad,

all three of my brothers, my sister,

in-laws, nephew and nieces, all waiting with arms outstretched.

They even all took off work to meet me at the airport.

I never felt so loved, wanted, and whole.

(If I had a memory book, this is one of my dearest one,

and I hold this precious treasure close in my heart

like a hidden jewel.)

I got to visit for two mths!

Once back at my childhood home,

I woke up in my girlhood bed and wept every morning

with grateful delight to be surrounded by their love.

I soon learned that it was even more blessed than I realized,

and in fact, God's will, because, shortly after my return back to Calif,

my dear oldest brother died in a tragic car accident.

And then my precious sister of a unknown brain tumor.

(Both, leaving behind children.)

I am convinced that the Lord gave me one final time with them.

God knew my grieving heart from not seeing them in so many years.

I got to say a sort-of good-bye, though never realizing at the time,

that I would never see them again--in this life.

The last photo of all of my family

before three went on to the Lord.

Almost 30 yrs ago. I'm on the left.

(Coincidentally, we are shaped like a heart.J)

I went with my boyfriend 5 yrs, before we married. I was very cautious.

He kept wanted to get married right away, but I did not feel a peace.

(I would later learn that it was probably God's warning to me.)

Soon after I married him, I very quickly learned

that he had some extreme issues, which he had hidden very well.

About a week or two weeks after our wedding

he began to “confess” to me things that he'd done (as a Christian)

while we were engaged.

I can’t relate here how terrible they were.

But they most certainly weren't very "Christ-like".

One, was that he gave LSD to his 14 yr old son, and they "tripped" together.

Some concerned other women.

These confessions went on every night in bed, for a couple weeks.

I had just lost my only sister at the same time,

and he wanted to “cleanse” his heart of the things

he had hidden from me while we were engaged.

This may have been "cleansing" for him, but when it continued,

this left me feeling literally cold, sick, and numb

I began to have pain in my chest, running down my left arm.

I would lay there and listen, and could barely breath.

This wasn't the God-fearing man I thought I had married!!

My tender husband?! How could that be? What had I just done?!

I learned I didn't really know this man.

So many things he told me about himself before... were lies.

I had trusted this "Godly" man with my heart, and made a covenant with the Lord.

The heartache was indescribable.

At one point, I went to a local medical clinic because I had such pain

that I truly thought I was having a heart attack. But I wasn’t.

It was the effects of the SHOCK of what I was going through.

Since I was immature in the Lord, it caused me to question God.

(And my own discernment.)

In addition, I had just moved many hours north from my friends to marry my husband,

and didn’t really know anyone in this new town,

so I had no support or anyone that really knew me.

They took my ex's word, because they knew him first.

(He had moved up there earlier.)

I had married him as a Christian, and made a vow to the Lord.

And the Bible says “God hates divorce”!

I could not believe I had made such an enormous, life-altering decision,

and would be in this situation for the rest of my life.

He soon became very verbally & emotionally abusive.

The church we went to and counseled with, told me

“God hates divorce.”

(And that is true, but there is more to that scripture

than I fully understood--full scripture is below.)

I wanted to please God. So I prayed, and prayed.

(And that included praying for my husband,

though sometimes the only words I could speak were,

"I pray for him, Lord"--out of obedience to the scripture.

(God says to pray for our enemies, and

those who despitefully use you.)

I didn't see an "out" in the scriptures.

I saw that infidelity was a reason, but I had no proof of that...

(His confessions never went that far, when we were married.)

And it wasn't like he battered or beat me up. (Physically anyway.)

This was (primarily) verbal /emotional abuse and intimidation.

And I didn't know what to do.

In fact, we counseled with a loving couple at the church

who sat me down and began to teach me scriptures on submission.

Submission?! Like that was the problem here?

I may have been a babe in the Lord,

but I knew enough to know that "me being submissive"

wasn't the answer to this problem.

If anything, I think the scripture that should have applied was:

"Submit to one another..."

