God Understands the Tears of a Wife

Hello Ladies!

I'm posting over at the Internet Cafe' today:


God Understands the Tears of a Wife

But before you read it I want to emphasize something that I'm not sure I did well enough in that post...

The post is about how God will heal the heart of a woman no matter what situation she is in, but it is NOT saying that a woman should stay in a situation that is either verbally or physically abusive or one in which your spouse is living in adultery.

I don't want someone to read that and think...God will heal me so I need to stay here and continue to be abused. NO.

God will heal...He sees your tears, that is the heart of the post. The healing of a woman.

If you are in a painful relationship, I am so sorry. God is faithful, lean into Him.
Praying for you,
Sue

This Song Changes Me

Ok, I've loved this song since the minute I heard it. The radio goes up to the "you've got to be kidding" level whenever it comes on.

Then...I heard the testimony behind the song and it made me love it all the more.
I had to share it. I hope it touches you like it does me.

This song changes me.
And let me tell you.
I need some changing.

First the testimony video:


Then the actual song video:


Available on itunes, check it out!

You're welcome.

No Wonder She Risked Her Life

Taken from my recent study "Becoming A Beautiful Woman of God"

Matt. 9:20-22
And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment.
For she said to herself, "If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well." But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said,
"Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well." And the woman was made well from that hour.
NKJV

Do you know what was so significant about her faith??

The English word "hem" is a translation of a Greek word meaning a
tassel of twisted wool. The woman was, in fact, reaching for the tassels on Jesus prayer shawl.

In Hebrew, these tassels, which are attached to the corners of the prayer shawl, are called tzitzit.

Numbers 15:38
Again the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, "Speak to the children of Israel: Tell them to make tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and to put a blue thread in the tassels of the corners.
NKJV

The word border or corner can be translated: "wings"

During the first century there were several traditions associated with the tzitzit concerning Messiah. One was that these knotted fringes possessed healing powers. This tradition has its roots in the prophecy of Malachi 4:2.

Mal 4:2-3
(The Lord said) "But for you who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings. And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture. NLT

God’s Word says that the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in His wings…or corners (tassels).

Certainly the woman with the issue of blood knew of these traditions, which would explain why she sought to touch the corner (the wings) of Jesus' prayer garment.

With this understanding in mind, an ancient Jew under the prayer shawl could be said to be dwelling in the secret place of the Most High and under His wings (Ps.91:1-4).

When one realized the significance of this concept to the first-century -Hebraic mind, it becomes clear why this woman was instantly healed.

She was expressing her faith in Jesus as the Son of Righteousness with healing in His wings and declaring her faith in God's prophetic Word.

No wonder this women was willing to risk her life (a woman with an issue of blood could be stoned for being in public-she would have been considered unclean) and bloody her knees to get to Him!

She knew~ He’s the One!

She recognized Him because of what she had heard about Him! She knew that He was the One that would have healing in His wings.

Who do you recognize Him to be???

When the Message Gets Muddy with My Wounds

I hate it when His message gets muddied in my wounds.

Ever been there?

The raw pain in your heart comes pouring out like a muddy swamp and shows how very little you really do trust His love.

And that's ok. God can take it.

God isn't disappointed or mad, He loves us. He wants us to drag those hurts to Him and unload them. Then fall, once again, into the arms that are always waiting to embrace us.

I was looking at one of my scars the other day. It reminds me of the circumstances and injury that caused the ugly slash on my arm. It doesn't hurt anymore, but I remember the pain that it once was.

It kind of works like that when we let God heal our hurts. The scars are
there, and if reminded we can tell the story of how they were inflicted. But
once healing takes place...even though we remember how bad it hurt, the sting of pain is gone.

For that reason, I love my scars.
They don't hurt anymore, but they remind me of a time when I did hurt. A time when the hurt was so real I was bleeding all over everything in sight. I've learned a few things since then.

1. I will avoid putting my fist through plate-glass windows.
2. I will avoid putting my faith in man instead of God.

Plate glass windows are unforgiving and man is...well...faulty to say the least (myself included).

When we grasp how much He loves us, we heal. Healing has a way of wiping the mud off the message.
Thank You Lord.

Does the Past Haunt Your Marriage?

Has your marriage suffered some deep wounds? Even those from many years ago can hinder our present relationship if we let them.
It is true that sometimes healing a broken heart takes time. But all the time in the world cannot do what God can do when we surender our hurts and pain to Him.

