Women of Worth Restoration of The Harvest Retreat

RESTORATION OF THE HARVEST RETREAT
COMING SOON TO RUSSELL COUNTY

BROKENNESS

Do you want to be restored, healed, free from your brokenness?

Brokenness is all around us. Depression, shattered dreams, divorce, death, addiction, abuse... it's not only a part of our world, it's a part of us. Whether you feel that your story is dramatic or no different than what everyone experiences, all of our pasts contain difficulties that have left permanent scars, and the baggage we carry many times holds us back from living the life we want.

No matter what your story, God is there to help us let go of our baggage and find freedom in His love.

GOD IS LIGHT

God desires for us to live abundant lives, filled with light and love. He wants us to experience the cleansing power of forgiveness; to be able to see where we are going so that we can move forward with purpose and confidence. And He wants us to not only walk in the light, but to be filled with light.

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPhone]

RECONCILIATION

Restoring Broken Relationships



Oh, the pain of a relationship ripped apart, hurting hears, needless loss. Rocky relationships can relegate us to a ditch riddled with disagreements and disputes. Whether between spouses, parents/children, friends or maybe a neighbor...it could be anyone. Reconciliation leads to the Road of Transformation, where peace and harmony are restored.

Reconciliation: is the act of settling or restoring differences. While a relationship will not always be salvaged, the spirit of reconciliation will always reflect the heart of God. That's why Romans 12:18 says, "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone."
When should we initiate Reconciliation?
Most people don't know the when. But the Bible states two specific times, much like the two sides of a coin."

-When you have wronged another

If you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother, then come and offer your gift. Matthew 5:23-24

- When you have been wronged

"If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses." Matthew 18:15-16

What paves the Road for Reconciliation

When you've been hurt, you first need to bury the hatchet in your dispute filled ditch before you can climb out. Early in America's history the tomahawk, or war hatchet, was used as a war club and hunting weapon. But when peace was forged with an enemy, a ceremonial tomahawk was buried in the ground. From this old Indian custom comes the expression "burying the hatchet" a phrase that speaks of a sincere commitment to forgive and be reconciled. Unfortunately, many people who bury the hatchet still leave the handle exposed!

1Peter 3:9 says, "Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing."

Wondering how you bury the hatchet?

Prepare your heart for seeking reconciliation. Be willing to...

-view the conflict as an opportunity for growth

-learn what God wants you to learn

-discover that you are partly at fault

-expose your weaknesses

-be open with your feelings

-risk the relationship

-pray for God's will to be done

"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful." Colossians 3:15

Know that refusal to seek reconciliation affects the intimacy of your relationship with God. Humble your heart and pray,

-Lord, I don't want to be prideful and unbending

-Lord, I want your favor on my life not your disfavor

-Lord, I want to reflect Your character and be open to reconciliation


Seek forgiveness and apologize for words that have hurt the other person.

-I have tried to see our relationship from your point of view

-I realize I've been wrong in my attitude of ___

-I am sorry.

-Will you forgive me?


If you have been trapped by what you said, ensnared by the words of your mouth, then do this...to free yourself, since you have fallen into you neighbor's hands; Go and humble yourself; press your plea with our neighbor! Proverbs 6:2-3


Recognize the ground rules of communication

-Offer unconditional acceptance

-Use words that build self worth

-Aim for mutual understanding

-Give more than you take

"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love" Ephesians 4:2

Be Kind and Gentle, trusting God to work in the heart of the other person.

-don't harbor resentment

-don't make excuses for yourself

-don't get drawn into arguments

-don't fail to pray

-don't have expectations of immediate acceptance

The Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth. 2 Timothy 2:24-25

Reflect the character of Christ in all you do. In order to prepare your heart to reflect the character of Christ, pray,

-Lord, I die to my personal rights

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20

-Lord, I die to defending myself

"The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped" Psalms 28:7

-Lord, I die to relying on my own abilities

"He who trusts in himself is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom is kept safe" Prov. 28:26

When you have been wounded in a relationship, the gauge of godly growth is having a heart of reconciliation not merely going through conflict, but truly growing through conflict.

May the spirit of reconciliation be upon your marital relationships this Valentine's Day.

Victory over Verbal & Emotional Abuse

ONLY A FEW WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT...

In JESUS, we can have victory of this type of abuse. Many abusers have no idea they are abusive. Many have no idea what verbal & emotional abuse is. We pray under our breath, "Father forgive them for they know not what they are doing".

Question: Am I the victim or am I the abuser? For either one, there is help through the Word of God.

