Letting go of your pain

We all have scars that have memories. They remind us just how we got the scars. Though the pain is gone the scars are reminders of our past. We all have been hurt by family and friends. Most people hold on to the pains of their past never letting go, or never allowing time to heal the pain. Like a sore that tries to heal we constantly pick the past (scab) by talking about it years later, never letting it heal. We keep decade old conflicts fresh. It continuously festers in your spirit causing more pain. Your scars show the healing power of God. Not just natural healing process but it also demonstrates through healing we can and should forgive. The scars should be a reminder for us not to repeat the situation. Old scars should draw us closer to God. Whatever you are holding onto from your past let it heal. Let it go and forgive. Let it be just a scar of your past! 

Nothing just happens in life

Nothing just happens in life. Ruth experienced a tragic situation, the unexpected loss of wealth, moving to a foreign country then the death of her husband and father-in-law. Enough to change a person’s life and faith forever! (Ruth 1:1-18). We focus on the incomprehensible and then convince ourselves that there is no way to recover. We take it a step further by doubting God. What tragedy have you encountered? Who have you blamed? I can’t reiterate  enough, seek God for everything! It’s during your tragic situations God can do his Greatest work. In your weakness God’s strength is made perfect and his Grace is sufficient (2 Cor 12:8-10). By Ruth changing her mindset, God was able to bless and restore everything (Ruth 4). Whatever the situation, remember nothing just happens. Take time to heal, seek God and grow. Allow God to use your tragedies  to be a blessing to yourself as well as others. 

Purpose in the pain

We all have experienced some form of pain in our life. It does not matter if it’s physical or emotional, we don’t like pain. We try to endure by pressing forward, but the relentless pain becomes a distraction. All focus is on the agony. There is purpose in the pain. God. Be reminded that God’s power is greater in our weakness. As agonizing as the situation may be please don’t give up. Find the peace of the Holy Spirit in the suffering. Here are a few verses that can help. Psalms 23, Psalms 34:18,  1 Corth.1:3-8, 1 Peter 4:12-19. 

Grief

Job just encountered the greatest lost of his life; seven children perished, all worldly possessions destroyed and sickness consumed his body from head to toe.

For some reason society believes that we should console one another by giving gifts or speaking politically correct words of condolences.  Here we read how Job's friends consoled him during his grief - by sitting silent for seven days and seven nights.

Consider your friends and family grieving; opposed of shallow words, try comforting them without speaking a word. Sit and meditate with them for one day or one hour. 

Good Morning ~ Pain, The Greatest Lesson

Good Morning! - Forgiveness will set you free!

Life has no Easy Buttons

Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize?  Run in such a way that you may obtain it.  1 Corinthians 9:24

 

Making no bones about it, we have been taught since being knee high to fire hydrants that the shortest distance between point A and B is to get there as fast as possible.  This means, taking the path of lest resistance, such as a straight line not going around the block to reach a goal or destination.   In business we often hear short cuts can lead to disasters, and much frustration.  Yet time and time again, society searches for quick fixes to riches, fame, weight loss, superficial beauty you name we want it now not tomorrow.   For many people who actually attempt to get in the trenches of life working through blood, sweat and tears find it unacceptable when whiners complain about how hard life is even though they never got off their lazy butts.  Their goal is to forever search for an Easy Button hoping some genie will pop out, making everything magically delicious!    

Over hearing a person vent about their life crisis, it prompted me to conger up this passage.  It also forced me analyze myself as an adult, my care free days are now some distant world only found in my mind, the teenage years of no fear have been replaced with doubt and worry and life is not a cake walk by no stretch of the imagination. These minute memories are like grains of sand slowly dropping through the hour glass, which finally awakens me from my zombie state realizing wow, at one point in life I was lethargic and desired the easy button too. 

The apostle Paul wrote in Corinthians, stay focused, win the prize and be prepared because the young believers of that time were led off track because they enjoyed the posh life, easy come easy go. Despite the carefree lifestyle, Paul continued to encourage the people to strive for a crown or prize by comparing life’s prize to a race in which all run but only one receives the trophy, run in such a way that you may obtain it Cor. 9:24-27.  

