Works of God Weekend - The LORD alone gives and takes PART 2

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This morning at church one of the readings was 1 Timothy 6:7 as well as several verses afterwards

I found it amazing that i have been mediating on a very similar verse since hearing about Kate

“We didn’t bring anything into this world, and we won’t take anything with us when we leave.”

The verse before this one (1 Timothy 6:7 ) tells us that reglion makes our life rich - makes us content with what we have

The verse after it tells us to be satisfied

The things that keep running though my mind is

• God is in control
• He is the giver of all the things we have
• We are nothing without Him

I ended up crying on several friends at church.  I feel somewhat useless.  I feel so far away from my dear cousin.  I want to wrap my arms around her and give her a hug

Works of God Weekend - The LORD alone gives and takes

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Job 1:20

When Job heard this, he tore his clothes and shaved his head because of his great sorrow. He knelt on the ground, then worshiped God 21and said:

“We bring nothing at birth;

we take nothing

with us at death.

The LORD alone gives and takes.

Praise the name of the LORD!”

22In spite of everything, Job did not sin or accuse God of doing wrong.

This weekend yesterday in fact these verses really hit home to me

Yesterday I rejoiced and mourned

In the morning I learnt of this little ones birth

In the late afternoon and evening I learnt of Kates death

In Loving Memory of Kate

I have a wonderful cousin in the UK

she had a house mate

Kate had cancer it ended up being everywhere throughout her body

She lived 6 years longer than her doctor though she would

Please Pray for my cousin

Kate was her life up until almost the end

They had been friends for years

Kates funeral is on the 5th of October.

I feel so far away from my cousin who lives in the UK

Rest in Peace Kate - Theres no more pain now

The Yada Yada Prayer Group - Book Review

have just finished my 7th book in this challenge

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Another really good book as I had thought it would be. As its written by Neta Jackson. She and her hubby also wrote the Hero Tales Series.

When a group of women go to a Womens Conference they are put into a prayer group and their lives are radically changed because of it especially Jodi’s. When I finished reading this book I gave Mr Wonderful a HUGE hug Jodi has to undergo something we have been through and this book reminded me how much I love Mr Wonderful and how faithful God is. This book also testifies how much prayer helps too.

Encylopedia of Me Z is for . . .

Z in the Deafblind Manual Alphabet

I learnt the whole of the Deafblind Manual Alphabet when I was at school. I have never forgotten it.

Here is the rest of the alphabet

I have used it once or twice when Mr Wonderful and I have been at the hot pools. He couldnt wear his hearing aids in the water. I dont know any other sign language but we were able to communicate in this way.

Mr Right - Mr Wonderful Happy Birthday

Got this meme from Barb

His age? 38 today

How tall is he? 5 foot 8

How long have you been together (married)? 3 years

How long did you know each other before you got together? about a month or so

What physical features attracted you to him first? his eyes, the way when he wears his glasses he kinda reminds me of John Denver

Eye colour? blue

Hair colour? brown with grey highlights

Hair style? short

Normal outfit? jeans and a tshirt

How did you meet? on-line in a New Zealand dating site. Then we met in Rotorua. Then I went down to the Bay a few days later to surprise him for his birthday

How serious is it? very

Are you “in love”? yep

Do your parents like him? They’ve never met him, they refused to

Do his parents like you? yes and I love them

Do you trust him? of course :). Otherwise I wouldn’t still be with him

Would you share a toothbrush with him? No (shakes head and pulls a face). I love him but I do draw the line

Would he let you wear his pants? they wouldn’t fit me LOL. Hes slimmer than I am!

Do you have a shirt of his that you sleep in? I have been known to sleep in his PJs

Do you like the way he smells? When hes got after shave on yessss and he knows it

Can you picture having kids with him? I’ve done that - My Little Man and while he’d like to have more with me. Ive found its too hard at my age. I want to get on with my life and career. I didn’t go to uni for nothing. He respects that. Hes very grateful to have our boys. He didn’t think he could father children because of his disabilities now we have our little boy.

What bothers you the most about him? Hes a bit hypercondreact (I think he gets it from his mother).

Does he have a temper? No he’d rather sit down and talk about any problems

Are you to be happy with him? yep

Does he embarrass you in public? no he makes me more comfortable in public

Does he have any tattoos? no

Does he have any scars that you know of? His shoulder from an op

Is he a party dude or a stay at home? stay at home. He finds loud music plays games with his hearing aids

Is he outgoing or shy? Outgoing which is something I value. He knows lots of people and can talk to others easily. I’m more quite than he is. Id love to be like him and my boys and be able to chat to others easily and walk into a room of people I don’t know and make friends

Does he love his mama? He doesn’t like everything she does but he loves and worries about her. Shes made him the person he is today. He had a difficult childhood with his hearing loss etc and she worked with him loads so that now even though he has a 80% hearing loss you’d hardly know.

