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Gods Breath…My Words

Posted on by Mindy L

You know the song ‘This is the air I breathe’ and others like it talking about our breathe given to us by God?

We sang one of those songs in church this week. I don’t remember the song’s title but that isn’t important. What is is the deep understanding God did as we sang about Him giving us breathe in our lungs.

As I sang God showed me how precious and powerful my words are to Him. Without Gods breathe in my lungs I have no ability to speak words. I’m borrowing His breathe to live and breathe- also to speak.

Words are simply sounds with breathe. Language is the ability to repeat those sounds and marry them to actions so we can communicate and understand one another. I may be over simplifying this but this is how I was putting all this understanding together today in my journal.

Without breathe – Gods breathe He gave me – I cannot speak or communicate with others. This means the words I speak I’m borrowing His breathe to speak them and that gives me great pause to consider what I’m about to say.

Much like our money and other resources- all given by God and all can be taken away – so is our breathe, the air I breathe. It too can be taken away. And one day my life will stop on this earth.

Until then how am I using His breathe? To honor, build up and worship leading others to the Lord by my speech? Or am I tearing down and misusing the very breathe He has given me?

This has deep meaning to me as I consider all the verses talking about our speech and tongue and the condition on our heart that effects our speech.

My prayer is:

May Your Word dwell richly in my heart. May the peace of God rule in my heart richly so the words I speak match, agree with, and align with Your words.

What Our Speech Reveals…

Posted on by Mindy L

First day into my word FOCUS and God speaks.

I decided to read though the Psalms again.

Psalm 1:2

But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night.

How will I know when my focus is NOT on the Lord? I will not be delighting or taking pleasure in His ways. When my focus is on God and His ways my speech will match. The uttering of my heart to others will be in sync with Gods word. Out of the heart the mouth speaks.

The result:

V3

He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.

When my delight is in God I shall be established by the word, bearing fruit in season and never thirsting or drying up.

Whatever I do will be fruitful. Even in the off seasons of my life. My speech will always be graceful and seasoned with salt because my heart is centered, concentrated and anchored in Christ.

Now to apply this…! To train my thoughts…take them captive unto the obedience of Christ so I will remain focused on Him.

I totally get these truths but to live them out is where the hard work comes in.

Kindness is Mercy

Posted on by Mindy L

Proverbs 21:21

He who follows righteousness and mercy finds life, righteousness and honor.

Several months ago I started reading The book of Mark. I wanted to study more about Jesus as the Servant. I know how I define a life of service, I wanted to learn how Jesus lived as a Servant. I’ve always found it a curious thing that Mark focused on that aspect of Jesus’ life.

In addition to this, I’ve been focusing on kindness this year. I often find I’m not kind. I have a mean streak in me. Yet, I’m very attracted to kind people and God has been showing me this is an area He wants to sanctify in my life.

As I read the above Proverb I was curious what the word mercy meant in the Hebrew. So, I opened the Blue Letter bible app on my phone to look at its original meaning.

This word means kindness.

Then the Holy Spirit made a connection in my brain with Jesus the Servant.

Mercy is to give kindness where kindness is NOT due. Jesus served mankind in giving us mercy. He healed, supplied needs in abundance, fed, taught truth, and ultimately died for our souls. He served us with kindness…mercy. He served the Father by listening to Him, seeking Him and being obedient to all the Father desired.

I love the Word. I love how I sought truth in the book of Mark and God revealed the truth I was seeking in Proverbs.

What I’m learning is serving others is best done with mercy/kindness. Kindness that originates from the heart. Kindness that speaks truth with love when it isn’t popular. Kindness that sacrifices myself or my goods for the benefit others. Kindness shown to the Father in being obedient to Him when it isn’t popular because ultimately, it serves those who are watching me, to point them to Jesus. Kindness is forgiving others in the midst of the pain they cause.

For some kindness is knit within them, for others (such as myself), I have to work hard at it. This is what makes us unique and special. It is why we need each other to fill our gaps, of which I have many.

Some people have kindness knit in them-others have to work at it. Some are kind without thinking about it, others have to really put effort into it.

Ultimately, I’ve come to understand living the fruits of the Spirit are similar to getting good grades in school. Some of us never study and get straight A’s, while others of us study, study, study and get C’s. I’ll keep studying so on the day I see the Lord I will hear, “Well done good and faithful servant.”

Leaders Perspective – Facing the Dark, Hidden Secret of Abortion: Part 1

Posted on by Mindy L

“Can I come to one meeting, then not come to the next if it gets too hard then show up at a later meeting?”

J. didn’t think she could handle the emotional journey she was signing up for in the Forgiven and Set Free bible study. The above was one of her questions as we communicated by phone prior to our first group meeting. The fear in her voice was palatable. During J’s initial group session, she shed many tears as she shared some of her story with us.

For several weeks I would reach out to her in between our sessions. She had a lot of questions about the things she was feeling or the thoughts mulling about in her head so, we would spend time chatting and sorting through them. While the details of her story are unique to her, the feelings she was processing through are universal to nearly all women who struggle with a past abortion experience. Fear, shame, guilt, anxiety, thinking she is all alone, thinking something is wrong with her because she can’t get past how she feels, engaging in negative self-talk, and thinking she must remain silent because others will reject her. These are all common and normal emotions and thoughts for a woman with an abortion in her past.

After week four I was pretty confidant all the participants would finish the study. Little did I know the warfare and breakthrough on the horizon for J. She came to group for week five with a story to tell. I cannot do her experience justice, but I will give it a go since it’s important for you to know how powerful your prayers were which covered her.