I have a feeling that there are many of you that live every day with pain in your heart and no one else knows about it.

Words and actions that have wounded you to the bottom of your heart and your thoughts can't seem to get past them.

You justify the walls you put up because, you are not about to be hurt again!

1. God Desires to Heal Your Brokenheart

Psalms 34:18
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
NIV

You may think that no one knows, but God has seen it all.
He sees how deeply you hurt and He is close to you. He wants to bind up your wounds and heal the brokenness that has crippled you for so long.

Ps 147:3
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
NIV

2. Bring Him Your Brokenheart.

Let me share the verse that set my heart free:

Matt 11:28-12:1
28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I
will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle
and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is
easy and my burden is light."
NIV

He sent His son...now it's your move.
Come to Him.

And when we do come to Him, He fills us with His life.
Or as God's Word says, He fills our dry empty lives with the water that brings life:

John 7:37-38
"If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink.
38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living
water will flow from within him."
NIV

Can I ask those of you that are hurting...how long has it been since you've experienced streams of living water...in your marriage?

It is not hard to go to Him.
Pray.
No fancy words necessary, just pour your heart out and ask Him to heal it.

3. Pray for your marriage, everyday.

Ask the Lord soften your heart and to fill it fresh with faith, hope and love.

The past does not need to dictate your future.
The God who spoke the world into existence, the God who created everything we see is on your side. He wants to see you free from the chains of the past and walking in the freedom of love and forgiveness.

Does this post hit home with you?
Please drop me an email or leave me a comment. I'd love to hear your story...or at least know you are out there!

I'm praying for our marriages,

Bring God Your Brokenheart

Hello friends,
I know that I have written before about God healing our brokenhearts, but I feel that as I read your emails and talk to some of you, it is an ongoing issue for many of us.
I have combined a few of my old posts to hopefully minister healing to your hearts today.


I was talking with a friend once about the battle that takes place in our mind and thoughts. I had been struggling with depression and discouragement after walking through an extremely difficult and painful situation.

I told her how I had forgiven those involved, but I could not seem to get past the pain even though it had been months since it happened. I knew that in my heart I had forgiven, I was even able to see those involved and not have anger in my heart. So why was I still hurting?

I was praying on a regular basis for God to reveal to me if there was more that I needed to do in the situation, but it seemed I was without direction.
Did I really forgive them?
Was I just fooling myself?
I didn’t think so, but still I couldn’t get past it.

My friend spoke to me from the heart of God, she said ‘I think you have forgiven, you’re not doing anything wrong, but it sounds like you need healing from a broken heart.

Psalms 147:33
He heals the brokenheartedand binds up their wounds.
NIV

I knew at that moment that those words were from the heart of God.

It hit me like a fresh wind. I was so excited that I got off the phone with her right away and went to be alone with the Lord. I poured my soul out to Him and asked Him to heal my wounded heart.

Once again I prayed for those that had hurt me and thanked God for completely healing my heart. It was wonderful! I know that He did a deep healing in my heart that day. For weeks I didn’t hurt and joy overflowed in my heart.

But, Satan lurks and waits- sometimes he’s more patient than we are, and a day came when I had an opportunity to once again pick up the pain from the past.

As if I was rehearsing for a play, I re-enacted scenes in my mind of what this person had done, how I would respond and what they might say. Before I knew what was happening, the hurt started to creep back in. This time though was different than all the rest, because I knew that God had healed me and I realized that satan was trying to get me to fall back into that pit of pain and depression.

I stood my ground and started to pray. I cast those thoughts out of my head and thanked the Lord for healing my broken heart.

2 Cor 10:5
Bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ
NKJV

I believe that if I had continued on that thought pattern, I could have fallen into that pit and started the horrible cycle of pain all over again. I am so thankful that the Holy Spirit helped me recognize that attack.

As wonderful as it is when God reveals and heals a heart in this manner, I realize that not all healing happens this way.

I picture some of our pain like a spider web. Our heart can be broken and the effects can affect many different relationships and situations that we don’t even realize at the onset. Then as we walk through this life, different seasons reveal the need for healing from events in our past.

Let me tell you about another time when my heart was broken.

When I was a young girl around 8 years old, I was sexually abused by a friend of the family for over a year of my life. The abuse has affected so many areas of my life. I have since forgiven the man and God has healed my heart, but that does not mean that it is over and done with.

There are still times that fears and pain will come up that I can trace back to this event. When I see it affecting my relationships, I have to address the root of the issue and go to God with it.

