Standing Firm Stop Believing Lies

It took me 7 tries to get this! I've been studying Ephesians 6:10-17 - the armor of God.
This is a very interesting study especially if you stop to look up the Greek on certain words.

The Power of the Tongue

The power of the tongue – words can damage the soul

They may not have touched me in their flesh but they beat me with their words – who you ask – that doesn’t matter, what matters is I have victory and that is the path I choose to stay on.

I thought I had gotten released from the hurt deep inside from verbal abuse, from being told I won’t amount to anything, can’t do anything right, you must stay thin or your man will leave, enjoy life now because once you grow old blah blah blah

Unfortunately, not knowing who I was in God, I believed and accepted these things into my life.

There were all kinds of people that took advantage of this and more abuse came. I thought I deserved it until I met God and He has shown me through His word and through my husband just how special and loved I am. That I am who God says I am and no longer have to believe the lies of other hurting people.

With that said, for several days now I have felt angry and hurt not knowing why. So I began to pray and darn it if my husband didn’t notice something was wrong and it irritated him and yep we had a spat but these are few and far between and we know it’s not going to bring up the D word!! We know because of who we are in Christ and that we want to love and honor God and we are committed to each other,  we will defeat the enemy this time too!

Anyway, anxiety/dizziness/lack of confidence began to creep it’s way back in – big flag for me because it’s been years!

As I prayed and the Lord began to show me things I now see that there is still a very deep hurt in me that has never been healed, never really released it’s just been covered over as I keep a smile on my face. One of my deepest hurts in our youngest daughter walking away from her family and this brings up those old lies that I thought had been put to rest.

God has healed me of so many things and they have been in stages because if He shows me everything at once He knows I could not handle it. Therefore, I’m grateful for the times of rest before we begin another cleansing, which gives me another testimony and hopefully helps someone else as it helps me.

So here I go on a journey of letting go of hurtful words that most people have no idea wounded me. And that I never should have allowed to get so deep inside me, to open up that wound again. So there is no pointing of my finger because I’ve heard it said when you point one finger forward the other 3 are pointing back at you. And I believe if we take this attitude with our brothers and sisters in Christ we will see a great advancement in His kingdom. The gossip and backbiting would stop and we would all truly work together to do what He has called us to do. We may have different personalities, likes and dislikes, different levels on our spiritual walk BUT we have a common goal…..opps I got off on another topic J maybe I’ll do one on working together in the church, what I have, what I am learning!

So whether it’s an unbeliever or a believer that speak unkind words I must remember it is not an attack on me. We all have bad days, things that have happened to us that open wounds that have not healed completely – I need to remember this could be happening to them as well. They could have  received bad news, something I did or said could have triggered a bad memory in them,  you never know what is going on.

If I know God’s Word and can pray it, speak it and forgive then that wound is going to heal, completely and that is what I want!

So I will remember Psalm 31:19-21

Oh, how great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear, revere, and worship You, goodness which You have wrought for those who trust and take refuge in You before the sons of men! In the secret place of Your presence You hide them from the plots of men; You keep them secretly in Your pavilion from the strife of tongues. Blessed be the Lord! For He has shown me His marvelous loving favor when I was beset as in a besieged city.

And

Psalm 32:7

You are a hiding place for me; You, Lord, preserve me from trouble, You surround me with songs and shouts of deliverance. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!

I was reading a book and this really jumped out at me, ‘Whether we talk to ourselves or others, speaking evil or negative words that do not agree with God’s Word can create bondage. Words that others speak about us or write against us – if we agree with them – keep us in bondage!’  From A Woman’s Guide to Breaking Bondages

Proverbs 12:18

There are those who speak rashly, like the piercing of a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

The words we speak can be a blessing or a curse, we can bring healing or hurt in the words we speak- whether to the person or behind their backs.

