Gracia asombrosa

Gracia asombrosa

Gracia asombrosa

by Toni Weisz/Abuse Recovery
Efesios 4:29-32 and Numbers 6:24-26

Efesios 4:29-32
Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ forgave you.

In the Moody Handbook of Theology, Paul Enns defines God’s grace as the unmerited or undeserving favor of God to those who are under condemnation. I did not grow up in a home where grace was displayed instead of harsh punishment. As a child, this caused me to be fearful and to hide.

I went to a church that was big and dark inside, and they spoke in a foreign language. The school associated with this church was very much the same. Students were hit with rulers when they disobeyed. Because I did not see grace and love in these formative places, I believed God was harsh and angry and ready to hit me when I got out of line. I began to believe that my faith in God was based upon my good works, e.g., If I am good, I will be loved and accepted, but if I disobey, I will be severely punished. Maybe that’s one of the reasons why I didn’t run to God when I was 21, unmarried, and pregnant. I was fearful that He too would judge me harshly and punish me severely.

During my adult life, I once again encountered a harsh church environment. My husband and I and our family started attending a legalistic church for several years where it was all about following the rules with no room for grace. The Holy Spirit in me was so grieved that I could barely feel or sense His presence.

At first, I didn’t recognize it, but I was experiencing spiritual abuse. Even so, I wanted to serve Jesus. If that meant wearing dresses 24/7 and obeying ridiculous rules, then that’s what I would do. This spiritual oppression greatly affected my soul, and I felt like I was slowly dying inside. Desafortunadamente, my children (who were in high school at the time) were also subjected to this spiritual abuse. I was so grateful when we finally got away from that toxic environment.

Similarly, I have experienced harsh treatment from another ministry leader as well. I felt like I could never do anything right and was always under a microscope. Every little thing I did was magnified and made into a public example. I was so embarrassed and felt discouraged. But God called me to the abortion recovery ministry, and I was not going to stop until God told me to.

Then one day, God brought a leader into my life who was kind and gentle. She gave me permission to just be me and fostered a safe environment in which I could open up and share about the emotional and spiritual abuse I was experiencing. I trusted her, and she truly encouraged me. It was so refreshing to have a leader that was sweet and kind, just like Jesus.

In our ministry, we want each woman to feel safe and know that she can share her story without judgement. We encourage her to use her voice, perhaps for the first time in her life. We want her to see the love of Jesus in our words and our actions. God wants our words to speak hope and life into the lives of the women He brings to our ministry, and that is what we will always try to do.

God has given us His heart for these courageous women. We are honored to walk alongside them on their healing journeys. You too are welcome here, courageous woman. Come as you are; we are waiting for you.

Pensamientos de cierre
What is grace? Grace is a gift from God; it cannot be earned.

Grace is overlooking someone else’s faults and loving them where they are.

I am so grateful for God’s overwhelming love and grace in my life. This grace compels me to love others, to extend mercy, and to be kind to all people. This grace humbles me when I think about what Jesus did for me on the cross…a gift I can never repay.

Number 6:24-26
“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.”

 

Reflection Questions:

  1. Do you judge yourself or others harshly?
  2. Do others treat you harshly?
  3. Have you received God’s grace?
  4. Are you able to extend God’s grace to others?
  5. Cómo podemos orar por ti?

Por favor comuníquese si necesita hablar. You can email me at: toni@myashestobeauty.com.

Eres amado,
Toni

 

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El coraje de María

El coraje de María

El coraje de María

Por Toni Weisz/Disciplinas espirituales

Escrituras: Lucas 1:26-38, 1 John 1:9. Deuteronomio 22:20-21, y romanos 8:28

En el libro de Lucas, leemos sobre una adolescente increíblemente valiente llamada Mary. María era un nombre común en ese entonces; significaba amargo. The people were bitter because the prophets were silent for 400 años. There was no revelation at all between the Old Testament and the New Testament for all this time. They felt bitter because they thought God had forgotten them and His promise of their Messiah.