(Ephesians 5:21)

I was left feeling even more misunderstood, alone, and alienated.

(We also counseled with the pastor, and his wife.

She told me -- quite frustrated with me, as I remember -- that

the problem was, I needed to forgive.

(I remember her saying: "Well, he SAID he was sorry.")

Well of course he did -- over and over!

But his behavior never completely stopped!

But I couldn't trust him with my deepest heart anymore!!!!

And he continued in his suspicious ways.

Picking up girls hitchhiking, coming home late, etc.

I tried to "forgive him". But my wounds could never heal, because of his actions,

and his verbal abuse & rage that continued to rear up it's ugly head...)

THE ANGER NEVER STOPPED FOR LONG!

I began to doubt my own judgment (and sanity), in that

how could I have been so deceived.... and blind...about this man?

Not at all long later (the first couple months we were married),

I soon began to learn about how extreme the anger problem my husband had.

He became more controlling and abusive. He would break my things.

Put me down for insecurities I had privately entrusted with him.

Among other things, he once squeezed my hand so hard

that he bent my wedding band, while I was wearing it!

And had to get it replaced.

(I guess that was rather symbolic, huh?)

Once he tore my night gown off while I was standing there.

I was and still am a modest lady

and felt completely exposed and vulnerable,

for something totally unrelated…

He did it to humiliate me, & control me--and it worked.

Just out of anger.

And this while we were JUST NEWLY MARRIED!

And this was only the beginning.

He was so terribly verbally (mainly) abusive,

that I soon began to drink beer at night and gained about 60 lbs.

I just didn’t know how to endure the pain of my abusive Christian marriage.

(There was no support from my church. And I knew no one else.)

So many vile and filthy names were directed my way by my husband.

And none described me!

I call it: VERBAL VIOLENCE.

(And later, they were directed at my children, when they became teens.)

I had no money, a bad back, and no where to go, anyhow.

I prayed and suffered this abuse for 20 some years

before I had a Biblical reason to agree to a divorce--about 7 yrs ago.

But don’t get me wrong. He wasn’t completely bad.

Sometimes I even began to trust him.

It didn’t go on every day.

(But enough to affect my self-confidence, trust, and security.)

But it never completely stopped.

I went from a confident, talented, secure person, to totally insecure.

When he was “normal”, he was extremely funny, thoughtful, kind, and always helpful.

And there were times he was “on fire” for Jesus.

And he could quote scripture like a concordance!

(It was so confusing!)

But then, that old temper would flare.

(But such is the way of a double minded man, the Bible teaches.)

I did love Him when he was "normal", and walked with the Lord

And the man that I thought I had married.

As I look back, I think he has/had a serious mental illness, like bipolar, personality disorder...

or even perhaps demonic possession.

But God was with me.

Though I must be honest,

there were times that I questioned it--and God's love for me.

Amazingly enough, the Lord gave me many ministerial songs during this period.

(I definitely have a heart for the hurting…)

Music Playlist at MixPod.com

One time, I was alone and weeping to the Lord, as I so often did,

and was especially missing my mom, many, many miles away.

(I was always especially close to my mom,

who taught me to sing harmonies at a very young age.)

So many times, I would beg the Lord

to get me back home to my family somehow.

The thought of having someone (normal) out there

who actually loved me, knew me,

and I was a part of, always brought me to tears.

I had to remind myself of my family,

because my life had begun to feel unreal,

as if my warm, loving family had all been a dream.

Three thousand miles away, and 17 yrs,

was just too long and far away.

And he made me feel so unworthy of being loved.

Well, back to this day:

I was crying to the Lord, and was feeling hopeless.

I was asking the Lord to take me Home (Heaven).

(I wasn't always very brave.)

Then I remembered back to when I was a little girl.

On occasion, my mom and dad would go out to eat or

something and we would have a baby sitter.

I remembered I would cry after they left, especially for my sweet mom.

I would run into the bathroom

where her housecoat hung on back of the door.

I would hide in it, bury my face in it,

and would breathe in her sweet special scent,

I could almost image that she was right there with me.