Abuse can be perpetrated without a word, with degrading looks, obscene gestures, or threatening behaviors. Such abuse can make you feel worthless until you look to the truth in Jesus' words...

"Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of you head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." Luke 12:6-7

GRIEVOUS / GRACIOUS WORDS ?

"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen" EPH 4:29

GRIEVOUS words attack a person identity: You are wrong; You are bad; Yelling "Shut up!"; Name Calling "You stupid idiot!" "You crazy fool!"

GRACIOUS words heal when addressing a person's action: You did something wrong; You did something bad; Discussing issues "Please listen to me."; Casting a Vision "You are good at ___." "You have positive qualities."

Abuse can be subtle or blatant, quiet or loud, smooth or abrasive. Whether verbal or nonverbal in delivery, abuse always deeply impacts an individuals personal and social life.

As a victim of abuse you may experience a loss of:

self worth, increased self doubt, self confidence, increased self consciousness, self perception, increased self criticism, happiness, freedom, inner peace, self assurance, security, increased anxiety, trust, increased desire to escape, increased distrust, increased guilt or shame, friendship, faith, increased fear, self respect, increased self destruction, pride, hope, increased self hatred, increased despair...the list goes on and on......

The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit" Prov. 15:4

Strengthen Your Relationship with the Lord

Look first to the Lord for discernment. Ask Him for wisdom, insight and direction in all your relationships. Read scripture and take God at His word, renewing your mind so you won't continue living as a victim. Get involved in a Bible study. Memorize scriptures that emphasize your worth and authority as one who is a temple of the Holy Spirit. Live dependant on Christ, who lives within you. Don't live out of your own resources. Throughout the day, acknowledge you total dependence on the Lord.

"His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world cased by evil desires. 2 Peter 1:3-4

The course of an abusive relationship can change:

Curtail the abuse by planning to prevent being controlled. You cannot change someone else, but you can change yourself so abusive tactics previously used are no longer effective.

Proverbs 4:23 says, "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the well spring of life."

Vision for MEND - Women of Worth Restoration of The Harvest

My vision for the ministry of MEND is to give Biblical Hope with Practical Help through the Word of God. 1 Kings 22:5 "First seek the counsel of the Lord". Our opinions are not always right. When our thinking doesn't line up with the Word of God , then we need to change our thinking! Isaiah 40:8 says, "The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever. We are called by God not only to "carry each other's burdens," but also to encourage one another and build each other up" (Galatians 6:2 & 1 Thess 5:11).

Hebrews 4:12 says, "The word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow,it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the hearts.

We all have been created with three God given inner needs: love, significance and security.

LOVE: to know that someone is unconditionally committed to our best interest (John 15:12)

SIGNIFICANCE: to know that our lives have meaning and purpose (Psalms 57:2)

SECURITY: to fell accepted and have a sense of belonging (Proverbs 14:26)

Why did God give us these deep inner needs, knowing that :people fail"? While every person has been created with these three inner needs, no person is able to meet our three needs. Realize that if one person could meet all our needs, we wouldn't need God!

The Lord planned that He would be our Need-meeter. All along the Lord planned to meet our deepest needs for:
Love: He says, "I have loved you with an everlasting love" Jer. 31:3
Significance: He says, "I know the plans I have for o...plans to five you hope and a future" Jer. 29:11
Security: He says, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you" Heb. 13:5

Sometimes the Lord will meet certain needs by Himself, and other times He will use other people as an extension of His care and compassion.

So for those who are struggling...You can be pulled out of any ditch, any negative pattern keeping you from being all God created you to be. How? Rom. 12:2 says, Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. "Therefore, with a renewed mind, you can be set free.

As women, we all face and struggle with many different and difficult dilemmas in life. No matter what the problem may be, God doesn't leave us without hope or help.

Once you're out of your own ditch and walking the road (MENDED), look around. By sharing your journey with those who are struggling or stuck, you can be a stronger person called by Christ to speak His words of wisdom & encouragement into their lives to help them MEND.

Marriage Vows

WE ARE TO KEEP OUR MARRIAGE VOWS

Malachi 2:13-14 The men of Malachi's time were wondering why their prayers were not being answered. They were weeping on the altar and complaining to God. God revealed to Malachi that the prayers were unanswered because men were breaking covenants with their wives and divorcing them. This was serious business to God, and He was very displeased with it.

There is a fundamental stronghold that must be confronted regarding the subject of marriage even in the Christian church. Even in the body of Christ powers of darkness have managed to create a false concept of what marriage is all about. The devil has succeeded in poisioning theminds of believers. Malachi tells us that the reason a marriage is such a high priority with God is that the marriage relationship is a convenant relationship; and in marriage, God make two people one.