We see this incredible dialogue between Mary and the angel Gabriel. He said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women! Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.” He proceeded to tell her she would conceive and bear a Son and shall call His name Jesus. God used this young woman mightily to bring forth the promised Messiah, Emmanuel—God with us. Instead of running from her situation or panicking, she prayed and sought the Lord’s leading. Why didn’t we trust God when we found ourselves with an unplanned pregnancy? If you have confessed this sin to Him, He has forgiven you. 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Mary could have been stoned for being pregnant outside of marriage because that was the law back then. Deuteronomio 22:20–21 speaks about the laws pertaining to sexual sins. Not only could Mary have been stoned, but Joseph, her espoused husband, could have walked away from the relationship by writing a bill of divorcement because they were legally betrothed to one another. But God protected Mary from both of these consequences because she had not sinned. She was supernaturally impregnated by the Holy Spirit of God. She was so courageous and brave. She risked her own life and reputation to obey God. What a beautiful testimony we see in her life.

This week will be 44 years since I aborted my son, José, on December 10, 1980. I wish I had the courage like Mary to have my baby, but I allowed the fear of man to push me to abort my baby. No puedo cambiar mi pasado, but I can learn from my mistakes.

God used my abortion to bring me into a relationship with Jesus. Ahora, I have the distinct honor of walking with all of you on your healing journeys. God has certainly taken my ashes, my horrible sins, and turned them into something beautiful for my good and His glory, and you are all a part of that. I believe that God makes all things work together for good to those who love Him, to those who are the called according to His purpose (Árbitro. Romanos 8:28). Dios, through the work of the Holy Spirit, is continually sanctifying us and conforming us to the image of Jesus. You all are so precious to Him; I hope you know that.

Preguntas para tomar en serio:

  1. How long has it been since your past abortion(s)?
  2. Are you still holding onto your secret of abortion(s)?
  3. Have you allowed God access to all your broken places so that He can heal you? If not, trust Him today. He wants you healed and whole so that you can become the woman He created you to be.
  4. Cómo podemos orar por ti?

Espero que este tema te haya sido útil.. Please reach out if you need to talk or need prayer: toni@myashestobeauty.com. I wish you a very blessed Christmas. God is still performing miracles today.

Eres amado,
Toni

 

Audio of "The Courage of Mary" blog post

Mary, Did You Know video

"Mary, Did You Know?"

(Featuring Chandler Moore & Lizzie Morgan)

Maverick City Music

 

Click here for the music video
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Esclavitud familiar

Esclavitud familiar

I would rather go back to what is familiar, even if it is bondage…

Exodus 16:1-4a and John 3:16,

And they took their journey from Elim, and all the congregation of the children of Israel came unto the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after their departing out of Egypt. And the whole congregation of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness: And the children of Israel said to them, “Oh that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat and when we ate bread to the full! For you have brought us out into the wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.” Then the Lord said to Moses, “Behold I will rain bread from heaven for you….”

When the trials of the children of Israel were too hard for them to bear, they wanted to go back to what was familiar: bondage in Egypt. They wanted to be in control; they felt safe knowing what to expect.

How many of us can relate to wanting to go back to the dysfunctional relationships or sins of our past because there is comfort in knowing what to expect? Change is hard because it’s unfamiliar, and there is no safety or comfort in it. But God doesn’t want us to stay in our dysfunction. He wants us healed. He came to set us free from our bondage to sin. He wants us to trust Him completely with every area of our lives.

God provided the children of Israel with bread that literally dropped out of the sky. He called it Manna, “Bread from Heaven.” If God did that for them, don’t you think He can help you too? I think the answer is Yes!!!

What is the spiritual factor to consider when I want to be in control, instead of God being in control?

I am saying to God, “I don’t trust You. I don’t believe You are good. I don’t believe You care about me.”

