“God blesses those people who refuse evil advice and won’t follow sinners or join in at sneering at God. Instead the law of the Lord makes them happy, and they think about it day and night. They are like trees
growing beside a stream, trees that produce fruit in season and always have leaves. Those people succeed in everything that they do.” Psalms 1:1-3
This verse has been a favorite verse all my life.
In John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.” Revelation 22:1,2 “The angel showed me a river that was crystal clear and it’s waters gave life. The river came from the throne where God and the Lamb were seated then it flowed down the middle of the city’s main st. On each side of the river are trees that grow a different fruit every month of the year. The fruit gives life, and the leaves are used as medicine to heal the nations.
The water of life comes from the throne (royal seat) of God and of Christ. So, it’s source is God, and God has provided a plentiful supply. It flows through the main street of New Jerusalem. The tree of life grows by the river. Reading this made me think of how symbolic it was when Jesus cursed the fig tree that did not bear fruit, we are supposed to bear fruit aren’t we?
I started studying some of the oldest trees on earth. What these trees have seen in their lifetime. If they could talk and tell us the history that has unfolded around them. Methuselah is a Great Basin bristlecone pine that is the oldest living tree in the world, with the age of 4,851 years, California. The President, a giant sequoia that is about 3,200 years old-also in California. In Bethlehem, there is an olive tree confirmed to be at least 2000 years old may actually be as old as 4000 years. The Sisters in Lebanon, up to 6000 years old. It’s quite incredible.
We shall be like trees, firmly planted by the rivers of water, (waters of life), and we shall live forever for all eternity because we have accepted Christ Jesus as Lord and savior of our lives! That would surpass the Sister’s in Lebanon. Praise God! Give your life to Jesus today, He will forgive you of your sins, believe that He rose from death just for you, He will fill you with His Holy Spirit and someday He will return for all those who believe, those living trees!
“Look! He is coming with the clouds. Everyone will see Him, even the ones who stuck a sword through him. All people on earth will weep because of Him. Yes, it will happen! Amen. The Lord God says, “I am the Alpha and Omega, the one who is and was coming. I am God All Powerful!”
Matthew 24:36-44 : “No one knows the day or hour. The angels in heaven don’t know, and the Son Himself does not know. Only the Father knows. When the Son of Man appears, things will be just as they were when Noah lived. People were eating and drinking and getting married right up to the day that the flood came and Noah went into the big boat. They did not know anything was happening until the flood came and swept them away. That is how it will be when the Son of Man appears. Two men will be in the same field, but one will be taken, the other will be left. Two women will be together grinding grain, but only one will be taken. The other will be left. So be on your guard! You don’t know when the Lord will come. Homeowners never know when a thief is coming, and they are always on guard to keep one from breaking in! Always be ready! You don’t know when the Son of Man will come.”
By the grace of God, I pray that He finds me with fresh oil in my lamp, a clean, repentant heart filled with love and expectancy for His return.
To be ready for His return, we should turn to Jesus, repent of our sins, and commit our lives to Him by faith. We should not delay but put our faith and trust in Jesus Christ for our salvation today.
I was so very honored to know Joanne, who faithfully mentored me for about 38 years. I was so honored to assist in her ministry for many years. At the same time, she encouraged and empowered me, and faithfully taught me to find God who directed my path. Joanne was never ambitious for herself, to get a name for herself or to become popular. Her first goal was to bring souls to the kingdom of God, to see them set free and healed. Her desire was to strengthen others so that they, in turn would do the same for other people, and so on and so on. Joanne taught me how to be able to do the work for God, and not to expect a big fanfare or reward here on earth, we are only here to bring God glory and to show others how to do the same once their hearts are converted to Jesus. I am deeply feeling the void of her absence in my life right now, though I know she is with her Lord Jesus, whose beautiful face she has long desired to see. I cannot imagine her being any other place but safe in His loving arms.
I wrote a chapter in my book “The Girl Without Shoes” called, “My Mentor”. This chapter was dedicated to Joanne, who not only mentored me but so very many other people. I love and miss you, Joanne very much.
