By Joshua
Strength from God
One passage of scripture that God has continually brought to my attention through numerous people, and continues to reveal to me, is 2 Corinthians 12: 9-10:
“And He said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake, For when I am weak, then I am strong”.
I can relate to this passage Paul wrote because in my life’s experiences, when I have encountered very troubling times, which have physically and emotionally drained me, I found myself calling upon Jesus for strength. At which point I felt the Holy Spirit provide me with the necessary strength to press forward and not give up.
Looking back over the last two years when my brother and I were in the process of attaining restraining orders against our former family members who abused us, my brother and I observed our abusers, who lived an hour and a half away, in our neighborhood of residence on numerous occasions. Their goal was to intimidate and use their appearance to threaten us to keep us from attending the trial and testifying in open court about the violence and abuse we had currently lived under. However, both my brother and I, pushed through all of the intimidation and numerous threats by our abusers and testified under oath about the abuse we had sustained growing up, as our abusers sat and listened.
Receiving the 10 month restraining order by the judge was a victory that allowed me to know that I could be my own individual and no longer live as a controlled slave again. During this time of my life, my prayer was “Jesus, I am giving this situation over to you, I ask that your will would be done in this situation and I ask that you would provide me with the necessary strength to press forward and not give up.”
Jesus used this long and difficult time to teach me patience and to trust in Him, which ultimately resulted in the tremendous growth of my faith in Him. For anyone who is currently facing any sort of difficult and/or nearly impossible circumstance, never give up and continue to place your trust in Jesus Christ and allow Him to work in your situation.
By Zechariah
The Building of Strongholds…
I have lived in a constant state of fear and hopelessness for all my life. My earliest memories are not those of a happy childhood, where many remember their parents doting on them with love and affection, building a stable foundation of love, safety and trust. Those years of my life I remember spending in agony. As I would cry myself to sleep at night, I would look up to God with helplessness and ask Him why? Why was I put in this family where everyone around me was hurting me so badly? Why did certain family members find pleasure in hurting me and making me have sex with them? Why did I have to have sex with strange men who would come over to the house? Why was I beaten and forced to hurt other children who were brought over? Why was all of this happening, and why me?
The amount and degree of abuse I have sustained during my life is hard to put into words. If I were to accurately account the physical, psychological, emotional and sexually-perverse nature of my abuse, most would either choose to not believe me, or think that I was sick to even suggest that family members could be so terrible to their own child. My abusers knew this to be true, and combined with my fear of what I was told would happen to me if I were to ever tell anyone, I was forced to deal with the pain and confusion of my abuse all alone.
Even though certain family members were hurting me, I still wanted desperately to please them and receive the acceptance and admiration I wanted so badly. As my nightmare continued, day after day, year after year with no end and no escape I remember finally deciding that love was a lie and even if it did exist, I was obviously un-worthy of it.
As my abusers continued to tell me that I deserved what was happening to me and told me that God could never forgive me for the things they were forcing me to do to others, the weight of guilt, shame and condemnation became suffocating. By my teenage years I absolutely hated myself. I was angry, bitter and hardened– angry at God for putting me in this family and for not hearing my cries for help as a child– angry at myself for deserving such treatment. Self-pity became my only source of comfort. By this time in my life, I was living in complete and total defeat. I had accepted and believed what my abusers had told me all my life– I was nothing but a horrible person, who’s only purpose in life was to be controlled and used by others and to hurt other people. As sick as it was, this became my identity.
I am now in the process of overcoming the pain and mental torment from that nightmare. This process largely includes me continually making a conscious effort to stop thinking of myself as a person in bondage, and to begin thinking as a person who has overcome his abuse and is on the road to becoming all that Jesus created me to be. A scripture that encouraged me to do this is Romans 12:2 which says, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
Now, after ten months of restraining orders, where my brother Joshua and I testified in open court about the abuse we sustained and the current threats to our lives by our abusers, I am finally away from my now ex-family and part of a new family, where I and my brother have been adopted. I will never forget the moment on November 23, 2008, when the judge gave me my new last name– “Manning.” I realized at that moment, that my nightmare of abuse had ended and that Jesus Christ had given me a new life, a new name and most of all a new family that treats me as a human being with my own free will.
I was recently assaulted by one of my abusers as I was getting out of my car one night. He threatened me and told me that I’d better keep quiet about the abuse, or “the secrets” as they call them, or he would kill me. His goal was to cause me to shrink back in fear and return to all the strongholds (mindsets and attitudes) that he knows are there due to his abuse. I have a choice to believe him and those strongholds or to choose to believe Jesus Christ. I am going to choose to believe Jesus Christ.