Would he hang out with you and your friends?Yes and he does.

Sing? Yep he wouldn’t make a living from it but its ok we share the same love of music

Mr Wonderful LOVE YOU

Lets Put A Stop To This

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Today I wish to discuss this form of abuse. Before I start I wish to say that I know there are good men out there. Ive finally found one. I have also heard that some women do this to their men. However for the sake my discussion I am going to make men the perpetrators and women their victims.

 

I like many others are hoping that by doing this we can stop even just one person from committing these crimes. It is a crime and its not right to treat others unkindly. These people are bullies.

 

I also hope that by writing this I can open your eyes to what is happening in our neighborhoods. Domestic violence is sometimes hidden. The women dont want this happening. After all they love or have loved their men at some stage in the relationship. They may have been so abused that they begin to think its their fault. This is a form of mental abuse. Abuse doesnt just have to physical. It can also be emotional and mentally committed. These men can play games with your emotions and thoughts. Sometimes by simply asking your neighbor if she is ok can get her talking about what is happening to her.

 

I am reminded of a kindy teacher who asked me if I was ok. Id held it together somehow before that. I ended up crying all over her. But theres nothing wrong with that and it brought me to the stage where I was able to do something about my situation.

 

We need to start caring about our neighbors again. Like in the old days. We need to reach out.

You might be that person that helps and cares enough to make a difference in someones life.

 

I also hope that by writing this I might be able to give you the courage to take the same stand I have taken twice. Say enough is enough. And get out of your miserable life.

 

My story

I have been in 2 abusive relationships with men. One was with my older sons father. The other with a man who turned out to be an ex-manslaughter of a little girl. I say ex because he had served his time. But he hadnt changed much. I will never forget the day I found out who he really was. I lived with this man for 3 months and put my children in danger.

 

My oldest sons father

I started going out with him just after my marriage broke down. We had been friends for years before that. He seemed nice. Abusers often do appear nice in public. They are like Mr Jerkel and Mr Hide. After sometime we moved from my hometown to Christchurch. Abusers like to isolate their victims. Later others told me they could see he wasnt treating me right even before we moved. I couldnt see it then. It wasnt long after moving to Christchurch that things began to turn ugly. He would belittle me in the supermarket. He would throw things like plates across the room at home. We argued. He played with my mind and my feelings. I put up with this for months and months. I remember having a shower when I was preggy with my oldest son and thinking sadly this was going to be my last baby. Although I hadnt fully admitted it then I knew I wasnt going to have anymore babies with this man. Soon after my son was born he wanted another one I said not yet knowing fully well it wasnt going to happen. It still took a year to decide enough was enough. I still had to go through post-natal depression first. What brought me to the point where I decided to end this? One day we were arguing and he pushed me backwards with his hand on my chest across the room until I ended up sitting down on the couch. While he only ever touched me once it was enough. He left and I started making plans. As he was leaving I heard a voice. The voice told exactly what to do. It wasnt my oldest sons father he was gone for the meantime. And this voice was kind of different. Within days I went to an outer country area of Canterbury and stayed with relatives of his. Unbeknown to all of them especially the abuser (he never saw the end coming) I rang womens refuge and left.

 

The 2nd time

My second experience occurred 7 years after leaving the first one. I felt real bad after it happened again they felt like wasted years where I thought I had moved on. However I learnt a lot going through it again. This man seemed nice in the beginning too. But it started very quickly this time. He always wanted his own way. Abusers are very selfish. He too would throw things around. He had no respect whatsoever for any of my belongings. One night he smashed my cellphone to bits with a hammer. He reckoned if he couldnt get hold of me on it then I shouldnt have it. He threw the kids bikes around. He ripped power plugs out of the wall. He reckoned if my kids werent mothered better theyd end up in prison or living lives as whores. I was with this man for 3 months and they were the longest 3 months of my life. We were all scared of him. I remember the kids cowering in one of the bedrooms under the desk. I begged him to behave. I told him about my first experience. It made no difference. One day we were at some swimming pools in South Auckland and he reckoned it was time to go. We had brought both our cars. I insisted we were going to stay longer. He grabbed our bag, thankfully the kids were already dressed. He stormed out I followed him. I fought for my bag in the car park. It had my car and house keys, my clothes and towel in it. I lost the battle and he took off. I gathered my kids and spent the next several hours trying to get home on a Sunday on a bus. I was only dressed in my togs. It was cold and Id had enough. When we got home and after I had broken into my own house I found a note saying he was leaving me. It doesnt matter who left who. I would have done it had he not. Apparently I wasnt obedient enough. I rang him and begged him to come back. I wanted my car back it was the only thing on my mind. I was begging him in a ploy to get my car. He wouldnt come. I rang friends and eventually got my car back. South Auckland is not a good place for a isolated car at night. The next day he came over by that time I had rang the police I had some very inportant information about him. He had been in trouble again when he was with me. When I saw him appraching the house I rang the police again. I was scared of him. It ended up with my children and I jumping though the back bedroom window and fleeding next door. He escaped for the time being. I reflect on that day although I didnt know who he was then I somehow knew he was dangerous.