This race Paul speaks of is life, the one each of us run daily, the prize is life everlasting. No matter where you are right now in life there will be pitfalls, temptations, moments we want to give up and throw in the towel nevertheless we have to condition our minds, bodies, and spirits to endure this race until the end.  Like an athlete, we need to train ourselves for this marathon by reading, studying, learning as much as our mind body and soul can withstand.  This is a race for the kingdom of heaven as well as the race to accomplish God’s dreams, visions, and purpose He has bestowed each of us with.  

So what is the end result?  God gives us the victory through Jesus Christ learn to discipline yourself, pray with the spirit, pray for understanding and remember you really do have an easy button, just click it, Jesus is on the main line waiting for you to call! It’s just that easy. 

God’s Mercy, Turning Sorrow into Sapphires

Image by: VOICE Today

It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin. Luke 17:2 

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Ephesians 6:4 

Betrayal of a child

One in four girls and one in six boys are sexually abused by their 18^th birthdays. These startling statistics are numbing reminders that the innocence of children are stolen every day; voices are silenced, their cries denied and because of this betrayal, children learn to suppress grief and after years of rejection they grow into teenagers, tagged with anger issues, depression, and drug abuse. The vicious cycle continues; with a voice unheard, children hurt, hearts filled with sorrow and another life lost. 

Angela Williams: VOICE Today, CEO

This  past weekend, I attended the East Metro Atlanta Christian Writers meeting where I met a dynamic woman, Angela Williams, author, international speaker as well as founder of VOICE Today.    Through our conversation, I witnessed a person, overflowing with passion, joy and always wearing a smile.  No one could have made me believe this vibrant and energetic woman was a survivor of incest and had lived a childhood filled with sorrow.  Yet, after suffering “14 years at the brutal hands of her stepfather”, Angela finally found peace and direction through God and was able to go from Sorrow to Sapphires  , the title of her book which illustrates how suffering became a pathway of healing for many people.  From her pain Christ gave her a testimony which led to purpose and from purpose to Angela’s passion which birthed a crusade to break the silence and cycle of child sexual abuse through her grassroots non-profit organization, VOICE Today www.voicetoday.org . 

In life,  people find themselves suspended over perplexed situations, abusive relationships, or depression, all can cause frustration and disappointment.  In the midst of these storms they are prompted to cry out to God even question where is He during their hurt.  Doubt penetrates the spirit sucking what microcosm of confidence inside.  The enemy adds insult to pain by pressing down until it feels as though you are dead and leaving your heart in despair.  (Psalms143:4) You are under attack.  Jesus Christ told His followers to take His yoke for His burden is easy.  During your darkest hour when it appears there is no hope, allow Christ to take all your burdens He knows what to do with them regain your self-assurance and believe again!  Sure it is easy for me to tell you how to get rid of your problems, but  just as Angela’s story and with all storms God is always there He knows your pain!  Through prayer, supplication, seeking help from churches and professionals, all things are possible through God!

While praying find the true connection with God, increase knowledge, relationship, trust, and faith in Christ anticipate God’s answers and choose not to hang on to the memories instead let go.  I’m here to remind you though the pain hurts deep, it will not last forever. Christ’s Grace is sufficient for you; for His strength is made perfect in weakness.  Angela Williams found a way to turn her pain into passion, start believing in YOU again because God is not through with you yet.

Sexual child abuse is a sick and sadistic crime if you or someone you know is suffering from any type of abuse get professional help. If the memories want go away contact VOICE Today  

Tigner J.

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It Could Have Been Worse

“I was going through some changes in my life cussin and complainin every night tellin God the way he treatin me ain't right and how I don’t deserve this then a voice somewhere came to me and said you have the audacity  to fix your mouth to disrespect how soon we forget.” 


Sound like something you have said or heard before right? In part, these are lyrics from an artist who has been dubbed a “social minded singer”, Lyfe Jennings.


While listening to this song I was touched from the raw passion of the message. It also gave me a new found respect for the creative pen of this Platinum-selling R&B singer. The song’s title is It Could Have Been Worse, though it’s a secular song there’s a spiritual message for all which illustrate what people are experiencing daily. Folk face pain and frustration which desensitize them to the point of disconnection from the life line Jesus the Christ. Every so often we need a little nudge to bring us back to a humbling state. This song is that jolt.


I want you to please click the link It Could Have Been Worse listen, to the message and feel the emotion. I want to hear back from you please reply with your testimony.


“It coulda been worse, you coulda lost everything shoulda lost everything but somebody’s watching you and gave you another chance yeah!”

Tigner J