Proverbs 18:21a

¹Death and life are in the power of the tongue

I could go on and on but will close with

Isaiah 54:17

But no weapon that is formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue that shall rise against you in judgment you shall show to be in the wrong. This [peace, righteousness, security, triumph over opposition] is the heritage of the servants of the Lord [those in whom the ideal Servant of the Lord is reproduced]; this is the righteousness or the vindication which they obtain from Me [this is that which I impart to them as their justification], says the Lord.

And a prayer from the above mentioned book.

Lord Jesus, You knew rejection, abandonment, pain and betrayal by those close to you. So you can identify with my hurts and wounds. Yet, Lord, as you hung on that cross, bleeding and dying from wounds you didn’t deserve, You actually asked Your Father to forgive Your offenders. Lord, please help me to forgive each person who has abused, rejected, or cursed me. Right now I honestly don’t feel some of them deserve forgiveness. But because I want my relationship with You to be right, I choose to forgive and set myself free. (help me love them as you love them – I added this). Lord, I ask you to heal my painful memories. Help me to anticipate with joy what you have in store for my life, now that I’m on the road to healing. Your Word says you complete the work you start. Thank you that you will finish my healing, and that you will never leave me nor forsake me. Amen

Wedding Anniversary

Love is a symbol of eternity.  It wipes out all sense of time, destroying all memory of a beginning and all fear of an end.  ~Author Unknown


Since we do not get to see or talk to them I'm hoping Jessica and Jonathan Ballard or Joy and James Tucker will tell


Amanda and Justin Tucker


HAPPY 3RD ANNIVERSARY !!!!!


from Amanda's mom and dad - we love and miss you so very much!!!


Hope this is a beautiful day for you and little Savannah! Many more are on the way! So proud of you!!

Praying for Your Adult Daughter and/or Son and Forgiveness!

The Power of Praying for Your Adult Child

this is a book by Stormie Omartian

Our second class was even harder to keep within a time frame. All the questions in the Prayer and Study Guide, for me, make it a 3-4 class study.

Just looking up the Scripture she mentions and praying over it, checking some of the words in the Greek or Hebrew, well there’s a lot there.

So we started our time in prayer, thanking God for our children and for what He has and is doing in their lives and for changing us, opening up our eyes to things we need to change.

The question we started with was :

What is your favorite book of the Bible? and Why?

Please share your answer too.

Then I asked which of the 7 truths spoke to them the most. It was unanimous Truth 5 'You Need to Know You Have to Forgive'

and this isn't just about forgiving you children, it's about forgiving anyone that you believe has hurt your child, and forgiving yourself.

I shared about a person that really  hurt my daughter in actions and words and how I struggle with forgiveness because it could have caused great damage to her if my husband and I had not been there to help. So that has been a struggle for me on top of wondering where the heck I went wrong. And this is where satan wants us to get stuck. We have to realize God tells us to forgive as He has forgiven us. We also know there is nothing we can do about the past, we can't change it but we can learn from it, repent and move forward. God is a God of restoration and peace.

So, for me, I had to say 'I forgive .....' and when those 'feelings' would come up I would have to take authority and say 'stop, I have forgiven....' and then I would ask God to help me love them as He loves. Some people can do this once or twice and they are fine, but it was an uphill battle for me in the beginning.

Once I had forgiven I would pray this ‘I have forgiven...and I ask that you bless...., that they will be drawn to You and receive You as their Savior - help me love them as You love them.

And guess what......I mean it now! I still do not have to have a relationship with them or hang with them but I am called to forgive, pray and love.

Then those 'what did I do wrong thoughts' - there are NO PERFECT PARENTS or people out there, that's why Jesus had to come! So with that in mind, repent where you know you screwed up and accept God's forgiveness and believe Him to bring restoration in those areas. Move forward in the changes you need to make, be in in your words or your actions , and watch God move in your life and the life of your child!

Philippians 4:6 Do not be anxious over anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication along with thanksgiving let your petitions be made known to God.