Entonces, what is the sin I am committing when I don’t trust God? The sin of unbelief.

Definition of faith in Hebrews 11:1 y 11:6: Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen. But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Let me ask you, what are you still trying to control and refuse to release into God’s hands?

I learned at a very young age to take control of every area of my life; eso, unfortunately, was not a good thing. A 12-year-old is not mature enough to take on such a responsibility. I controlled my voice but I did not use it. I controlled how I performed in school, sports, and in anything I set my mind to do by practicing until I could do something perfectly. When I was older, I controlled my weight by taking speed and diet pills and exercising excessively. I controlled what others perceived about me by wearing a mask to hide my true feelings and identity. It wasn’t until I felt safe to let God in that I was able to relinquish control to Him. By spending time in His Word, I began to understand the heart of God and discovered how much He loves us and wants us to be set free from our pasts, so we can live the abundant lives He came to give us. It’s by relinquishing control to God that we are set free. There is beauty in surrender.

Why are you not trusting God to help you in this area? What are you afraid of?

Relinquishing control was not a comfortable thing for me because I didn’t trust others not to hurt me. I became very self-sufficient and proficient in all I did. I had a huge wall around my heart that no one was going to penetrate, not even God. I grew up with a distorted view of God. I thought He was angry with me and would punish me if I was out of line, which is what I heard and saw as a child. Church was dark; people there spoke in another language, and the atmosphere was not warm and welcoming. So I associated these attributes with God. I felt He was dark, harsh, and unloving, which could not be further from the truth. I was fearful about trusting God because I was afraid of being hurt again. I didn’t know God’s heart toward me. When I got saved in 1994 and came across this verse from John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life,” I started believing that God does love me. And once I received His love into my heart and believed that He died for me on the cross, I started trusting Him more with my heart. But it was a long process. I am so grateful today for His love. That truth changed my life forever.

I had everything under control, so I thought, until my life and health started spiraling out of control. I couldn’t afford stuff anymore and my health was failing, my marriage was on the brink of divorce, and I didn’t know what to do. I was plagued with suicidal thoughts because I just couldn’t deal with my depression and self-loathing anymore, due to the sins from my past. This was not a life; it was a prison. I was just surviving because I needed someone to take my pain away, someone I could trust to love and accept me for who I was. Did such a person exist?

Querido,

I want you to know that there is such a person who loves and accepts you for who you are. His name is Jesus, and He is the only one who will love you right where you are. He will never hurt you or force you to do something against your will. He is kind, cariñoso, dependable, faithful, merciful, and forgiving. Jesus is your Savior and friend. Why not relinquish control of your life to God? Honestly, what do you have to lose at this point?

Eres amado,

Toni

 

What is the spiritual factor to consider when I want to be in control instead of God being in control?

I am saying to God, “I don’t trust You (Dios). I don’t believe You (Él) are good. I don’t believe You care about me.” So, what is the sin I am committing when I don’t trust God? The sin of unbelief.

Definition of faith in Hebrews 11:1 y 11:6: Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen. But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

 

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Te veré otra vez

Te veré otra vez

“Te veré otra vez, una carta a mi bebe”

Revelación 21:4-5a
“Y Dios enjugará toda lágrima de sus ojos; no habrá más muerte, ni pena, ni llorar. No habrá dolor, porque las cosas primeras han pasado”. Entonces el que estaba sentado en el trono dijo, “He aquí, yo hago nuevas todas las cosas”.

John 14:3
Y si voy y os preparo lugar, Volveré y os recibiré conmigo mismo.; que donde estoy, allí puede que también estés.

I Corintios 2:9
Pero como está escrito, “El ojo no ha visto ni el oído ha oído, ni han entrado en el corazón del hombre las cosas que Dios ha preparado para los que le aman”.