Well, on that particular day, I was homesick again,

and weeping to the Lord for my mom,

when suddenly...

the oddest occurrence happened!

I began to slowly smell a sweet familiar scent surrounding me.

I was puzzled at first. Then I recognized it:

IT WAS THE SWEET SCENT OF MY

PRECIOUS MOTHER,

who, I might remind you, was 3,000 miles away!!

The scent didn’t last long. But long enough

for me to realize what the Lord was trying to tell me:

That HE was the Scent (sweet savor) of my mother’s love.

All those years that my mother had sweetly loved me growing up,

was His love shining through her.

(In addition, the Bible does say, “God IS love”.

Not merely loving, but LOVE personified. Love in the flesh!)

And He even loved me more than she did!

What a tender, sweet, Father we have...

He is our Sweet Rose of Sharon.

Not a whole lot longer later, (about 3 yrs),

The Lord (finally) brought me back home to my dear family, too.

I'll be ever grateful...

(Christians: "love one another" is not a suggestion.)

But my husband’s rages and verbal attacks didn't stop.

Once, we had had an argument and he left angrily.

He didn't come home until very late/early in the morning.

God told me that he had gone to a bar, and picked up a stripper.

When he got home, I asked him this outright.

I think he was shocked, but God often spoke to my heart like this,

and told me things.

My husband confessed that he had gone to a "stripper bar",

and when it was closing time, he took the stripper home--she lived in a motel.

But he swore nothing happened.... I had no way of knowing for sure.

(But I had many doubts.)

No, his wicked ways, did not stop--but at least I had my family to love me,

ground me, minister to me, and pray for me.

(And sometimes stay with.)

And establish that I wasn't losing my mind.

Thank you, Jesus....

(Being around "crazy" people, makes you start feeling crazy yourself.)

I won't go into the whole story of why we finally split up.

But part of it was that he met a lady from a foreign country online.

Some important notes concerning

my abusive "Christian" marriage:

(I think there are things that we must learn in the paths we take in life.

And I learned many things--and I grew--after all those years.

This is how I made it through.

Though at the time, some were too hard to see in the midst of the abuse).

I LEARNED:

·     To try to be long-suffering, patient, and not contentious. (God worked this in me. I absolutely take NO credit for it.)

·     To be tenderhearted, and to weep with those who weep. (God did this, too.)

·     We don't "make" them angry. It is their choice.( Sometimes he got mad about things that were not even true... his imagination.)

·     That we should never blame the "victim". (NOBODY "wants it", “asks” for it, nor deserves it.)

·     That sometimes it IS one person's fault. It doesn't always "take two".

·     To forgive. Forgiveness and trusting are two different things. I learned to not return evil for evil, or else I would be reduced to being like him. And I REFUSED to let that happen! It was my way of not letting him get the best of me, or letting the devil win. I refused to let bitterness root in my heart.

·     My faith was also strengthened during this long and fiery trial, though I didn't realize it at the time. (God's doings again.) :)

If we put our trust in God, He will turn all things for our good.

The Bible says so.

The Bible says that there will be times of suffering

and times of being tried by the fire as we are being perfected.

NOT SAYING ABUSE IS EVER ACCEPTABLE!

But God will use whatever circumstances we are in,

to purify and try us and to prepare us as the spotless bride.

And He WILL use (and turn) EVERYTHING

FOR OUR EVENTUAL GOOD!

“And we know that all things work together for good

to them that love God,

to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

(Romans 8:28)

I think that in a Christian marriage, abuse is somewhat worse,

in that the offender HAS (AND KNOWS) the Truth/God.

You worship as one!

(I am able to sincerely pray for my ex now, and ask God's mercy for him.

I am concerned for him now, and prays he makes it to Heaven.

And I have forgiven him...

Odd... I still hold a certain tenderness for Him...

for the times that were good...

He wasn't bad all the time....

(We were together for 25 years--a lot of milestones, good times,

life experiences, and memories, beyond the abuse.)