Marriage is a model of God's relationship with the church through Jesus Christ. Can you imagine Jesus Christ tell the church, "I'm tired of you, and I want someone else" or "I was looking for one when I found you"?

WE must come to understand that the God of the universe is a God of LOVE. God loves you, and He loves mankind. For love to be genuine, it must be able to stand the test of a covenant realationship. The oneness of a husband and wife is supernaturally connected to the oneness of Jesus and the church. If this oneness is violated, it is a deep violation of the laws of love.

Covenant: means an agreement; ususally formal, between two or more persons to do or not do something specified. In the Bible. the conditional promises made to humanity by God, as revealed in scripture.

So, how do you feel when someone makes you a promise, gives you their word before witnesses and they fail to follow through with their commitment? I wonder how Christ feels when we let Him down on the promises, vows and commitments we have made and failed. I am so thankful that He is a Gracious, Merciful and Forgiving FATHER.

EPHESIANS 5:21-23

Marriage should be a wondrous and fulfilling experience, that despite some trials and difficulties, is deeply rewarding. The Bible teaches that it is possible to have a fulfilling and lasting marriage. Using the example of Christ and the church, the wife is to submit to her husband as the church submits to Christ. The husband is to love his wife by serving her and laying down his life for her as Christ loved and served the Church. In this model there really is no such thing as one person better than the other or someone "lording it over" the other. What Christ is asking for in the marriage relationship from both the husband and the wife is that both parties die to self and love each other with God's love.

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPhone]

Will you be apart or a pair

The papers are on the table. All that's needed are two signatures. Will two lives once joined "till death do us apart" now be permanently split apart?

The BIBLE offers insight and answers, healing and hope.

Rejection and neglect can easily drive a couple into a ditch of divorce. But the light of God's Word can guide them back onto level ground.

So Many have failed to understand God's Heart on Divorce...

God hates divorce because it was not His original intention. Malachi 2:16

God doesn't consider divorce as dissolving the one-flesh bond in marriage (with 2 exceptions).

Most theologians today believe the Bible allows divorce in 2 situations:

Sexual infidelity:

"Anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness and marries another woman commits adultery Matthew 19:9. Unfaithfulness=Sexual immorality, any illicit sexual intercourse which automatically breaks the marital covenant.

Physical Abandonment:

I Cor, 7:15 "If the unbeliever leaves, let him do so. A believing man or woman is not bound in such circumstances"

God doesn't bless those who break their marriage covenant, regardless of their financial offerings (Malachi 2:13-14).

God also doesn't permit divorce just because a mate is unsaved: "The believing husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband...How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife"? (I Cor 7:14, 16)

God's heart is for reconciliation, if possible even after divorce. "A wife must not separate from her husband. But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife". (1 Cor 7:10-11).

God guards and protects the faithful spouse in a divorce. (Prov. 2:8)

God will accomplish His ultimate purpose for you. (Rom 8:28)

God promises to meet all your needs (Philippians 4:19)

God requires self-examination (Matthew 7:1-5)

God's heart is to bring "new life" out of the devastation of divorce (Jer 29:11)

Beginning again may mean rebuilding a marriage through the strength of Christ, or it may mean rebuilding hope in a life broken by sorrow. In either situation, God has wonderful new beginning for those whose hearts are given to Him. He promises to guide you on the path to recovery, and will travel with you on the Road to Transformation.

Your New Life in Christ

Your new identity is in the Lord, not in a position or in another person (Gal. 2:20)

You are complete in Christ, not an incomplete single if you don't remarry (Colossians 2:9-10)

Your purpose in life, regardless of marital status, is to glorify God. (1 Cor. 6:19-20)

You have have the resources to forgive your ex-spouse and others who have hurt you (Colossians 3:13)

You have the strength to overcome temptations when you are living in the power of Christ (1 Cor 10:13)

RESTORATION

RESTORATION:reclaiming your inheritance; reclamation of what the enemy has taken or destroyed; the returning of your destined condition in Jesus

A New Season is Almost Upon Us

WOW... A New Season Autumn; Fall; or new time of year is approaching quickly. Things have a way of slipping upon us before we realize it sometimes. We can get overwhelmed in no time. Weighted and burdened down. Believe it or not but there is a miracle of addition through subtraction. Less can be so much more, especially when you eliminate unnecessary burdens from your life. Surrender, , accept, confess, forgive, transform and persevere. Matt. 11:28-30...Come unto me...my yoke is easy, my burden is light.

Previous Postings are posted as Women of Worth - Mend Ministry

www.mendminstry.blogspot.com