by Lucy | Mar 15, 2013 | biblical counseling |
Here are my top five picks for the week to give you hope! Blog posts, art/photos, music. Would you like to recommend a Top 5, perhaps your blog post? Leave your suggestions in Comments below. Thank you!
5. I’m in love love this graphic by singer Gwen Smith. Her words — wow. YOUR NOW.
4. Is my problem my thought life? This post by Susan Thomas on the Association of Biblical Counselors blog begins, “Have you ever heard the statements, “you are what you think.” Or, “if you think you can’t, then you can’t!” These statements and many like them, reflect the observation that. . .keep reading here.
3. I Who Have Nothing by American Idol wannabe Candice Glover. Powerful!
2. Ever want to run away? This post by Lysa TerKeurst spoke volumes to a friend who shared it with me the other day. Lysa begins: “You want to know one of the worst feelings in the world to me? Feeling stuck.
“Stuck in a situation where I can’t see things getting better. I look at the next 5 minutes, 5 hours, 5 days and all I see are. . .keep reading here.
1. Weebles wobble but they don’t fall down. . .or do they? My e-friend Lynn Mosher, a blogger and author, walked me down memory lane and encouraged me in this fun post. I wanna be a Weeble too! Do you? Read it here.
Blessings and Hope!
by Lucy | Mar 8, 2013 | biblical counseling |
Here are my top five picks for the week! Blog posts, art/photos, music. Would you like to recommend a Top Five, perhaps your blog post? Leave your suggestions in Comments below.
5. Stronger by Kelly Clarkson. This fun music video gets your groove on. Forgive the opening ads.
4. Inspirational graphic by writer/speaker MaryDeMuth:
3. Child Trafficking: It’s as Close as Your Cell Phone by Diana Scimone. “Want to buy a child? Want to sell one? Just pick up your cell phone and click away. . .keep reading here.
2. Impatient and Irate by Julie Ganschow. “Are you an impatient person? Do you become irritable when things take a little longer than you expected them to take, or people don’t perform according to your expectations?
Your responses may look like sarcasm, huffing sounds, tapping fingers or even. . . keep reading here.
1. Those Times We’re Scared Senseless by Jo Ann Fore. “Like some bloody-faced bad guy from a horror movie pulling me into his chest, the heavy arms of overwhelming fear wrapped me tight.
The digital radio on the nightstand glared green: 3:00 a.m.
A fuzzy apprehension gripped my brain while. . .keep reading here.
Friends, do you want more resources like these (and more to come)? Then subscribe to my Sharing HOPE blog. Fast, easy.
P.S. Feel free to recommend your favorite blogs in comments. Please provide links too. Thanks.
Blessings and Hope!
by Lucy | Mar 7, 2013 | biblical counseling, biblical counseling, emotions |
Wouldn’t it be terrific to mend your broken heart?
Today debuts the first of eight posts in the blog series, “Mending a Broken Heart.” My prayer is you’ll find hope and healing as we talk together about tough stuff like abuse and divorce and addiction and the death of loved ones. Please join me every Tuesday and Thursday for my “Mending a Broken Heart” posts.
In a moment you’ll hear from my guest blogger, Kc Christman Hutter, author of A Broken Heart.
First. . .
How We Met, Why I Care
Kc and I crossed paths online and became fast friends. She sent me her memoir.
It’s fresh, this voice, this wise voice. Her Facebook photo belies the fact she grew up in the age of black-and-white photos and record players, her heart broken and searching for peace–physical, mental, and emotional.
Isn’t it reassuring to know you’re not alone in your pain? Having a fellow traveler helps, wouldn’t you agree?
Here’s a link to read more about A Broken Heart, even get your own copy. I highly recommend it. Four stars.
Who of us has not been broken?
Who of us has not cried out in desperation for relief? for hope?
Here’s a brief excerpt from “A Broken Heart.” You’ll meet the precious red-headed girl with the green tin suitcase, all grown up and running from an abuser. I added three application questions at the end.
Anthony was a tall Italian with curly, coal black hair–and a master’s degree. I’ve always admired people with college degrees. His degree could have been story telling. Fact or fiction, he wove spellbinding words together. We became lovers.
When Honeywell hired him to work in Colorado Springs, he, asked, “Would you consider moving with me?” On one knee he added, “Marry me.”
Head over heels in love, I moved with my two sons from Minot, North Dakota, to Teeter Tottter Circle in the shadow of Pikes Peak. Little did I realize our house on Teeter Totter would live up to its name. . ..
Sunny Mornings, Dark Nights
Sunny mornings and then dark nights played out like a movie of passion and deceit. I found bottles of whiskey stashed all over the house. Six months after the move, I became the sole bread winner. After a year, I had no illusions or hope that the situation would improve.
While my two sons were in school and Anthony on the golf course, I hired a moving truck. I took my stuff, the boys’ stuff, and left his stuff–including his wet bar. We went into hiding in a condo on the other side of town.
Thank you, Jesus, for finding me a refuge away from verbal and physical abuse. No stale booze odor in our home.