Here is an excerpt from the book: ” It is a very important asset to have someone who is willing to mentor you with truth and integrity. A mentor is someone who you are accountable to, to keep you in a place of strength. Their guidance is vital to gaining the safety and security over who and where you are, relative to your environment. True support means your mentor is someone who is willing to speak truthfully into your life and attempt to make you stronger and more effective than you have been in the past. Everyone needs a support network when things get confusing or traumatic and an honest mentor raises you up to be more empowered, more aware of who you are in the face of any environment. A respectful mentor will send you out and encourage you to be a good mentor to others. Joanne has done all of these things for me; she is a fine role model. I hope I can be a help to many others, which is what any mentor wants you to do.” Pages 115-116
Thank You, Mamma
There will be no more pain, or tears for you rest peacefully in the arms of your Jesus.
One of the most painful issues that I hear about as a counselor, is sexual abuse. Anyone at any age, gender, ethnic background, or social status could fall victim to sexual abuse. Many times when the abuse happens to us when we are older, people blame themselves. This may also be seen with people who had sustained negative impact of sexual abuse as a child. We are left with the sense that there must have been something about us, who we are, how we looked, we conjure up our own reasons to take on the blame. If you are from families with no support or love, they may blame you gladly. I have heard horrible stories of how families in denial have treated the victims of abuse. Leaving the children to suffer in silence.
In general, statistics show that a high risk for victimization would be any child younger than 4 years old or with children with developmental disabilities. Though stats often vary it has been quoted that 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 13 boys in the US experience child sexual abuse. It is estimated that 91% of the perpetrators of sexual abuse may be known and trusted by the child or child’s family—this reality may be found in cases of older victims as well. The total lifetime economic burden of child sexual abuse in the US in 2015 was at least 9.3 billion dollars.
Examples of consequences include: sexually transmitted diseases, unwanted pregnancies, physical injuries, chronic conditions later in life including heart disease, obesity, cancer and mental health complications.
Some of the known mental health conditions may include: depression, PTSD, low self-esteem and other anxiety disorders.
Some examples of behavioral consequences: substance abuse/misuse, including opioid or other drug addictions, alcohol addiction, cycles of a variety of other addictions like, eating disorders, workaholism, self-harming disorders, codependency, rage. Other behavioral consequences: risky sexual behaviors, or behaviors that could result in pregnancy or poor health due to STI’s through multiple partners. Increased risk for perpetration of sexual violence, increased risk for suicide.
Studies have also shown that females exposed to child sexual abuse are 2-3 times at increased risk of sexual violence victimization in adulthood. Studies also indicate that people who experience child sexual abuse are at twice the risk for non-sexual intimate partner violence (DV).
If you or anyone you know has experienced unwanted sexual advances or sexual abuse as a child or adult, I want to say to you, ” I am so sorry that it ever happened to you. It was not your fault, there is “no shame on you” no matter what degrading experiences you may have had to endure, you are not to blame.” Forgive yourself for ever thinking that it was on you or your fault. These figures that I posted, with exception from my own commentary, are stats from CDC.Gov.
Why is there such a problem of sexual abuse in our nation has always baffled me. Statistics on child sex trafficking are also astounding to me how many corrupt people make money with this abuse and corruption in our society.
If you struggle with self acceptance or other mental health issues due to this issue of sexual abuse- I encourage that you find a counselor that you trust, with good rapport, and get counseling to free yourself of all the pain of the past. Even though you were not to blame for this happening to you, everyone still needs to learn to grieve all the pain, grieve all losses that you endured because of the abuse, and learn to let go, forgive and move on with your own life.
Here is a quote:” Life is what happens to us while we are making other plans.” I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be.”” This life is what you make it. No matter what, things will happen to derail you on occasion, it’s important to let go of the past and choose to help someone else who may have been derailed in the same way as you.”
Rise above, be empowered, not everyone out there wants to hurt you.
National Sexual Abuse Hotline:1-800-656-HOPE
www.rainn.org
freedlifecounseling.com
cwillis@helpingsurvivors.org
Hebrews 12:1-2
“Such a large crowd of witnesses is all around us! So we must get rid of everything that slows us down, especially the sin that just won’t let go. And we must be determined to run the race that is ahead of us. And we must keep our eyes on Jesus, who leads us and makes our faith complete. He endured the shame of being nailed to a cross, because He knew later on He would be glad He did.”
People become derailed by the sin that is in the world, but by faith we choose to rise above what the plan for evil may have been, something good will always come with faith in Jesus from the broken things of our lives. He makes all things new.