Hopeful Days, Long Gone Past...

All that remains are broken dreams & promises,

and faded memories & yellowed photographs

There are many ways we will suffer throughout life,

that’s what the Bible says.

He's more concerned about our sanctification (becoming purified),

than our "happiness".

He's preparing us as a bride, without spot or blemish.

The Lord said the road to Him is NARROW, and FEW there be that make it!

At this, some may be offended at the Word and turn away from the Truth,

(that they should be purified through the things they suffer.)

But it's still truth, none-the-less. And it IS in the Bible. (James 1:2)

We should count it all joy as we are being purified as gold, the Bible says. (1 Peter 1:6-8)

(Truthfully, I didn't do a very good job of considering it “joy” at the time.

It's later that we notice the dross has been burned off.)

(But, I must be really shining by now! J

"Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial,

because when he has stood the test,

he will receive the crown of life

that God has promised to those who love Him."

(James 1:12)

Also, during the relationship, the Lord showed me this:

My real spiritual breakthrough came

when God showed me that, even though I was going through

such horrible, (and undeserved) mistreatment,

I still would have to someday stand alone before the Lord,

and give an account of myself... by myself…

with no excuses, or even legitimate reasons...

(Whether my mistreatment was fair or not.)

That's when I stopped drinking.

I had begun to drink beer at home in the evenings,

so I the pain would be dulled, so I could be around my husband.

But God taught me that at the end, when I am standing alone before Him

I would have to give an account of all of my life to Him.

What I thought, what I did, what I said.

I couldn't say: "But, Lord, he did this or that to me...."

Regardless of how cruel!

I had no excuse to drink.

We can use no excuses!

I was supposed to trust and lean more on HIM, the Lord.

He already knows what we endured, and says:

"...vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord." (Rom. 12:19)

We will have NO excuses. Even legitimate ones.

It’s not that God doesn’t understand--he felt each pain we received.

But no excuses will be accepted. He gave us the Truth. He gave us His Word.

He gave us His Holy Spirit, the dwells inside of us...

Our Comforter, Our Strength, Our Shield.

It's NOT that He's not sorry for us.

It's NOT that He doesn't hurt for us.

He weeps when we weep.

Jesus had every reason to justify Himself, but He did not.

I will be accountable for myself to God alone.

Just as my ex-husband will be. (Lord, have mercy on him.)

Regardless of my circumstances, or heartbreak.

The Lord says to us, "What is that to thee? Follow thou ME."

In other words, this is about us and the Lord only.

We are still accountable to the decisions we make,

what our attitude is, how we react, no matter what others do to us.

(Read about Corrie Ten Boom.)

God’s given us the tools to weather every storm. The biggest tool?

OUR FAITH in our Faithful JESUS and HIS Living WORD.

And all we need is a mustard seed size of faith, the Bible says!!

And I was glad about that, because most of the time,

that was about all I could mustard up... :)

(Oops, I mean "muster".) :)

And this FAITH [in Jesus] helps us to:

Keep believing: when there are no changes.

Keep believing: while we yet are suffering….

Keep believing: when we stand alone,

even having lost all we hold most dear.

To keep believing--THAT is the foundation of our Christian faith.

To endure to the end!

He's PLEASED with our faith, however small.

As we submit to HIM, our faith begins to grow!

Jesus didn’t say it would be easy!

In fact, He said that He suffered, and WE WILL, TOO!

We have become such a selfish hedonistic world,

thinking we have a right to pleasure, material “happiness”, etc.

(As if that's of any true or lasting importance)

But the truth is, we are foreigners here. Pilgrims passin' through.

This world is not our home!

Jesus said we WILL have trials and tribulations!

TRUE believers, that is….

If you're not having trials, then maybe you're not really saved,

or a threat to the devil!

(Or else, your trials are just around the corner.)

But He loves us with an everlasting love.

Jesus still hurts when we hurt, He's not unsympathetic.

He's tenderhearted---and saves all our tears in a bottle, the Bible says.

