Were you there?

I, Rena Oynes, a Christian, recently went through a divorce after 35 years of marriage. The pain was beyond what one might imagine. Many people had or have no compassion or understanding. Hopefully, if another is going through this suffering my walk by sharing my raw feelings might help to lighten your load.

Were you there when I came bounding out of teaching a wonderful Sunday School Class of third graders to be told by a gentleman that my husband was all over the paper and it wasn’t good?

 Were you there when I had to consult a counselor because the language I heard I could not understand why it was being used on me and my friends?
 Were you there when  a call that tickled him made me cringe from it vulgarness?
 Were you there when I called a counseling group and they told me to plan a secure route to escape my home and to keep at all times clothing for two to three weeks in my trunk?
 Were you there when I packed my lap top every time with me as I was afraid some vulgar site might be put on my laptop?
 Were you there when I was asked to take in six weeks of AAA and Alanon to have an understanding of what was happening to me and him?
Were you there when I got so mad about going that I speeded through a residential area early and got pulled over by a police officer for speeding?  When I told him I was late for AAA his ears certainly perked up but he somehow believed me and I did not have to toe the line.
Were you with me lonely night after lonely night replaying my part in it.  Was I the Christian who over looked, didn’t confront sin when I saw it first happen.  Had I shaded it or covered it to make it not seem like sin.  Now look at me.   I was WRONG. I’m a total mess – shaking – crying!  Yes my fault!
Were you there when I later discovered the man I had married was in something dark and deep that effected me?
Were you there when to my surprise my children knew it all along?
Were you there when my children let me stand alone without a call of comfort or a prayer?
Were you there when I got the final e-mail saying you are a beautiful Christian lady but I want nothing to do with you?
 Did you weep with me?  Or leave me standing alone?  God was beside me all along and my church wept with me.   Perhaps you have a friend in a similar situation.

Are you weeping with them? Rena

Power of Praying for Your Adult Children

Power of Praying for Your Adult Children

By Stormie Omartian
“Lord, I lift my adult children up to You and ask that You would put a hedge of protection around them. Protect their spirits, bodies, minds, and emotions from any kind of evil or harm. I pray specifically for protection from accidents, disease, injury, or any other abuse. Keep them safe from any hidden dangers and let no weapon formed against them prosper. Thank You, Lord, for Your many promises of protection. Keep them safe in all they do and wherever they go.”
-Power of Praying for Your Adult Children http://stormie.co/fM

Review of sermon notes by Rena Oynes

Sunday evening I had the wonderful privilege of hearing Dr. Fred Wolfe do a revival service at Jubliee Baptist, Dalphne, Al on the topic – Ministry to the Brokenhearted.  It was a powerful and timely message to so all who are brokenhearted.

 Right away he said:

1.  Jesus understands and feels your broken heart.

2.  Jesus is present today to heal the broken hearted.

3.  He invites the broken hearted to come to Him.

He read John 11: 1-7 telling the story of The Death of Lazarus.

Also; MATTHEW 11:28-

Jesus can do the following:

1.  Heal a heart broken by grief (grief is not a sin) by prayer and the Word of God.

2.  Heal broken hearted of guilt.  We need to confess, accept responsibility, get honest about our part

3.  Heal a heart broken by rejection.  This is when someone who is important in your life rejects you.  They have turned you off.  (Rejection is a root, anger is the fruit.  If you suppress the anger you get depression).

4.  Heal heart broken by abuse.

To get healed, you need to:

1.  Come in Faith

2. Come with an obedient heart

3.  We have to forgive whatever or whoever broke our heart.

It is hard to forgive.  The pain is real that is why it is so hard.

Why should we forgive?  God told us to forgive.  

You have to go over your emotions to be healed.  

If you choose to forgive God will heal your broken heartedness.

Forgiveness does not mean approval.  The action was/is wrong and always will be wrong.  Remember God forgave us of our sins and he never approved of any of them.

Three Ways to Forgive

1.  Cancel the debt.

2.  Cut the cord.  (If you don’t cut the cord you will have a rope around your neck and a rope around the person’s neck which links you together and you drag him/her around with you wherever you go.)

3.  Let them out of the cage.  (We need to let them out of the cage for good, instead of taking them out of the cage and beating them up and then putting them back in the cage.)

Remember in Colossians 2:14 NLT He canceled the record that contained the charges against us. He took it and destroyed it by nailing it to Christ’s cross.

Therefore we should do the following.  Let them out of the cage and throw the cage away.  

Remember forgiveness is a lifestyle.  Forgiveness is not an emotion it is a choice that is why it is hard.

 Dr. Wolfe then led us in prayer of forgiveness for anyone we needed to forgive letting them out of the cage and throwing away the cage.

What a power teaching we need to implement in our lives.

Southern Pound Cake

Frances Pardue, NC baked and shipped! The cake was fresh and had table beauty. You might ask; where is the photo? Answer: We were more interested in the beauty and taste until a little to late.    [contributed by Frances Pardue, NC]

INGREDIENTS

6    EGGS

1    CUP  [2 STICKS] BUTTER

3    CUPS  SUGAR

3    CUPS  ALL PURPOSE FLOUR

1    CUP WHIPPING CREAM  [aka heavy cream]

1    TEASPOON VANILLA

INSTRUCTIONS:

1.  GREASE & FLOUR TUBE [OR BUNDT] PAN AND SET OUT EGGS AND BUTTER ALLOWING THEM TO REACH ROOM TEMP.

2. IN A LARGE BOWL, CREAM BUTTER AND SUGAR UNTIL SMOOTH.
ADD EGGS. ONE AT A TIME BEATING FOR ONE MINUTE AFTER EACH ADDITION
SIFT FLOUR AND ADD TO CREAMED MIXTURE ALTERNATING BETWEEN FLOUR AND WHIPPING CREAM.

3.STIR IN VANILLA

4.  POUR INTO PREPARED PAN AND PLACE IN A COLD OVEN.
TURN THE OVEN TO 300 DEGREES AND BAKE FOR 80-90 MINUTES, UNTIL
TOOTHPICK INSERTED IN THE CENTER COMES OUT CLEAN
COOL COMPLETELY BEFORE REMOVING FROM PAN.