Possibilities in Faith & Trust

Word Pocket Teaching: "An Invisible Woman Seen by God"

Scripture:

Genesis 16:13-16 Hagar

Genesis 21: 17-21 Hagar & Ishmael

Hagar was a female Egyptian servant to Sarai, Abram's wife. Sarai was barren. God promised to Abram to be the father or a great nation. Sarai takes it upon herself to offer her servant, Hagar to her husband, so she may become pregnant, and Abram have his promised descendants. Hagar gets pregnant and Sarai realizes her abrupt decision, and plans to get rid of Hagar. Hagar flees from Sarai. Hagar is found by the Angel of the Lord. He has a message for her. God saw Hagar and sent His Angel to comfort her. Again, after Hagar gives birth to Ishmael, Sarai gets upset about the now 1st son of Abram, and Abram sends Hagar & Ishmael off their land. This time God hears her son's cries and the Angel of God talks to Hagar from heaven and tells her of their future, safe in God. Hagar choose a wife for her son Ishmael. When Abraham (extended name given to Abram by God) died, Ishmael and Isaac buried him. Ishmael lived 137 years. God provided for Hagar and Ishmael.

Chatter: Often we miss the "small" people of the Bible. Or the people of the Bible we don't hear about much. Often we think there are some people, God doesn't care about. But, God cares about his entire creation. All women and men, are seen and heard by God. No exclusions.

Focus: God listens and watches ALL of us to come to Him for help. Even when we run away from ourselves, families, and friends; and we think we can run away from God, He is listening and watching us. God offers His Word to guide us, and He offers us provision and protection from those who hurt us. We are not alone. God is with us.

What has God done?

To God ALL glory. Read again my 1st blog. After I was set free from the bondage of sin, and the abuse I suffered during my adolescence and early young adult years, my new life was just beginning. But, I did not learn all the lessons, I should have learned. The next seasons to come will bring deeper pain, trauma, and abuse. The compound destruction became feelings and emotions spiraling out of control. I spoke these negatives words to myself daily, and daily God was giving me His Word to replace the condemning words harming my mind, soul, and spirit.

Past Now Always

I - Me - Myself God says God Promises: Word (Bible Verse)

feelings/emotions Vs. And

If you feel: God says to you: Read on your own/Think about it:

I felt ugly. You are beautiful. Proverbs 3:15

I felt stupid. You are smart. Philippians 4:13

I felt unwanted. God wants me. 1 Peter 2:9

I felt unloved. God loves me. John 3:16

I was rejected. God adopts me. Ephesians 1:4-5

I was mocked. God gives me justice. Isaiah 61:8

I was abused. God heals me. Isaiah 53:5

I was cheated on. God is faithful. Lamentations 3:22-23

I was lied to. God is truth. John 14:6

I was abandoned. God is my refuge. Psalm 91:4

I felt judged. God is my advocate. 1 Corinthians 2:15

I felt wronged. God brings good to me. Psalm 23

I was slandered. God protects me. 1 Peter 3:16

I felt as a nobody. God says: I am His. John 1:12

I was betrayed. God is my vengeance. Romans 12:19

I was neglected. God lavishes me w/love. Romans 8:37-39

I was lost. Jesus saved me. Titus 3:5

Healing is a process. We can't rush healing. After I surrendered and accepted that God is my Lord, Jesus Christ is my Savior, and the Holy Spirit is my friend and comforter; my life started changing. I started changing from the inside out. I know it will continue to change until I am called home. I must continue this walk depending on God each and every day.

The feelings, emotions, and experiences that I listed here, are a daily struggle to which I must apply what God says, and what the Word shows me. I have to strive to do this every day. Each time the traumatic experiences that I have survived, bring to mind any memories, and I start thinking like I used to feel, I must be intentional about replacing those thoughts we what God says and what the Word has taught me. I can not stress this enough. The victory is that each time, I am able to spend less time on the past, and more time present in the today.

With deep appreciation and all due respect to science, medicine, and theologians; women and men have no control over illness and/or oppression, and/or experiences forced on them by inheritance, accidents, trauma and abuse, but, for self-inflicted harm (and this even may be a product of what is explained before), and/or oppression and forces of the evil one. There are no magical pills or prescribed steps and/or formulas that will guarantee a 100% healing and recovery from it all.

But, God promises that, He will wipe out all of our tears, He will put us back together, He will restore and replace everything we need. He created us and knows us inside out.

Do not abandon your doctors' care, your therapies, your medication treatments, neither your self-help methods. Keep at it.

But, give God an opportunity to show and reveal to you what only He can do for you. He truly knows your needs. He will provide and protect. You need to have an authentic relationship with your Heavenly Father.

Day by day, step by step, up and down. Try.

In Freedom for Christ. Marie Lotus Life. 9-13-2018