Mi carta a mi bebé

Querido José,

mi precioso niño, Te he amado toda mi vida adulta., y sin embargo, Nunca he visto tu cara ni te he tenido en mis brazos. por eso, Lo siento mucho. Fuiste un regalo de Dios, y te tiré. Lamento mucho haber acabado con tu vida.. Dios me mostró cómo te ves. Vi a un joven de unos 30 años en un avión., y tenia cabello castaño rizado y ojos azules. Sentí que mi espíritu se aceleraba. Le susurré al Señor, "¿Es así como se ve mi hijo?"?“Sentí la confirmación en mi espíritu..

Te llamé José porque lo que el enemigo pretendía para el mal, Dios se volvió para mi bien y para su gloria.. Cambió mis cenizas por algo hermoso.. José, Inspiraste un ministerio llamado My Ashes to Beauty para ayudar a otras mamás a recuperarse de sus abortos pasados..

Sé que estás en el cielo con Jesús, un lugar donde no hay tristeza., dolor, o tristeza. No puedo esperar el día en que pueda verte cara a cara en el cielo donde estaremos juntos para siempre.. He imaginado esa escena una y otra vez en mi mente.. Te veo saludándome en el cielo. Yo te conozco y tu me conoces. nos abrazamos. Con lágrimas de alegría corriendo por mis mejillas, me besas y te digo, “He esperado este momento durante tanto tiempo.. Ahora nunca más nos separaremos. Te amo, José”. tu respondes, "Te amo, Mamá." Entonces, Miraré a Jesús y le agradeceré por este precioso regalo de reunirme con mi hijo en el cielo y por el regalo de la salvación que me dio..

te veré pronto.

amor siempre,
Mamá

Mientras oraba por el tema de hoy, esta cancion llego a mi estacion, Cicatrices en el cielo, por Fundición de coronas. Aquí algunas de las letras (al cual le hice algunas modificaciones menores):

Ahora lo que daría por un día más contigo. José (el nombre de su hijo o hijos).
Porque hay una herida aquí en mi corazón donde falta algo. Y me dicen que con el tiempo sanará. Pero sé que estás en un lugar mejor donde estás sano y completo y yo también lo estaré..
Las únicas cicatrices en el cielo, No nos pertenecerán a mí ni a ti..
No habrá nada roto, y todo lo viejo será hecho nuevo. Y ese pensamiento me hace sonreír ahora, incluso cuando las lágrimas caen. ¿Es que las únicas cicatrices en el cielo están en las manos que te sostienen ahora?.

Preguntas para tomar en serio:
¿Cuáles son tus pensamientos cuando piensas en tu bebé? (o bebes)? ¿Qué te gustaría decirle a tu bebé? (o bebes)?

Puedes leer más cartas en nuestra web: https://myashestobeauty.com/a-letter-to-my-baby/

Rezo para que esto bendiga tu corazón..

Eres amado,

Toni

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La mujer con flujo de sangre

La mujer con flujo de sangre

Abortion Recovery Wpresagio Sapoyo GRAMOgrupo (ARWSG)

La mujer con flujo de sangre

Lucas 8:43-48 (NKJV)
ahora una mujer, tener un flujo de sangre durante doce años, que había gastado todo su sustento en médicos y no podía ser curada por ningún, vino por detrás y tocó la frontera (franja) de su vestidura. E inmediatamente se detuvo su flujo de sangre.. Y Jesús dijo, “¿Quién me tocó?Cuando todos lo negaron, Pedro y los que estaban con él dijeron, "Maestro, las multitudes se agolpan y te oprimen, y dices, ¿Quién me tocó?’” Pero Jesús dijo, “Alguien me tocó, porque percibí poder que salía de Mí.” Ahora bien, cuando la mujer vio que no estaba escondida, ella vino temblando; y cayendo ante él, ella le declaró en presencia de todo el pueblo la razón por la que lo había tocado y cómo fue sanada inmediatamente. Y le dijo a ella, "Hija, estar de buen ánimo; tu fe te ha hecho bien. Ve en paz."

