Abused

Please don't get angry with him. Yes, what he did was VERY wrong, but if he was a believer in Christ, God has forgiven him. I did not come out for revenge, but for closure. It has put a great deal of strain on my mother because she is not a believer and I filed the report before I told her about it, just because I did not want her to go kill him. The day I filed the report was the scariest day of my life. In minutes I was talking to officers, but I knew it was the right thing. We are currently still in the court process, but things are quickly beginning to happen. I have stayed strong, but now I am getting a little scared. I would love for him to plea bargain, but I am praying that if it is God's will to go through the trial to help someone else or teach me something then to let me go through it. God has got it in His hands. He is going to make something really great happen out of this. God will give me the words to say on the witness stand and the courage to say them. This whole thing somehow will bring glory to God. I feel awful that it had to come out and tear a part of his family away, but it had to happen. Pray not only for me and my family, but him and his family as well. When abuse happens, it affects a whole lot more people than just the victim and the offender. It affects the families and community for a lifetime. I am praying for anyone going through this situation and if I can be of any help, please message me.

That is just awful what happened to you. I encourage you not to dwell on this tho. Find your strength through this. It sounds like you already have and that shows so much courage. Just don't hold this against this man. When you forgive, you are forgiven for things you do. Although it may be very hard, forgiveness is key to a happy strong life after what has happened to you. Hats off to you for sticking with God and the courage many people wouldn't have. God bless.

Sarah_beth, I have forgiven him. It took me a very long time, but God allowed me to forgive and there is great power in forgiveness

That is terrible abuse. Heart breaking. How awful that you felt you couldn't say anything because he had led people to Christ and you didn't want to jeopardise their salvation. I know you'll be ok.

There truly is. And it's great that you could forgive something like that. That's wonderful

It was through the power of God. I couldn't forgive on my own.

This man should have been excommunicated immediately after being exposed for what he did. He should have been removed from any leadership roles, especially for youth, never to hold any such functions again. Even if he repented and was restored to fellowship. That would be the righteous way to handle it.

i know what your going through cabbage god bless you for your strenth what i wanted to say is i was moleseted and beaten at the hands of of my dad strting at the of12 on my would constantly tell me he wanted to show me how babies are made he shared me with other men then he tied me to a barn beam i was in two foter homes one put my hand in hot dishwater im scarred then my dad would verbaly abued me i met my soon to be husband when i was 16 he was 21 i got married at the age of 16 not knowing what i was getting into my husband and his famliy were alcoholics he interduced me to alchol therefore i would use drinking to numb my pain i would run around with other men to see what love was my motherinlawwas bad she wasreally mean to me we lived with his parents for about 4yrs she would tell me her son wasnt good for me i was damaged goods a whore etc i thought my husband loved me the sec yr we were married he gave me an choice either i particpate in a open marriage or he was leaving that was switching partners so i went along with this i had nowhere to go i was so young i was looking for love in all the wrong places everyday for me is a battle i know god loves me i was saved sept 2000several time i tried to take my life i know god exsistshe stopped me so where am i now in my walk with christ i sruggle my husband dont drnk anymore but he still verbally abuses me he always says i cant do anything right i get no pshysical love or any affection now im being treated for ptsd severe depression for yrs now i feel ill never be the the same again i seek acceptance and love from everyone cant handle rejection etc i had to be hospitalized 2 for suicide feelings like i said its a battle for me but gods here for me i would appricate any advice you would have and prayer

Tribesman- He left the church right before I told because he said that he couldn't handle the stress. So, there was no need for excommunication or anything.

Shirley- I sent you a private message!

Well, the court stuff is over! Praise God!!! What a great Thanksgiving! I am praying for all the people going through any part of this. This is hard, but you learn to lean on God. He always pulls through in the end and His hand is over you the whole way! Thank God that He is omnipotent and omnipresent!

How great it is to open up fully to our past hurts and present hurts. I always think justice will be done. amen

WOW! thanks for your bravery in shraing thta. god loves us and he will be with us every step of the way the devil was just mad you had fire burning for the Lord! dont let it go out. God bless and will keep you in my prayers. i must say you blessed me how you cam out the situation still going ot church and serving the lord inspite of it all that encourages me no matter what i go through never let my fire for God go out and just as he's by my side continue to stand by his ..praise God !

Sister Cabbage,First, thank you so very much for your message of encouragement to us all! As I read it a few times, I understood this message, not as a letter of the memory of it,but rather in the establishment of our Lords love and forgiveness in spite of the pain.From this,the Lord in me would like you to know this.( Hebrews 6:10-12)

Many do not understand the pain to forgive! There is much pain in forgiving! To have a right not to forgive,weighs much on our minds and even the rest of our flesh.And what many do not come to understand is the more weight we can release to our Jesus ,the better off we sure are to stay in both his love, and his grace for our own lives!( Hebrews 12:1-2)

We forgive not for them,but rather for us.This is not selfish,because we learn that it is not by our own works,or even our own minds that we can forgive.( matt 18:21-35)!!!We DO these things because of the thankfulness we keep within ourselves,that Jesus forgave our very own sins!By this good sister, others SEE JESUS!!!! IN US!!!! And that dear sister is the purpose of forgiveness!