His Holy Word also says He is familiar with

(Personally, intimately knows) grief and suffering.

AND He also promised in His Word that:

He WILL work ALL things for our GOOD.

THAT’S A PROMISE!

(And He ALWAYS keeps His promises!)

And we must believe that, and put all of our trust and faith

in Him and the promises in His Word.

HE is our saving grace!

(Where else can we go?)

(Surely not the bottle... or drugs... sex... material things, or whatever

doesn't last, satisfy, or take away the pain.)

The Bible says that He's come to HEAL THE BROKEN HEARTED:

"The LORD is close to the brokenhearted

and saves those who are crushed in spirit."

(Psalm 34:18)

"He heals the brokenhearted

and binds up their wounds."

(Psalm 147:3)

Jesus said:
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me [Jesus],

because he hath anointed me

to preach the gospel to the poor;

he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted,

to preach deliverance to the captives,

and recovering of sight to the blind, (to include spiritually),

to set at liberty them that are bruised…"

(Luke 4:18)

There's also:

He has promised BEAUTY, to replace the ashes!

the OIL OF JOY, for mourning,

the GARMENT OF PRAISE, for the spirit of heaviness…

(Isaiah 61:3)

As in Joseph's betrayal, mistreatment, and imprisonment:

What was meant for bad,

God again promised us He would use for our good.

“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good

to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”

(Genesis 50:20)

And let's not forget faithful Job,

who was more than repaid for everything he suffered and lost.

He said:

“Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him…”

(Job 13:15)

AMEN! Thank you, Jesus! That is the cry of my heart!

And here's another promise:

“And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten”

(Joel 2:25)

I'm still holding on to all these promises in His Word.

I may not see all of them come to pass in my lifetime,

but they WILL come to pass, because God’s Word is Truth.

His name is "Faithful and True".

And to make it till the end,

we must firmly place our trust in Him...

with ALL our hearts,

NO MATTER WHAT!

I learned that I would have to fully put my trust in Jesus,

Regardless of the hardships, loneliness, and heartache

that still comes my way.

He is either Who He says He is or He isn’t.

And all my hope is in Him! In fact, He is my only hope.

This was a time of real testing of my faith, and still is.

(I’m still praying for the Lord to restore what the locusts have eaten.)

It was at this point I began to truly grow spiritually in the Lord, closer to Him:

realizing that I was accountable to God alone,

regardless of others wronging me, or the "fairness" of life...

Something else I learned:

That it was very easy to overlook my own faults and sins,

when I had such glaring, horrendous ones continually heaped upon me.

The pain was so huge, that it "blocked my view".

[Understandably, I was in a self-preservation mode.

It was 20 yrs later, when I was freed from Egypt…

oops, I mean agreed to the divorce. J

that the Lord tenderly begin to show me some areas

I didn't previously see, which I needed to change,

for Him... my sweet gentle Savior and Lord.

(And He's NOT a hard taskmaster.)

Now, after all those years,

when someone is in a similar marriage situation,

I counsel them partly like the pastors counseled me,

that: yes, God hates divorce--this is truth.

BUT, I POINT OUT:

HE ALSO HATES ABUSE JUST AS MUCH!!!*

There was only one pastor in 20-some years,

who had the courage to tell my ex, that this abuse needed to stop.

(Thank you, Pastor Russ.)

My ex was even on the church board in another church,

and then go home and abuse me, his wife.

I even spoke to this pastor about this, but he did nothing.

He and my husband were "buds".

(Later this pastor would lose his pastorship due to infidelity.

We tend to excuse sin, if we are practicing it ourselves.)

Every person must decide for her/himself about divorce.

Divorce is very serious, & should not be taken lightly.

(Two become one--this is a spiritual thing that happens.

When I was divorced, I actually felt like my heart was being pulled apart.

Two, was no longer one. It felt like a part of me was gone.)

Also, the fact is that marriage is the example the Lord uses

to describe His relationship with us.

We are His bride.

And we don't want to tarnish this precious image.

