SHAME: The Reward of "Choice" 

                                          

I have often sat in church, wondering how many other women in the same room have had abortions. How many of these women are hiding their deep dark secret from the rest of the world - from their own husbands and their other children perhaps. Too afraid to be judged and ridiculed to speak out and deal with it and overcome it.  The statistics in South Africa are not accurate as they do not account for "back street" abortions (although abortion is legal in South Africa, many women still have abortions done by "backstreet butchers"  - I believe because of shame). Whatever the accurate amount of abortions are and how many abortions every one woman procure is actually besides the point - because one abortion is one too many.

Years after I had my own abortion and have come to know Jesus, I still suffered to overcome the shame and dealing with the emotional scars took many many years. You cannot undo the fact that you conceived a child. This fact will ring into eternity. Shame is a very powerful weapon that keeps people silent. It's like a festering wound hidden under layers of swelling skin (graphic I know, but necessary). The real muck is always hidden underneath outer layers of issues like anger, addictions, depression and anxiety / panic attacks, self hatred / mutilation, psychological affliction, eating disorders and many more. All the while, the post abortive person is so busy fighting through the manifestations of the real issue that they cannot deal with the pain, the guilt and the shame of their own "choice" and carry on to live defeated lives. 

1 Peter 5:8

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

I believe that abortion has been one of satan's most effective tools to hold captive, harm, torment and ultimately kill the human race whom he so hates. Not even the world wars put together have killed as many people as legalized abortion has.

So what do we do as Christians who still have not dealt with that "choice" to have your own child's life ended? You will remain captive until you bring your secret into the open. Until you have confessed murder as a sin before ABBA Father and have asked for forgiveness by the Blood of Jesus, you cannot be free. After this, you need to talk about the abortion to start the healing process. Join a support group or church counselling group specifically aimed at helping post abortive women and start talking about it.

Once the light of God's truth exposes and shines on a secret, satan can no longer shackle you to it. You will be victorious and overcome the enemy in Christ Jesus.

Psalm 18:28  

For You will light my lamp; The Lord my God will enlighten my darkness.

Blessings to you.

HEALING TIME

My 6 year old daughter still sometimes confuses last night, yesterday and the day before yesterday when she wants to convey a past event and she often adds "remember mommy, it was a very long time ago" - I can only smile.  Over the past couple of days I have been thinking about how little understanding we (as adults) really have around the concept of time. Our daily lives is a constant struggle to adequately manage the load we carry and to divide the sum total of that load into accountable minutes out of our day! There are many times when I have to think about how the time I thought I had, literally slipped through my fingers.  As Christians we should all be living with the hope of eternity in our hearts - where time will never end  -  and that reality is difficult to grasp while here on earth, where we run against the clock every day. 

With every birthday, anniversary, start of a new year and so on, I get a little nervous, knowing the end of my fleshly life on earth approaches and the thought that always seems to plague me is...what have I done with my life so far? The truth is, most people seldom reach the dreams and goals that they aspire to and my view is that this is because they are OUR dreams and goals and not necessarily God's plans for our lives. In the Bible in Jeremiah 29:11 the prophet utters words that tell us what God's heart is for each one of us "...for I know the plans I have for you. Declares the Lord."  We all have been given a "measure" of time as Jesus stated in Matthew 6:27 "Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?"  Knowing these truths from God's word must set us on a different course. It must propel us to search out God's acceptable path for our lives. 

When we make wrong decisions in our lives we create what I call "time waste lands" (pun intended)! Think of it as barren, dry places in your life that could have been avoided by making better choices. There is however always a "but God" turnaround opportunity. He will use the most horrific waste land times in our lives to show us His great saving grace. He can turn around your ill spent time and turn the rest of your life into minutes and hours of worth.  Along will bad choices, consequences will inevitably follow and many times once the crisis is over, we are left with painful emotional wounds that need attention and healing. God is so patient with us. If we truly seek Him and want to follow the plan that He has for our lives, His healing power can transform hurt and suffering in a much shorter time than we would expect.

Have you ever uttered the words...I will never get over this! Or, I can never forgive and forget. You need to know that God is a limitless God. Luke 18:27 "What is impossible with man is possible with God".  So I will encourage you to spend your time wisely, make your decisions carefully and prayerfully and live with the hope of eternity in your heart everyday.

Blessings.

One baby at a time…

It is easy to be overwhelmed by news reports that headline the possible legalisation of post birth abortions. To see women topless, assaulting praying men outside a church to “fight” for their right to kill their own children, it’s scary. To see a you tube video of three women who used to work at an abortuary, who describe how babies are born alive and a doctor forces his finger through the soft spot of the babies head to kill it quickly – it brings a great deal of horror to me. It can make an individual feel helpless against the propaganda machines of the pro “choice” movement.

