Concentrarsi sull'unica cosa che non ho

Concentrarsi sull'unica cosa che non ho

Focusing on the One thing I don’t have, vigilia.

Genesi 2:15-3:9, and Isaiah 61:1-3

How does the enemy torment a believer? It’s very simple actually, by getting us to focus on the one thing we don’t have: it can be financial security, a relationship, good health, a job, a family, a nice home, etc. Così, let me ask you, what one thing are you focusing on right now that you don’t have?

Let’s look at Eve for example, she lived in a beautiful garden in perfect harmony with her husband and all of creation and they walked with and spoke with God daily. She had everything she could ever want, except one thing; God told them not to touch or eat of the tree in the midst of the garden because when they eat of it their eyes will be open and they will know good and evil. Così, what does the serpent, the devil do? He comes to Eve after observing her looking at the tree. This is not in the Bible, but we know that the devil cannot read our minds. But he and his demons observe us and how we react to things. Così, he is observing Eve over a period of time and notices her looking at the tree; he slithers by and starts talking with Eve. The first thing he does is to put doubt in Eve’s mind that God doesn’t love her or else he would have given her everything, that “God is holding out on you, because he knows if you eat of it you will be like God knowing good and evil.” No, the truth is, that by disobeying God, sin entered the world and there will now be conflict between the woman and her husband, all of creation will be forever changed, and their relationship with God will be broken. They will now experience pain, grief, sorrow, vergogna, and guilt and Adam and Eve will be forced out of their beautiful garden to never return again. They will be cursed as a result of their sins. That sounds pretty harsh but that’s how evil sin is, we like to justify sin so it doesn’t sound so bad, but the truth is sin is destructive and it separates us form God and others.

Many of us chose abortion, drunkenness, drugs, promiscuity and lying, as a way to cope with all of the pain and destructive choices in our lives. We were spiraling out of control, until one day we met the Savior, who had mercy on us and saved us from the path of destruction we were on. He exchanged our ashes for something beautiful, He took our mourning and grief; he gave us joy and exchanged our rags for a beautiful pure white garment. He gave us a new life, a new destiny, a new song, and a new purpose. I don’t want my old life back because that person is dead and gone. I have been made new and I no longer desire the things I use to do.

 

Let me ask you what are you struggling with today?

 

What thing is the enemy causing you to focus on?

 

Have you ever asked Jesus to forgive your sins and to become your Lord and Savior?

 

How can we pray for you?

 

benedizioni,

Toni

La tua vita è stata resuscitata?

La tua vita è stata resuscitata?

John 1:1,14, Titus 3:5, Luca 1:28, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Matteo 27:3-4, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, and Colossians 3:1

For those of us who have suffered the trauma of abortion, can agree that every part of our being, fisico, mental, spiritual, and emotional, has been broken and shattered into a million pieces. We found ourselves barely able to function and as a result we chose unhealthy mechanisms to cope with our state of despair; such as alcohol, sex, drugs, shopping, unhealthy relationships or anything that could fill the black hole in our heart. There is only one person who can pick up the shattered pieces of our broken lives and fill the hole in our heart and that is Jesus the only begotten Son of God. Have you truly met the Savior, the lover of your soul? Have you been led out of the darkness and chains, into His glorious healing light?

Where were you when you found Jesus? I was 34 years old and literally on my back laying on my couch for weeks at a time, and thinking this is not living, I am barely surviving, and wanting to end this torment of a life. My depression was so severe that I was incapable of getting on with my life and daily responsibilities. I was a broken, depressed, addicted, suicidal mess. On the outside, I pretended to have a perfect life, but inside I was dying and it became exceedingly more difficult to put on my mask every day. The only thing that kept me from formulating a plan to end my life were my 2 children who were very young, at the time around 7 E 8. I could not abandon them and leave them without a mother.