The road to recovery from abuse like mine is long and arduous. It takes dedication and discipline in God’s word. Whenever you make a decision to undo something the enemy has gone through great lengths to establish in your life, especially strongholds in your mind, you will meet much adversity. During those times of adversity, you may be tempted to give up, saying, “things will never change.” It is times like these that we need to realize that we are actually headed in the right direction. The enemy will do whatever he can to make us believe that our situation is hopeless and unchangeable. If that means sending one of our abusers to try and remind us of our past bondage, he will. As hard as it may be at the time, the correct response needs to be to continue trudging ahead in faith despite whatever emotions or feelings may be triggered by the attack. In my case, my abuser wanted me to remember all the times he controlled and dominated me when I was young and could do nothing about it. He is wanting me to react and return to those thought patterns and attitudes that were built during my many years of abuse. It is not wrong to feel emotions that are triggered. It is wrong, however to dwell on them and believe that nothing has changed just because I felt them and was tempted to shrink back.
So no matter what your circumstance may be, for those of you who can identify with what I am saying, I want to share with you scriptures that will help encourage you as you battle hopelessness in the face of renewing your mind from mindsets and attitudes due to past abuse.
- For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:4-5)
- So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. (Isaiah 55:11)
- And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. (John 1:5)
- And let us not grow weary and faint while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. (Galatians 6:9)
Dwelling on scriptures like these will get us back on track and thinking properly, even if emotions are still there, nagging us to give into them.
If we can figuratively think of a stronghold as a stone wall that separates us from the freedom to think as Jesus thinks, to see people the way Jesus does, and to see ourselves the way Jesus does, it isn’t hard to understand why the devil goes through so much effort to establish them in our minds. Jeremiah 23:29 says, “Is not My word like a fire?” says the LORD, And like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?” If walls are made of rocks and the Word of God is like a hammer, we have to be prepared to hammer away at these strongholds for a while before they fall. Even if it takes years, God’s Word says that the rocks will be broken into pieces and the walls will fall. Don’t give into hopelessness, keep hammering away in confidence.
By Pastor Matthew
I wanted to take this time to write a blog that will encourage those that are finding themselves in hard times. I know there are many looking for answers when it comes to their health, their careers, their children, their financial situation, and the list goes on. I want you all to know that there is no easy fix, or simple answer to what you are going through. However, as “Christian Believers” we do have an answer that will help us get through! His name is Jesus Christ. When those in the world live their lives for the sole purpose of power, prestige, and financial riches, when those hard times come, they will see it as a horrific and scary dilemma. As children of the Most High God, we need to see these hard times, whatever they may be, as an opportunity to draw closer to our Savior, and watch Him work out each and every problem we face. Jesus wants a deeper relationship with us, and hard times make for a great opportunity for that to occur. Jesus never desires for us to go through these tough times, but He tells us that we will, and in those times we need to run to Him and allow Him to work in the situation at hand.
Regardless of how strong you are in the scriptures or prayer, at some point in your Christian life you will encounter these hardships. Jesus Himself said that we would suffer tribulation in the world (John 16:33). In some sense most believers realize this; however, when the hard times come our response to the difficulties say otherwise. How should you respond as a Christian when hard situations appear? Here are some practical tips to help keep you on the straight and narrow path.
- Be Still When bad things happen. We have a tendency to get emotional. That is not wrong at all; God gave us emotions for a reason. It is okay to feel angry, sad, disappointed, or whatever other emotions happen to develop. Just realize it is not a good time to react or respond while your emotions are on overdrive. When you react out of your emotions you will usually end up attempting to do things in your own strength, which is exactly the opposite of how things work in the Kingdom of God. The bible says in Psalm 37:7 to “Cease striving and know that He is God.” Let your emotions run their course, but do not act based on how you feel.
- Focus on what you know about God when trouble hits. The problem is not that we do not know how to focus. The problem is that we often focus on the problem, which will do nothing to solve it. The object is to not let anything become bigger in your sight than God.
- Focus on Him and what you know to be true. If you believe that Jesus is good and has your best interest at heart, allow that to give you strength to ask and trust Him for help. Unfortunately, if you fail to focus on what you know, then you will find that your solutions will be few and far in between. It is a trick of Satan to get you to focus on the problem, because then you will not be able to see the way out.
- Even after you have calmed your emotions and you have focused on Jesus, you still have to wait at times to see the answers that you received from the Lord to materialize. This can be an interesting time, and you have to make sure that all voices that compete with the Lord’s in your life are silenced. If there are people around you that are not going to walk in faith with you, limit your conversation with them concerning the issue at hand. Do not allow them to plant thoughts of failure and despair into your life. Proverbs says to watch over your heart, because from your heart flows the issues of life (Proverbs 4:23)
- When words contrary to God’s promises take root in your heart, then you find that your strength and faith will diminish, making it harder for you to see God’s provision. Do not allow this to happen. Make your environment one where the promises of God thrive.