J. had been talking with a close friend about the group and sharing some of what was she was learning about God, herself, and her abortion. Her friend was misinterpreting J’s information as something that was negative for J. As any good friend would do, she encouraged her to leave the group. Quit! J. considered her point of view and prayed. J. was angry, hurt, confused, depressed and anxious about what to do. Then God showed up. He met her in her confused state, settled her heart with understanding that she was going through this study to be free of the many years of shame that cloaked her, grow in her relationship with the Lord, and give her child some dignity.

It’s important to understand, at this point in the study, she had not made a connection with her child. Yet, she clasped a hold of what God was showing her, drew off His strength with renewed enthusiasm and hope.

Abortion Recovery is the Hardest Journey A Woman May Ever Take but This Journey Has a Rich Reward at the End

Posted on by Mindy L

I like to describe going through an abortion recovery bible study as a journey similar to hiking the John Muir Trail (JMT). Disclaimer: I’ve never hiked this trail, nor do I ever see myself doing so. However, I’ve watched many YouTube videos of others who have.

Hikers will take up to three weeks to complete this trail. They will hike 221 miles, have a total elevation gain/loss of 46,000 feet (yes, I typed that number correctly), the trail is difficult to strenuous crossing over 11 mountain passes, many of them over 12,000 feet. Hikers will scramble over large rocks, endure lightning, sun exposure, heavy rain, snow and icy mountain paths with steep drop offs. While I would never enjoy this kind of a journey, I also won’t experience the incredible views, amazing landscape, and crispy-clear stargazing from those mountain peaks.

Much like the JMT, the bible study the ladies journey through can be emotionally strenuous at times. It is never easy dredging up a secret wrought with shame. There is an internal fear of being consumed by the truth of what they have done. We lead them gently and confidently, helping them overcome the challenges they face. It is a privilege to guide them on the path to their Father’s arms, battle earnestly in prayer against the lies of the enemy, and listen to their sorrows as they grieve for their baby. Those that finish are giddy with excitement because they’ve conquered their fear, grown closer to God, and have inexpressible joy as they behold the breathtaking views of freedom from the mountain top.

While we have the honor of guiding them on this journey we know the victory is won by your prayer support. You hold up our arms and we feel it. Again, thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Testimony C.M. – Finding Understanding, Forgiveness, and Redemption Through an Abortion Recovery Bible Study Group

Posted on by Mindy L

For so many years I have walked in shame, sadness, pain and regret. I felt that no one would ever understand me. But the beautiful ladies walked with us through a journey of forgiveness and redemption like no other. They did this in such an understanding way while also making us accept the responsibility of the decision we made for our sin. I no longer walk with shame and sadness anymore. (On Leaders) They were the best. I absolutely loved them and I wouldn’t have had it any other way. They spoke about God, forgiveness and redemption in a very non judgmental way. They answered all our question and absolutely allowed us to express ourselves. (On the study) I was afraid it would be judgmental. I wondered how I would express myself for what I was going through. I was pleasantly surprised on how comfortable i was throughout the study. I would do it again and again.

Leader’s Perspective – From Fear to Freedom In Christ After Abortion

Posted on by Mindy L

S. came to us very apprehensive about facing her past. She knew God wanted her to get some help when a lady at church asked her how many children she had. That question triggered her fear, anxiety and depression because the only two children she will ever have were aborted 30+ years ago.

We talked before the group began so she could connect with me and decide if she could trust me as her facilitator. As the study progressed she experienced several breakthroughs and setbacks. There were two times I thought she wouldn’t return. Strong pray warriors, you petitioned God and He intervened on her behalf giving her the strength and courage to face the next chapter’s work and show up on zoom. There were several weeks she and I would chat about her concerns and pray together between group sessions.

The second to last chapter deals with the baby. When I was giving the homework instructions encouraging participants to write a letter to their baby assigning them a gender and a name, we could physically see her withdraw from the conversation. S. became quiet where previously she was reveling in God’s goodness. Fear paralyzes! The disciples spent three years of intimate fellowship with Christ, yet, they ran when Jesus was being arrested

That zoom lasted 1.5 hours longer than normal as myself and my co-leader let the ladies work through their fear with many tears. We reminded them of the fear they already worked through, read scripture and prayed with them. Right now you know the end of the story; that they persevered. At the time, we didn’t know if they’d return or not so once again we petitioned you for prayer.

What took place in S.’s life that week was so sweet. Before she began the chapter work on Saturday she called me so we could pray together. Sunday afternoon she called me to share the low valleys and high peaks she had gone through since Saturday. Apparently, as she was working through the study and before she reached the part where she would write her letter, God was blessing her with His word and she was encouraged to write her letters. Then several distractions came her way and she had to put the study down. Later that evening a dread of writing her letters came over her, spiraling her into a depression that kept her from church in the morning and in bed most of Sunday. She counseled herself that her children receive dignity and humanity by receiving a name, which she (their mom) can give them. What happened in that moment was powerful. She came off her bed deciding to walk in the newness of life. She brought her children out of the shadows and into the light, in the process, death lost its grip on her. Her children now have personhood. To God be all the glory.

S. and I were talking on the phone the other day and discussing what God wants for her to do. She loves children so I suggested working in the children’s ministry. She said, “I can’t, it’s too hard….” Then she stopped herself and said, “Yes, I do love working with kids, I’d love to do that.” The switch from one to the other was incredible. She has definitely received deep healing.