My husband had been on a quest to find the truth about Jesus and he was attending several churches in our area. In my desperation, I told him I wanted to attend church with him on one such Sunday. All four of us attended a small Baptist church in Browns Mills, NJ on January 2, 1994. For the next four weeks we would attend church as a family for Sunday School, Sunday Service, and on Sunday and Wednesday night meetings. My heart and mind were being saturated with the Bible, the Living Word of God (John 1:1,14). My Spirit was slowly being regenerated or reborn (Titus 3:5). My eyes and ears were opened and I heard things I had never heard before, and I had attended church my whole life. I heard that Jesus was born of a virgin teenager, a woman blessed and chosen by God, (Luca 1:28) but no different from you or I. He lived a sinless life, (2 Corinthians 5:21) was betrayed by Judas Iscariot for 30 pieces of silver, (Matteo 27:3-4) was tortured and crucified on a cross, died, was buried and rose again on the third day. (1 Corinthians 15:3-4) He is alive and sitting at the right hand of the Father in Heaven. (Colossians 3:1) When I realized that Jesus loved me so much that He died for me and He took upon himself my sins and He willingly died for me. I was finally broken of my self-sufficiency and pride and I humbled myself before God and I asked Him to forgive my sins and I asked Jesus to be my Lord and Savior.

The most memorable life transforming day of my life was on February 6, 1994 when I became a born-again believer in Jesus. I will never forget that evening after Church when I was of all things, smoking a cigarette in my garage; that addiction took longer to stop than my drinking which stopped immediately. It was a clear crisp beautiful February evening and looking up I saw the moon and stars and I had this overwhelming feeling inside that something happened, I felt my spirit quicken in me and I said, “I feel you in me, I am changed, thank you Jesus.” Tears streamed down my cheeks and I was filled with gratitude, love, and hope for the first time in my life, I felt completely loved.

Have you encountered Jesus?

Once you do you will never be the same.

Tell me your story, where were you when Jesus found you?

benedizioni,

Toni

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Quando finalmente ho ricevuto l'amore di Gesù nel mio cuore

Quando finalmente ho ricevuto l'amore di Gesù nel mio cuore

Da quando ero un bambino piccolo, Non ho usato la mia voce e mi sono nascosto in sottofondo per rimanere sotto il radar. Di conseguenza, Sono diventato ciò che la gente voleva che io fossi. Sono stato etichettato, "Il bene, tranquillo. " Avevo paura del rifiuto, così sono diventato un popolo gradito. Credevo nella bugia che se fossi perfetto, Sarei amato. È stato allora che ho iniziato a indossare una maschera.

Il mio bisogno di amore e accettazione mi ha fatto nascondere parti di me stesso. Ho mostrato solo i lati positivi in ​​modo che la gente mi amasse. Poi, quando ero 12 Anni, Ho iniziato a rubare whisky dall'armadio dei liquori dei miei genitori. Adesso, Mi stavo davvero nascondendo. Non volevo che i miei genitori lo scoprissero. Erano molto severi con me, essendo il più vecchio, e non volevo che fossero arrabbiati o delusi da me.

Come sono cresciuto, i miei peccati erano sempre più gravi, e i miei segreti sono diventati sempre più grandi. Così, Ho isolato ancora di più e ho nascosto tutto. La mia maschera si è trasformata man mano che crescevo. Come un bambino, Ho cercato la perfezione. Ero un bravo studente, buon atleta, e un bravo bambino a tutto tondo. Quando non funzionava, Ho sfruttato uno stile di vita di alcol, droghe e sesso. Quando ero a casa, Ero ancora quello buono. Ma al liceo, Ero in giro con quelli che fumavano e drogavano.

A questo punto, le persone piacevoli hanno governato la mia vita. Tutto ciò che cercavo erano riconoscimenti da altri e un posto in cui potevo inserirmi e sentirmi al sicuro. Ma non lo troverei da molto tempo. Onestamente, Ho perso la mia identità perché volevo adattarmi agli altri. Non sapevo più cosa mi piaceva e cosa volevo fare perché sono diventato camaleonte e sono cambiato a seconda del gruppo con cui ero. Avevo perso la mia identità cercando di compiacere gli altri.

Mi sono sentito non amato e perso. Il mio consumo di alcol e droghe era fuori controllo. Ero una bomba a orologeria a piedi. Mi odiavo e mi sentivo così depresso. Ho lottato per tenere tutto insieme. Quando ho scoperto di essere incinta di una studentessa universitaria di 21 anni, Ho preso il panico. Questa gravidanza non si adattava al racconto che stavo permettendo ai miei genitori di vedere. Non ero il buono, tranquillo. Stavo facendo molto empio, peccaminose cose distruttive, e ora avrei terminato la vita di mio figlio.