Colossians 3:13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover the prisoner was you. Unknown

Anger makes you smaller, while forgiveness forces you to grow beyond what you were. Cherie Carter-Scott

As they shared things in their lives we began to see how God was moving now, in us. How He is opening our eyes to His faithfulness and greatness. How we can pray and believe His word. I'm beginning to think this is a little of God's humor because we 'see' Praying for Our Adult Children.....but it is really working on our hearts as parents.

I also found a prayer online that I shared with the ladies. Here is the link  http://www.prayers.org/viewprayer.asp?id=113

Prayer for Adult Children by Germaine Copeland

Love A Lesson Learned

I was going to work on the second class of our 'The Power of Praying for Your Adult Children' by Stormie Omartian but the Lord put it on my heart to share this first.

I really struggled with love until I did a search in the Bible and spent time with God. I'm so glad he challenged me and has kept me growing. Do I have it perfectly yet? Nope, but I'm not where I use to be either!

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Parents May Know a Little?

Have you ever stopped to think that your parents may know a 'little' of what they are talking about? Are you brave enough to read on? Will you read with an open mind? an open heart?

You see you just might want to listen a little better when they offer advice/warnings because they have lived through some of the things you are considering, some of the things you've already done.

Parents do not warn you because they want to hurt you or stop you from having fun. When my daughters were born I never said, 'I'm going to take all their joy away and expose them to all kinds of pain.' Duh NO it was more 'Father, give them a life full of joy, health, and peace'. Show me how to teach them right from wrong, to protect them from the evil in the world and to protect them but not smother them. I want my daughters to have full, wonderful lives.'

So you see (and I'm sure deep in your heart you already know) we want to protect you, guide you away from the lies, from things we've experienced or seen our friends experience. Most of us already know the consequences of certain actions and we don't want to see our children go through it, we still remember the pain of wrong actions and words.

Some of you have chosen to be offended by this.

Some parents don't always say it in the best of tones but is it really worth turning your backs on the ones that love you the most? If you have walked away from your parents, if you have done the things they warned you against and you feel they won't forgive you - that's a LIE. You both may need to let go of some pride to get past the lie BUT please return to your family. Your parents love you no matter what you have done, no matter what you have said, you can't kill the love they have for you. You will find they have their arms and hearts open just waiting for your return. Heck I'm sure they have already forgiven you so you can bodily return to your family. Love between a parent and a child is an amazing force. I'm so very honored and thankful for my daughters and I know your parents feel the same.

Don't kid yourself (parents or children) we ALL make mistakes, we all have bad judgement calls and rotten attitudes at times. So forgiveness is a two way street, it's never just ONE person that is wrong.

My challenge to you - are you adult enough, mature enough to step forward and say, I'm sorry and I love you? You can tell the person what you are sorry for if you want but I'm sure they won't even hear anything past the

"I'm sorry", they will be so full of joy and yea lots of tears so give them a break if they can't answer back right away.

What is holding you back? Go further, think about when you become a parent (maybe you are one now). What do you want for your child(ren)? It's not that much different that what your mom and dad wanted (still want) for you is it?

One day you will be looking back and saying, 'no I wasn't perfect but I did the best I could with what I had and what I knew. And my love never died, it only grew.'

Your child will know and pick up on your emotions, they will mimic you and use your excuses. Once you have your own children you will see the many changes that take place in your priorities, what you thought was important for you to have isn't so important anymore. Your parents gave you life, you taught them unconditional love, don't shut them out now. One day you will miss them, one day your child will ask you about your life and you will remember all those times your parents were there for you, took you places they didn't care to go, bought you things while they went without and thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it, would do it over again! A parents love is a pretty amazing love.

Believe me, we do not want to see you hurt or unhappy but we have learned to let go and hope you return. 

And remember our Perfect Father, He is showing us the way and we all have a choice to be blessed or face the consequences of going our own way .... “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.” Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.