But I have many regrets staying in an abusive marriage,

like what it has produced in my now grown beloved children.

To have a “dad” to profess the Lord, knows the Bible,

goes witnessing, and is on the board of the church, etc.,

and then see the wicked way he acts in anger at home...

It’s confusing for children.

(Note: beware the double-minded man! James 1:8)

Sometimes my grown kids are not sure of the Love of God,

and have trouble with trusting, anger, and depression

even today into their adulthood.

To be frank:

I wish I had trusted instead, in God’s forgiving power and grace,

and left the marriage earlier, at least for the kid’s sake (And mine!)

Yes... it's true: God hates divorce.

But NOW here is the rest of the scripture.

EXAMINE THIS:

“I hate divorce," says the LORD God of Israel,

→AND←

I HATE a man's COVERING HIMSELF WITH VIOLENCE*

as well as with his garment,” says the LORD Almighty.

So guard yourself in your spirit,

and DO NOT break faith.”

(Malachi 2:16)

WOW! Isn't now isn't THAT interesting?!

And violence doesn't have to be physical.

In the "Free Dictionary" online, it says

"violence" also means: "Abusive or unjust exercise of power."

And if you're treating your wife bad, you already "broken the faith" anyway.

(If I understood then, what I know now.)

Why did no one ever point that out to me?

(As in, those in leadership?) Do they just not KNOW?

Do they just not understand?

Oh Lord...please TEACH them!

In this area that is destroying marriages, children, families--society.

For a long time, I never noticed that second part in there.

How often are we taught the rest of that scripture?

(Well, at least the churches I went to didn't.

Don't know why I never noticed.

Probably because the other part is preached on so much.

God is with us, beloved.

Whatever decision we make, He is with us:

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;

I have summoned you by name; you are mine.

When you pass through the waters,

I will be with you;

and when you pass through the rivers,

they will not sweep over you.

When you walk through the fire,

you will not be burned;

the flames will not set you ablaze.

*For I am the LORD, your God,

the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.”

(Isaiah 43:1-3)

Thank you, Lord

Please, I still covet prayer for my children (and grandchildren)....

and me: I'm still looking for work

Love,

~Song

P.S. If you want, you may check out a few of my songs (lyrics)

that I wrote while going through this.

CLICK HERE for a sampling of my SONGS (lyrics).

"Crucified, laid behind a stone.
You lived to die, rejected and alone,
Like the rose, trampled on the ground,
You took the fall, and thought of me,
Above all."

(Lyrics from “Above All” by Michael W. Smith)

CLICK HERE to listen to "Above All"

National Domestic Violence Hotline :

If something about your relationship with your partner scares you (or affects your self-esteem), or if you need to talk, call

the National Domestic Violence Hotline at:

1-800-799-SAFE (7233)

or 1-800-787-3224 (TTY).

Website: http://www.ndvh.org/index.php

CLICK HERE For: Red Flags to an Abusive Relationship

CLICK HERE for a GREAT site for emotional & spiritual healing, by REV. K.A. BROWN.

SOME QUOTES BY REV. K.A. BROWN:

"Being a Christian is all about faith triumphing in the presence of doubt."

"Adversity is a fact of life. It can't be controlled.

What we can control is how we react to it."

"Character can’t be developed in ease and quiet.

Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened,

vision cleared, ambition inspired, and success achieved."

"One of the secrets to contentment is the realization that life is a gift, not a right."

"Contentment is not the fulfillment of what you want,

but the realization of how much you already have."

"Faith will work in your heart even when there are doubts in your head."

"God’s judgment sees the sins you have done,

but God’s mercy sees what you can become."

"Be a prayer warrior, not a prayer worrier.

A prayer warrior walks in the authority of Jesus."

"God understands your prayers

even when you can't find the words to say them."

"Prayer is not getting God to do your will.

Prayer is getting you ready to do God's will."

"There will be no crown bearers in heaven

who are not cross bearers on earth."

“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.”

(From: http://spiritualsurvival.org)