Pastor Matthew
Copyright © LightHouse World Evangelism Inc. 2009; All Rights Reserved
By Pastor Matthew
The Shepherd’s Arm
On behalf of the leadership and volunteers of LightHouse World Evangelism, Inc., we offer our condolences to the families and friends of Farrah Fawcett who at age 62 passed away this morning, Thursday, June 25, 2009 at St. John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California, nearly three years after being diagnosed with anal cancer. According to the American Cancer Society Web site, an estimated 5,290 Americans, most of them adults over 35, will be diagnosed with that type of cancer this year, and there will be approximately 710 deaths. We wish all of her family and friends the peace of God in their time of mourning.
On behalf of the leadership and volunteers of LightHouse World Evangelism, Inc., we also offer our condolences to the families and friends of the legendary music icon Michael Jackson who has past away from a possible heart attack and coma this afternoon, June 25, 2009, at the UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles. We would like to take this time to wish all of his family, friends, and his children the peace of God in their time of mourning.
I am posting a reflection on Psalm 23 as a virtual memorial to both of these individuals that had an impact on our lives and culture. Feel free to leave any condolences you wish on either or both of these two individuals following the Psalm 23 reflection that is posted below.
Pastor Matthew
Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.
A Reflection of Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd
- God is Un-Changing
- God Created, yet He was not created Himself.
- Counselors comfort people caught in the storm, God quiets the storm
- God does not check the weather, He makes it.
I shall not want
- What I have in God, is greater than what I don’t have in life.
- All of the possessions that we have, are really not ours, we cannot take them to heaven. We just get to use them while here on earth.
- We need to be content with what we have and, not want!
He makes me to lie down in green pastures
- For sheep to sleep, everything must be right. No predators, no tension in the flock. No bugs in the air, No hunger. Everything has to be just right.
- Without a shepherd we cannot rest.
- He makes me…He leads me… Who
- The shepherd has the responsibility to select the right trail to walk down and what pasture to rest in. We as sheep must have peaceful rest.
He leads me beside the still waters
- God is not behind us yelling for us to go
- He has ran the race before us and beckons for us to come, “follow Me!”
- He tells us what we need to know, when we need to know it.
- We need to take rest, even if it is a time of trouble, and rest knowing that God is with us, and will not leave us or forsake us.
He restores my soul
- He does not reform, He restores!
- He does not camouflage the old, He restores the new.
- The Master builder will pull out the original plan and restore what has been damaged.
- He will restore energy and Hope
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
- Jesus called Himself the Good Shepherd.
- The Shepherd that knows His sheep by name and lays down His life for them.
- Sheep aren’t very smart, and tend to wander into creeks and when their wool gets really wet, they drown.
- Sheep need to be lead to calm water, as well as be lead down safe paths.
For His name’s sake
- If we want to touch God’s heart, we need to use the name He loves to hear, Call Him Father, or Daddy
- He is the Daddy who:
- Guides
- Provides
- Who’s voice brings peace in the storm
- Heals
- Banner who guides the soldiers in war
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
- For what the shepherd does with the flock, our Good Shepherd will do with us.
- He will lead us to the high country.
- When our pasture becomes dry, he will lead us to the higher country.
- He will guide us through the gate, through the wilderness and up the path of the mountain.
I will fear no evil
- Rather than turning to other sheep and complaining and murmuring, David would look to the shepherd.
- Instead of staring at the problems, he would stare at the rod and the staff.
- Don’t measure the size of the mountain, talk to the one that can move the mountain.
For You are with me
- We are not alone.
- No matter what we face, our Shepherd is with us in it and though it.
- He will never leave us or forsake us.
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me
- God has proven Himself to be a faithful Father and Daddy, it now falls on us to be trusting children.
- If you see one sheep, you have seen them all! Not true!!
- The Good Shepherd sees each sheep differently.
- Every face is special, He calls them by Name!!!!
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies
- It was the responsibility of the shepherd to prepare the pasture so animals and snakes could not hurt or kill the sheep.
- Jesus has done that for us when he conquered death, hell and the grave.
- He has gone to make a place for us at His banquet table.
You anoint my head with oil
- When we come to Jesus, w come with high hopes and a humble heart.
- Shepherds place oil on sheep to keep bugs off of them. Sheep, if they become infested will kill themselves.
- The Good Shepherd does not want today’s wounds to become tomorrow’s infection.
- For a sheep to be anointed they must lower their head.
My cup runs over
- Our cups will overflow with blessings
- God could have left this world black and white, however he gave it color.
- He desires to bring color into our life as well.
- He is a Father that wants to bless His children
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life
- Goodness to supply every want
- Mercy to forgive every sin
- Goodness to provide
- Mercy to pardon
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever
- This is not just any house, it is our Father’s house!
- Have you ever longed to be home?
- God never said the journey would be easy, but he promises to walk each day with us, and help us.
Copyright © LightHouse World Evangelism Inc. 2009; All Rights Reserved