When I was a teenager, I heard a speaker at church talking about God healing people who had been abused. He talked about forgiveness being part of the process of healing. I really broke down that night. I prayed for God to heal me and prayed for the man who had abused me all those times.

I felt God’s love and I felt protected. I know that God has healed me because if I saw that man today, I could share God’s love with him. I could tell him that I forgive him. Not because he deserves it, but because I need that same forgiveness from God that I don’t deserve.

I could let my heart be bitter towards him and wait until he begs on his hands and knees for me to forgive him, but that would only hurt me.

Matt 6:14-15
For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
NIV

I will not let Satan continue the abuse in me by holding on to unforgiveness in my heart. To keep bitterness in me is to continue being a victim. I don’t want to be a victim ever again.

God healed my heart, and the “sting” of the pain is gone. However, I still remember what happened, I still struggle with trust and security.Thankfully, I now have a relationship with my Heavenly Father that is safe and secure and I know that He will never stop loving me.

The truth of the matter is that life can break your heart. But GOD. He can bind us up and bring healing. He makes beauty out of life’s mud.

Bring your pain and sorrow to Him. Let Him hold you close and heal you.

Psalms 40:2-3
He lifted me out of the slimy pit,out of the mud and mire;
He set my feet on a rockand gave me a firm place to stand.
3 He put a new song in my mouth,a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fearand put their trust in the LORD.
NIV

Glory to God for a new song!!!!

I'm praying for you,
Sue

Does He Rule My Brokenheart?

Psalm 147:3
3 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
NIV

Let's look at some definitions in this very powerful verse in the Strong's concordance.

Heals=
OT:7495
rapha' (raw-faw'); or raphah (raw-faw'); a primitive root; properly, to mend (by stitching), i.e. (figuratively) to cure:
KJV - cure, (cause to) heal, physician, repair, thoroughly, make whole.


Broken =
OT:7665
shabar (shaw-bar'); a primitive root; to burst (literally or figuratively):
KJV - break (down, off, in pieces, up), broken ([-hearted]), bring to the birth, crush, destroy, hurt, quench, tear


Heart =
OT:3820
leb (labe); a form of OT:3824; the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the centre of anything:
KJV - care for, comfortably, consent, considered, courag [-eous], friend [-ly], ([broken-], [hard-], [merry-], [stiff-], [stout-], double) heart ([-ed]), heed, I, kindly, midst, mind (-ed), regard ([-ed)], themselves, unawares, understanding, well, willingly, wisdom.

Bind=
OT:2280
chabash (khaw-bash'); a primitive root; to wrap firmly (especially a turban, compress, or saddle); figuratively, to stop, to rule:
KJV - bind (up), gird about, govern, healer, put, saddle, wrap about.

Wounds=
OT:6094
`atstsebeth (ats-tseh'-beth); from OT:6087; a idol; also, a pain or wound:
KJV - sorrow, wound.

In other words, Psalm 147:3 says:
So, He mends, repairs, makes whole our broken, crushed, quenched, destroyed heart, which is our feelings, our will our intellect- the center of our being. And He binds up, wraps firmly, to stop the bleeding, to rule and govern our wounds and sorrows.

OH! Isn't He wonderful?! Don't you just love HIM?!
How is it that we are so blessed to have a God that loves us so much!

That word "govern", really jumps out at me.

Healing is a journey. As we see that, to bind up is: to govern and rule- the journey starts with receiving healing and then continues as He rules our hearts- the very center of our beings.

Selah my friend.

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But...I'm the Wounded...

Ok, let’s turn the tables (upside-down if we need to!) on this subject.
What about when WE are the walking wounded?

What about when WE are the ones bloody, wounded
and seething in pain?

How much anxiety, rejection and abuse can we take before we are the ones bleeding?

Jesus came to heal YOU.

I want to re-post a couple of posts that I did on God Healing our Broken Hearts:

Healing Broken Hearts part 1

Healing Broken Hearts part 2

I talk about some of my personal need for healing and sexual abuse that I experienced. I pray God uses them to minister His healing to you today.

If you are hurting today, I wish I could wrap my arms around you and pray for you, but since I can’t, feel free to email me any prayer requests and I will pray for you.

Love you girls!
(((((Hugs))))))

Part 2 ~He Heals Our Brokenhearts~

As I lay awake in bed last night thinking about your responses and personal email, I felt that we were not done with this subject.

I told you the story of ONE of the times that God healed my heart. There have been so many situations that I needed healing in my heart. Some were like the one I described and others were “a walk” of healing.