Two weeks later, our quiet was shattered. Anthony had followed one of my sons home from school. Knocking at the door, Anthony said, “I want a second chance. Why did you leave me? I love you. I’m sorry. Move back.”
“No!” I replied.
He grabbed me. My blouse tore. The boys and I fled to the safety of a motel. Days later, I called my neighbor. They told me Anthony left my condo escorted by the police.
Police!
Walking into my home, it was hard to comprehend the destruction: broken whiskey bottles on the floor; brown stains on the carpet; telephone ripped from the wall and used as a hammer; pieces of glass from broken picture frames shattered on my bed; dots of his blood spattered on the walls; plants overturned and left wilting, dying; jewelry ripped apart; treasured heirlooms gone.
“We called the police because of all the racket,” my neighbor said. . ..
A gnawing gut feeling told me: Call Uncle Gay and Aunt Lou in North Dakota. They were now in their golden years.
Hearing my voice, they started crying. They asked, “Are you all right? Anthony called and told us you were kidnapped and placed in a prostitution ring in Chicago.”
About Kc and New Life
Kc was brought up in the church but did not have a personal relationship with Jesus until after her second divorce. She told the Lord in prayer, weeping and clutching her uncle’s Bible: “I’ve made such a mess of my life doing it my may. I forgot how much you love me. Forgive me.” God gave her the strength to pen a memoir and the hope to guide those who are hurting and without hope to the Mender of Broken Hearts.
Kc is married and lives in Washington State. She is the mother of two adult sons, one of whom died of cancer and is now with the Lord, and a grandmother.
A Few Questions
1. What warning signs early in their relationship signaled that Anthony may be abusive?
2. Name some pros and cons of leaving a man like Anthony?
3. Isn’t it reassuring to learn that God hates abuse? Why do you think he allows abuse to happen when he hates it?
Hope for You
My eyes are ever on the LORD, for only he will release my feet from the snare.
Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted.
Relieve the troubles of my heart and free me from my anguish.
Guard my life and rescue me; do not let me be put to shame, for I take refuge in you. (Psalm 25:15-17, 20)
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by Lucy | Feb 14, 2013 | biblical counseling |
On my wedding day, my dear friend Brenda read the love chapter. You know it.
Without love, noise.
Clanging symbols.
Resounding gong.
Without love, nothing good.
No mountain-moving faith.
No alms for the poor. No worthwhile sacrifice.
But with love, abundance.
Yes!
Love is patient and kind and truthful and protecting and trusting.
Love always hopes. It always perseveres.
Love wins.
When love wins, you win. This is why: Love personified — that is, Jesus, fully God, fully man — accomplished what only love can. It stretched its arms and invited you to receive love.
The only reason you possibly can love God or your spouse or your child or cat or dog is this: Love first loved you.
Question: How do you show love? Words? Gifts? Finding ways to help others? Please share a comment.
photo credit: NYCArthur via photopin cc
Hopefully Yours,
by Lucy | Jan 31, 2013 | biblical counseling, emotions |
I hate the Super Bowl.
I love football. Cheered the Irish alongside my dad on Saturdays. Now I tweet Bears on Sundays.
What’s the disconnect? Any big event is big business for traffickers of sex slavery.
The traffickers bus in the girls and women and boys on Super Bowl weekend. The johns pay to indulge in sexual pleasure. They don’t care about the girls. Just themselves.
The slave owners pocket the money, lots of money: $9.5 billion throughout the world each year for sex slavery, according to Born to Fly citing the FBI. Human trafficking (all types, including forced labor) ranks #2 among all income-generating syndicates. Illegal drugs are #1; illegal arms are #3.
The average of sex slaves around the world is 11 years old.
Are You Angry?
Me too. Here’s a link to a brief video. It’ll get you real mad. Righteous anger! Warning: It’s disturbing.
What should you do with your anger? That’s the big question, a hopeful question.
You can make a difference. You can help end slavery.
Occasionally I’m awakened by a dream in which I’m the female version of Chuck Norris, karate chop my way into a brothel of sex slaves, and lead them to freedom.
But dreams won’t stop slavery at the Super Bowl. Action will. You can do more to end slavery than you might think.
How You Make a Difference
First. pra
y. Pray for the johns, the slaves, the traffickers, and the authorities. Pray how the Holy Spirit leads you.
Second, become aware. More and more websites and organizations are involved in stopping sex slavery through prevention, rescue, and aftercare. A few great ones are: Free the Slaves, Born to Fly, The Exodus Road, and International Justice Mission.
Third, decide how you’ll make a difference. A few ideas:
- Financially support groups that fight sex slavery.
- Discuss the book God in a Brothel (endorsed by many Christian leaders) in your Sunday school class or small group.
- Blog about sex slavery. The Exodus Road has a team of bloggers you might consider joining. Of course you can blog on your own.
- Involve your church’s youth group in a fundraiser to support organizations that prevent, rescue, and/or provide aftercare to sex slaves.
Remember, you can change your world because Christ has changed you.
Let’s start by praying during the Super Bowl. Are you game?
photo credit: furanda via photopin cc