Nosotras, las mujeres que hemos abortado, podemos relacionarnos con lo que esta mujer debe haber soportado durante tantos años.. Nosotros también sabemos lo que es gastar todo tipo de dinero en cosas que no nos curaron. Algunos de nosotros usábamos drogas y alcohol para medicarnos del dolor que habíamos guardado durante tanto tiempo.. Muchas de nosotras acudimos a médicos y terapeutas para ayudar a sanar el daño que nuestros abortos nos han hecho en tantas áreas de nuestras vidas.. Sabemos lo que es sufrir solo, estar aislado de los demás, y sentirse desesperado y deprimido. Estábamos desesperados por una cura, pero nada funcionó., hasta que llegamos al punto en que nos cansamos de existir y deseábamos la vida abundante que Jesús prometió que podríamos tener. Fue cuando casi habíamos perdido toda esperanza que encontramos a nuestro Salvador—Jesús, nuestro sanador. Lo arriesgamos todo, solo tocar el borde de Su manto porque sabíamos que si lo hacíamos, entonces seríamos sanados. Nos arriesgamos a exponernos porque sabíamos que solo Él podía sanarnos..

Se necesita fe en Dios y valor para salir a tocar el manto de Jesús para ser sanado. Ruego a Dios que te siga guiando en este viaje de sanación y que te fortalezcas en el Señor., para que podamos traer más mujeres a este ministerio para la curación. Que sigamos siendo Sus manos y pies en este mundo..

Preguntas:

¿Cuáles son algunas de las cosas que intentó en el pasado para ayudarla a sobrellevar el dolor de su aborto??
El alcohol y las drogas fueron mi escape de mi dolor. Estaba tan cansada de usar una máscara y fingir que mi vida era perfecta. Al poco tiempo, Simplemente no podía funcionar bien en absoluto. Mi vida se estaba desmoronando, mi salud estaba fallando, y mi matrimonio estuvo al borde del divorcio. Estaba en un profundo estado de desesperación y depresión.. Solo quería detener este tormento de vida., pero no podía dejar mi 2 niños sin mamá. Me sentía sin esperanza y quería morir hasta el día que conocí a Jesús.. Él fue tan amable y amoroso conmigo.. Cuando escuché el evangelio por primera vez dentro 4 semanas, Corrí hacia Jesús y besé sus pies y le agradecí por quitarme el dolor y por amarme.. Nunca conocí el amor así antes.

¿Cuándo finalmente tuviste el coraje de tocar el manto de Jesús para la curación??

En 2010, después de sufrir de depresión severa de nuevo, quería morir. Estaba llorando en mi cama y le dije al Señor, “Ya no puedo hacer esto; ¿No puedes llevarme a casa??” Escuché al Espíritu Santo susurrar, "Confías en mí?" Yo dije, "Si señor, Confío en ti." "¿Crees que puedo cambiar esto para siempre?"?" Yo dije, "Si señor, Yo creo que tu puedes." Él dijo, “Entonces confía en Mí.” Inmediatamente después de eso, Tengo el nombre de un ministerio, y comencé mi trabajo de recuperación para Hijos Adultos de Familias Emocionalmente Desconectadas. Era una alta responsabilidad, grupo de apoyo de sanación interior al que asistí durante 5 años, además asistí a reuniones semanales de recuperación. Esto me dio herramientas y lo más importante, ya no me siento solo. Hubo otras mujeres que lucharon como yo. Eso me inició en mi curación de mi pasado y todo el comportamiento poco saludable que estaba tolerando de los demás.. aprendí límites, se hizo fuerte, me enfrenté a los matones por primera vez en mi vida, y usé mi voz. Aprendí a verme como Dios me ve y finalmente recibí Su amor en mi corazón.. nunca he sido el mismo. Gracias, Jesús, por salvar mi alma y sanarme.

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