I love it when you sense that God has just done a healing work in your heart, but not all healing happens that way.

I kind of picture some of our pain like a spider web. Our heart can be broken by an event or events and the effects can get into all different relationships and situations that we don’t even realize at the onset. Then as we walk through this life, different seasons reveal the need for healing in other ways. I hope this makes sense, I feel like I’m talking in circles!

Let me tell you about another time when my heart was broken (like a spider web). When I was a young girl around 8 years old, I was sexually abused by a friend of the family for over a year of my life. This has affected so much of my life. I have forgiven the man and God has healed my heart, but that does not mean that it is over and done.

There are still times that fears and pain will come up that I can trace back to this event. When I see it affecting my relationships, I have to address the root of the issue and go to God with it.

When I was a teenager, I heard a speaker at church talking about God healing people who had been molested. He talked about forgiveness being part of the process of healing. I really broke down that night. I prayed for God to heal me and prayed for the man who had abused me all those times.

I felt God’s love and I felt protected.

I know that God has healed me because if I saw that man today, I would share God’s love with him. I could tell him that I forgive him. Not because he deserves it, but because I need that same forgiveness from God that I don’t deserve.

I could let my heart be bitter towards him and wait until he begs on his hands and knees for me to forgive him, but that would only hurt me.

Matt 6:14-15
14 For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
15 But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
NIV

I won’t let satan continue the abuse in me by holding on to unforgiveness. To keep bitterness in me is to continue being a victim. I don’t want to be a victim ever again.

God healed my heart, and the “sting” of the pain is gone. But, I still remember what happened, I still struggle with trust and security.

Thankfully though I now have a relationship with my Heavenly Father that is completely secure and I know that He will never stop loving me.

Your emails have blessed me so much. When I read what some of you have been through I cried. Partly because of your pain, but mostly because I see the mighty hand of our incredible God in the words you speak now and the things that He has revealed to you through it all!

The truth of the matter is that life can break your heart. But GOD. He can bind us up and bring healing. He makes beauty out of life’s mud.

Bring your pain and sorrow to Him. Let Him hold you close and heal you.

Psalms 40:2-3
2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
out of the mud and mire;
He set my feet on a rock
and gave me a firm place to stand.
3 He put a new song in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear
and put their trust in the LORD.
NIV

Thank you for giving me the honor of sharing your hearts with me!
Love,
Sue
(to be continued....?)

He Heals Our Brokenhearts

I was talking with a friend once about the battle that takes place in our mind and thoughts.

I had been struggling with depression and discouragement.

I told her how I had forgiven someone, but I could not seem to get past the pain. I knew that in my heart I had forgiven, I was even able to see that person and not have anger in my heart. So why was I still hurting?

I was praying on a regular basis for God to reveal to me if there was more that I needed to do in the situation, but it seemed I was without direction. Did I really forgive them? Was I just fooling myself? I didn’t think so, but still I couldn’t get past it.

My friend spoke to me from the heart of God, she said ‘I think you have forgiven, you’re not doing anything wrong, but it sounds like you need healing from a broken heart.

Psalms 147:3
3 He heals the brokenhearted
and binds up their wounds.
NIV

I knew right when she said it that it was from the heart of God.

It hit me like a fresh wind. I was so excited that I got off the phone with her right away and got alone with the Lord. I poured my heart out to Him and asked Him to heal every wound that was hurting me.

Once again I prayed for those that had hurt me and thanked God for completely healing my heart. It was wonderful! I know that He did a deep healing in my heart that day. For weeks I didn’t hurt and joy overflowed in my heart.

But, satan (lower case 's' on purpose- he gets no respect from me!) lurks and waits- he’s more patient than we are, and a day came when I had an opportunity to once again pick up the pain from the past.

As if I was rehearsing for a play, I re-enacted scenes in my mind of what this person had done, how I would respond and what they might say. Before I knew what was happening, the hurt started to creep back in. This time though was different than all the rest, because I knew that God had healed me and I realized that satan was trying to get me to fall back into that pit of pain and depression.

I stood my ground and started to pray. I cast those thoughts out of my head and thanked the Lord for healing my broken heart.

2 Cor 10:5
bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ
NKJV

I believe that I could have fallen into that pit and started the horrible cycle of pain all over again if I would have continued on that thought pattern. I am so thankful that the Holy Spirit helped me recognize that attack.
He will do the same for you.

God is so good!