 

To the Women The Victims

If this sounds too familiar to you. You dont have to live this way. Some Christians may say that marriage is for life. While this is the ideal I dont believe God would want one of his precious children living this way. We are told in the bible to look after our bodies and by staying put and putting up with your mans crap is not honoring God’s command. I also believe contrary to what others have said over the years that God actually told me to get out of that first relationship and not look back. I believe it was Gods voice I heard. I realize there are parts of the bible that call us to submit to our husbands I dont believe God means to the abusive destructive stage.

 

Be brave you will find help if you share whats going on with someone you trust. Its not your fault for the way he is treating you. We are in charge of our own actions. Stay strong and I also urge you that once you get out you seek counselling. I believe its important to learn about the cycle of abuse so you dont do what I did (after the first time) and get yourself in another abusive relationship.

 

To the Men

If my story makes you feel guilty good. Too many men have anger problems. I dont know why you feel like you have the right to treat your women folk in this way. However you guys need to address this. As I said before its not ok to treat women in this way. I am reminded of the Red Jumpsuit Apparatus song Face Down. If you dont treat women with the same respect you expect then one day it will probably catch up with you and then youll be sorry. Either that or youll end up lonely and on your own.

 

Do you know what though??? It doesnt have to be this way. I believe it takes a bigger man with much more courage to admit that your not behaving properly and taking steps to changing your behavior. Youll probably need help but it is possible and I urge you to make that stand and contact your doctor, a councellsor, a mens centre or the Citizens Advice bureau in your area today!!!

 

Encylopedia of Me Y is for . . .

Year 1970

Yogurt

I LOVE Yogurt

Youth Group

I help with the church youth group

 

I found this at one of my bloggie friends blog

Tomorrow, September 27, 1,000s of bloggers are uniting

Blogging Against Abuse in all its forms.

•    Animal Abuse

•  Domestic Abuse

•   Child Abuse

• Ozone abuse.

• Political Abuse & more….

If you want to join the cause grab a badge.   

Add it to your post about whatever type of abuse that you choose and join with bloggers around the world in this worthy campaign.

Can one person change the world? Maybe and wouldnt it be great if our posts influence just ONE person, then it’s a step in the right direction!

Come back tomorrow and help put a stop to abuse!

‘I AM’ Study Lesson Fifteen

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Burning Questions:

1. I think we can all agree most of us find ourselves closer to God in the struggle than without it. How does it affect you knowing that trial is what draws you more intimately in relationship to Your God?

I dont know about IN the struggle as I am emerging is when I tend to remember Hes there.

Last time this happened it made me feel more confident that Id see it though with His help support and love

2. Have you ever made a huge mistake but then found yourself in the position for a ‘do-over’? Did you make a better decision the second or third or fourth time around?

I suppose you could say that after repeatedly falling for the wrong type of men I finally found a gooden in Mr Wonderful

3. Is there a ‘generational sin’ in your family you have overcome? This can be anything from a lineage of unbelief to issues of many kinds. This may be a private matter. Share if you feel liberty or quietly thank God for His deliverance. If you have not yet been delivered, I pray with all my heart God’s Word is giving you courage to ask for help in that area.

There is a generational sin in our family and I am pleased both my sister and I have overcome it. We were brought up in an unbelieving home yet as adults we have both come to know and love the Lord. I give thanks that He knew me before I knew Him and that I am able to raise my boys with a loving knowledge of who He is.

4. Have you ever been misunderstood? Do you feel unforgiven for past mistakes even though you know God has forgiven you?

Yes I do feel unforgiven for past mistakes by some people. To them I will never be good enough. BUT and this is a BIG BUT it doesnt worry me though as I know my God loves me unconditionally and he has cast my mistakes far and wide. He doesnt even remember them.