For what city on any hill has any light, without the children of God bringing that light upon the city itself?( matt 5:14-16!!)God's own light,not to revel the sin of others in the darkness!!! But rather the love ,grace and thankfulness of having God's own light to see with! And to draw others to that light, which is the truth, which indeed sets each and everyone of us free through and by his very love!( John 8:31-36!!)

We are no longer a slave to sin!Because we cast all of our cares upon the man Jesus who died for each one of them!( matt 11:28-30!!)and 1 peter 5:7!) And rose to show us that we who are in him, are never moving towards victory in him,we move FROM VICTORY in HIM!! Even our faith by him!( rom 8:37-39)and 1 john 4:4-6!!)

I have found sis, that the more of God's Word we keep in both our hearts and our minds,the more lasting the effect from all Jesus has done for each of us!!( Hebrews 8:10-13) And from all of this!! The final result is keeping this!!LASTING peace through our very Jesus!!( philp 4:6-9!) Thanks again sis for the message,a wonderful reminder to us all,in the true meaning of not only what our love of God is, but what that love does!!Praise the Lord!!! amen!

cabbage,
because of your heart you
Are useable ...
I can relate to your situation very
Much only mine was in foster care...
God is good even in our trials and testing ... He remains
Faithful to us even when we are not faithful to Him...May the crown of beauty He's bestowed upon your head continue to blossom in the fragrance of His beauty .
You are beautiful in Him
Peace in christ

Isaiah 61
New International Version (NIV)
The Year of the Lord’s Favor

61*The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
****because the Lord has anointed me
****to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
****to proclaim freedom for the captives
****and release from darkness for the prisoners,[a]
2*to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
****and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
3*****and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
****instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
****instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
****instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
****a planting of the Lord
****for the display of his splendor.
4*They will rebuild the ancient ruins
****and restore the places long devastated;
they will renew the ruined cities
****that have been devastated for generations.
5*Strangers will shepherd your flocks;
****foreigners will work your fields and vineyards.
6*And you will be called priests of the Lord,
****you will be named ministers of our God.
You will feed on the wealth of nations,
****and in their riches you will boast.
7*Instead of your shame
****you will receive a double portion,
and instead of disgrace
****you will rejoice in your inheritance.
And so you will inherit a double portion in your land,
****and everlasting joy will be yours.
8*“For I, the Lord, love justice;
****I hate robbery and wrongdoing.
In my faithfulness I will reward my people
****and make an everlasting covenant with them.
9*Their descendants will be known among the nations
****and their offspring among the peoples.
All who see them will acknowledge
****that they are a people the Lord has blessed.”
10*I delight greatly in the Lord;
****my soul rejoices in my God.
For he has clothed me with garments of salvation
****and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness,
as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest,
****and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
11*For as the soil makes the sprout come up
****and a garden causes seeds to grow,
so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness
****and praise spring up before all nations.

I have found in the testing and refining of my own lacking relationship with Jesus that there is something beautiful that comes out of ashes...the potter has us on His perfect wheel.. There is nothing that happens to any of us that goes without His notice... For even the very hairs on our head are all numbered . such things brings Christ in His suffering for all of us to the forefront. rather than feeling victimized , we are given a front row seat into all that Christ went through for us.. even to the point of death... there is no room for sorrow anylonger, for all suffering is gain in Christ and his suffering for our salvation... It is finished, because of it.. there are those who do not yet know Christ, there are those who's suffering is from a spiritual depravity of being separated from Him... when given the honor our spiritual eyes are opened... an unveiling takes place at the hands of no one but God.. he becomes our sight.. Seeing those who are suffering as a divine appointment rather than a hinderance of our own time... He is calling many and through our own divine appointment with Him we begin to see true needs of a friendly smile, someone who will sit with us, talk of things that the world can not give because if it's own separation from God.. You are a divine appointment as the rest if us Nf in your own trials will help others come to know Christ better... He is strengthening and developing your heart... Preparing all of us as he dies so more and mire to our yielding to Him... He is the hand, we are the glove he slips into... open your hands wide so he may bring in and take out of your life freely.. People, places, things... he can use anyone anytime if their hands are open...
Peace in Christ

I'd like to mention , Our Heavenly Father can use us even when our hands aren't open... But if the father has to open our hands to do it .... Well. ... a closed fist being opened by a loving Father can become an insight into our own stubborn will