After identifying our Fool, we may ask ourselves “Now What!” We can once again turn back to the wisdom of scripture to learn how to respond while heading its warning. Proverbs 24:25: “Do not make friends with a hot-tempered man, do not associate with one easily angered, or you may learn his ways and get…
An abuser may be male or female from any culture or from any racial or socio-economic background. They may appear normal, charming, or religious. They may be the usher, the elder, or even the pastor at your church. Abusers come from all walks of life. Each abuser though does exhibit certain common traits. These traits…
Set aside the church’s self-prescribed “principles and practices”, and search the living Word to find out what Jesus would do. Here are some things Jesus would not do:
Dear Pastor, Since 1995, FOCUS Ministries, Inc. has been reaching out to women who are struggling in abusive and dysfunctional relationships. Most of them belong to churches like yours. They sit in the pews on Sunday morning alongside their abusive husband. Perhaps you are unaware that behind the smiles and handshakes is a secret that…
Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. James 19-20 NIV All of us have from time to time said things that we later regret. Emotions run high and anger comes to the surface. There are,…
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:16-17 NIV This familiar passage of Scripture…
After years of emotional and verbal abuse directed at my children and me and physical abuse directed at the children when they were younger my husband finally consented to go for counseling–he admits to being backslidden but agreed to go for Christian counseling. Much to my surprise the sessions have not been about his issues…
Close your eyes for a moment. Can you just picture God giddy with excitement as he was molding and shaping you in your mother’s womb. Picture Him with a twinkle in His eyes singing as he worked. And just before you were born He passed that twinkle as a special mark of his perfection on…
When someone has sinned against us, we must choose our response carefully. We may hear various voices from church leadership claiming to know what we should do. Forgive and forget are often the words they choose to say followed by a forceful push toward reconciliation. This approach places a heavy weight of guilt on the…
Dear God:Please untie the knotsthat are in my mind,my heart and my life.Remove the have nots,the can nots and the do notsthat I have in my mind. Erase the will nots,may nots,might nots that may find a home in my heart.Release me from the could nots,would nots andshould nots that obstruct my life. And most…