Reflecting About Child Abuse - Living Missionally
Sunday after Thanksgiving (the first since my abusive parent has been dead), I reflected:
“God did not allow me to live through the horror of my childhood to not let it impact what I would do for His glory. He calls me to serve, to love, and through all I do to make Him known."
Acts of love show God to those who may never enter a church or hear the Bible read. We are not to be preachy, but loving. Not correcting, but comforting.
In this world suffering abounds. Many hang on to life by a thread--feeling they have no worth, no purpose, and no hope.
God allows us to endure suffering, so that when we get through it and, for the most part have had the time needed to heal, we can turn to others and lend a hand showing the light of hope. I long to live my life missionally. It is precisely now that I am determining how does God desire for me to live to serve Him most effectively.
I want to be the smile, the warm glance and the sincere hug for people who have been crushed by evil done to them.
When God is ready to move in a life, I will be there to reassure that people need to know Jesus, that He will ultimately be the One to talk with them, comfort them, and walk with them every minute of their life. But God reveals Himself in His timing, when people are ready.
_____________________________
I am coming to a point in life that I accept who I am.
I know that I will always have a child-part of me that is tenderhearted, playful, and able to wonder. This part gets me distracted and frequently keeps me from staying on task and fully accomplishing tasks.
Is this a split personality? Is it a broken part of my psyche? Or is it a blessing -- a God-gem?
He says unless we become like children we will never enter the kingdom of God. Maybe when a child is not allowed to be a child, this person’s soul remains like a child, in part. The child did not grow up, become disillusioned and go away.
I do not know for certain but I am able to accept not knowing.
Resting in what is.
Faith, not doubt.
Believing in God - who is the source of hope for our future.
(photo credits: mint lights, orig11, all on divinatory)
“God did not allow me to live through the horror of my childhood to not let it impact what I would do for His glory. He calls me to serve, to love, and through all I do to make Him known."
In this world suffering abounds. Many hang on to life by a thread--feeling they have no worth, no purpose, and no hope.
God allows us to endure suffering, so that when we get through it and, for the most part have had the time needed to heal, we can turn to others and lend a hand showing the light of hope. I long to live my life missionally. It is precisely now that I am determining how does God desire for me to live to serve Him most effectively.
2 Corinthians 5:18 - Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation...
I want to be the smile, the warm glance and the sincere hug for people who have been crushed by evil done to them.
When God is ready to move in a life, I will be there to reassure that people need to know Jesus, that He will ultimately be the One to talk with them, comfort them, and walk with them every minute of their life. But God reveals Himself in His timing, when people are ready.
_____________________________
I am coming to a point in life that I accept who I am.
I know that I will always have a child-part of me that is tenderhearted, playful, and able to wonder. This part gets me distracted and frequently keeps me from staying on task and fully accomplishing tasks.
Is this a split personality? Is it a broken part of my psyche? Or is it a blessing -- a God-gem?
He says unless we become like children we will never enter the kingdom of God. Maybe when a child is not allowed to be a child, this person’s soul remains like a child, in part. The child did not grow up, become disillusioned and go away.
Matthew 18:3 (Jesus): said, "Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven._____________________________
I do not know for certain but I am able to accept not knowing.
Resting in what is.
Faith, not doubt.
Believing in God - who is the source of hope for our future.
Jeremiah 29:11 - 'For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.
(photo credits: mint lights, orig11, all on divinatory)
Comments
I just checked in with your blog, and was both heartened and also sad to see the posts from the last several months. I pray that you are stabilizing after such a difficult year. Lots of changes.
Nonetheless, I am happy to see that you have been posting again.
I was also blessed to see your reference to my message to you some time ago. I wish to contact you, and indeed I am in the States for a few weeks...but alas, I am a very VERY private person.
(Ok, truth be told, I am a very fearful person. Most people who know me wouldn't believe that, since they see my "public" presentation. But as you know, those who are an abuse survivors often have the ability to wear a public mask that looks very "put together" and confident...all the while, struggling with the invisible pain and fear that keeps them emotionally crouching in a corner.) Sorry for the rambling.
I will pray for you as you head into the Christmas season. I would covet your prayers, too...though I know it's not easy when you don't even know my name. Nonetheless, if God prods your heart at some time, please pray for...
Your anonymous Tanzanian friend