So many women walk into these slaughter houses totally oblivious to what they are about to do – never mind what they are about to experience and will have to live with for the rest of their lives and eternity.  All they ever hear is that it is your right to have an abortion, no one else but you should have a say in the matter, it is a painless procedure, and it is only a clump of cells inside of you.

As someone who made the wrong “choice” many years ago and has since had to live through the emotional turmoil, depression, anxiety, thoughts of suicide, the absolute agony of missing someone you never knew and countless other issues – I can safely say that no human being should be lied to about abortion!  No human being should have the truth withheld about a growing life inside of her.

Being overwhelmed is a natural feeling, but our response should be just as natural – start telling the truth everywhere you go! Put it on your Facebook page, Tweet your pro life stance to your followers on Twitter and the world, get your pro life bumper sticker man:  life starts at conception! Saving one baby at a time should be our greatest focus as passionate pro life individuals.

South Africa legalised abortion on 1 February 1997. Since then 1.2 million babies have been legally killed. On 31 January a National Day of Repentance has been called by Christian organisations during which Christians are called to pray for forgiveness of the collective sin of abortion in this country.  Please join us in prayer on this day and for more details see: http://www.christianaction.org.za/index.php/component/jevents/icalrepeat.detail/2014/01/31/30/-/national-day-of-repentance?Itemid=101

Fathers Love Letter

My Child,

You may not know me,
but I know everything about you.
Psalm 139:1 

 

I know when you sit down and when you rise up.
Psalm 139:2

I am familiar with all your ways.
Psalm 139:3

Even the very hairs on your head are numbered.
Matthew 10:29-31

For you were made in my image.
Genesis 1:27

In me you live and move and have your being.
Acts 17:28 

For you are my offspring.
Acts 17:28 

I knew you even before you were conceived.
Jeremiah 1:4-5 

I chose you when I planned creation.
Ephesians 1:11-12 

You were not a mistake,
for all your days are written in my book.
Psalm 139:15-16

I determined the exact time of your birth
and where you would live.
Acts 17:26 

You are fearfully and wonderfully made.
Psalm 139:14 

I knit you together in your mother's womb.
Psalm 139:13 

And brought you forth on the day you were born.
Psalm 71:6

I have been misrepresented
by those who don't know me.
John 8:41-44

I am not distant and angry,
but am the complete expression of love.
1 John 4:16 

And it is my desire to lavish my love on you.
1 John 3:1 

Simply because you are my child
and I am your Father.
1 John 3:1

I offer you more than your earthly father ever could.
Matthew 7:11 

For I am the perfect father.
Matthew 5:48 

Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand.
James 1:17

For I am your provider and I meet all your needs.
Matthew 6:31-33 

My plan for your future has always been filled with hope.
Jeremiah 29:11 

Because I love you with an everlasting love.
Jeremiah 31:3 

My thoughts toward you are countless
as the sand on the seashore.
Psalms 139:17-18

And I rejoice over you with singing.
Zephaniah 3:17 

I will never stop doing good to you.
Jeremiah 32:40 

For you are my treasured possession.
Exodus 19:5 

I desire to establish you
with all my heart and all my soul.
Jeremiah 32:41 

And I want to show you great and marvelous things.
Jeremiah 33:3 

If you seek me with all your heart,
you will find me.
Deuteronomy 4:29 

Delight in me and I will give you
the desires of your heart.
Psalm 37:4 

For it is I who gave you those desires.
Philippians 2:13 

I am able to do more for you
than you could possibly imagine.
Ephesians 3:20 

For I am your greatest encourager.
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

I am also the Father who comforts you
in all your troubles.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4 

When you are brokenhearted,
I am close to you.
Psalm 34:18 

As a shepherd carries a lamb,
I have carried you close to my heart.
Isaiah 40:11 

One day I will wipe away
every tear from your eyes.
Revelation 21:3-4 

And I'll take away all the pain
you have suffered on this earth.
Revelation 21:3-4 

I am your Father, and I love you
even as I love my son, Jesus.
John 17:23 

For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed.
John 17:26

He is the exact representation of my being.
Hebrews 1:3 

He came to demonstrate that I am for you,
not against you.
Romans 8:31 

And to tell you that I am not counting your sins.
2 Corinthians 5:18-19

Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled.
2 Corinthians 5:18-19 

His death was the ultimate expression
of my love for you.
1 John 4:10

I gave up everything I loved
that I might gain your love.
Romans 8:31-32 

If you receive the gift of my son Jesus,
you receive me.
1 John 2:23

And nothing will ever separate you
from my love again.
Romans 8:38-39

Come home and I'll throw the biggest party
heaven has ever seen.
Luke 15:7

I have always been Father,
and will always be Father.
Ephesians 3:14-15 

My question is…
Will you be my child?
John 1:12-13 

I am waiting for you.
Luke 15:11-32

Love, Your Dad
Almighty God