Come sono finito qui? Tutta la mia vita è stata una bugia. Avrò un aborto e mi comporterò come se tutto andasse bene. Ma non è andato tutto bene. Dopo questo evento traumatico, Ero più depresso di prima, piangendo continuamente e bevendo di più. I miei pensieri disgustosi e suicidi mi affliggevano continuamente. Volevo solo morire così questo tormento si sarebbe fermato. Era troppo difficile mantenere questa facciata. Lentamente il mio maschera stava spaccando, e avevo così paura di essere scoperto. Tutti i miei peccati e bugie verrebbero inondati. io ero spaventato.

All'inizio dei miei 30 anni ho avuto un crollo fisico ed emotivo. Non potrei funzionare normalmente. Mi sdraiavo sul divano per settimane alla volta. Tutti gli anni di ripieno, menzogna e tutto il dolore che avevo provato in tutta la mia vita stavano iniziando a emergere di lato. Ero un vulcano a piedi, spargere cenere bollente su chiunque mi abbia ostacolato. Ero estremamente emozionato. Sentivo che non avrei potuto guardare nessuno negli occhi perché se l'avessi fatto, Non sarei in grado di smettere di piangere.

Lentamente ho iniziato a riconoscere che avevo bisogno di aiuto. Avevo bisogno di qualcuno che mi amasse, accettami, e guariscimi. Avevo bisogno di un Salvatore. Quindi a gennaio 2, 1994, Ho ascoltato il Vangelo per la prima volta. Entro 4 settimane ho dato il mio cuore a Gesù, ho confessato i miei peccati, voltato dai miei vecchi modi e rivolto a Dio. Sto arrivando per il 26 ° anniversario della mia salvezza, ed è ancora il giorno più dolce della mia vita. È il giorno in cui ho finalmente consegnato la mia vita a Dio e gli ho permesso di guarire il mio corpo spezzato, il mio cuore spezzato e la mia mente spezzata. Mi ha trasformato nella donna che mi ha creato per essere: un amore, donna fiduciosa piena di gioia e pace. Sono stato adottato nella famiglia di Dio; Sono accettato, e sono finalmente amato. Mi sento sicuro di essere me stesso. Ora posso togliermi la maschera perché sono finalmente a casa.

Indossi una maschera?

Come appare la tua maschera?

Hai il coraggio di toglierti la maschera ed essere reale?

Prego che come Dio ti guarisca, sarai pieno del suo amore e avrai il coraggio di toglierti la maschera.

benedizioni,

Toni

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MY Wall—My Prison (Part Two)

MY Wall—My Prison (Part Two)

My Wall — My Prison (Part Two)

When Is it Safe to Let the Wall Down?

In Part 1, My Wall — My Prison, we talked about the walls we built around ourselves as children to protect us from others and how these walls became our prisons. We found ourselves cut off from everyone, alone and tormented by the enemy. So how do we start taking the walls down and feeling safe to share what we have been hiding all these years?

Primo, a relationship with God is extremely important. To have this relationship, the Bible says we must be born again. We become born again or saved when we ask God to forgive our sins through confession (romani 10:9) and repentance, which means turning away from our sins and turning to God (Luca 5:32). We must also believe in our hearts that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross for our sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day (1 Corinthians 15:3–4, romani 10:13). We then receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, The Spirit of Truth. He gives us the power to understand Scripture (John 14:17), convicts us of sin (John 16:8), and is our comforter, constant companion, and friend (John 14:16). It is through the power of the Holy Spirit that God connects with us in a deep and intimate way, making us a family.

My life changed dramatically when I finally received the love of God in my heart. I knew Jesus loved me, but I didn’t feel loved. I still believed the lies that I was unworthy to be loved by God, or anyone else for that matter, because of all my sins, especially my abortion. When the truth finally penetrated my heart, I was forever changed. I realized I was a child of God who was adopted into His family. He would never leave me nor forsake me. I was His, and I was bought by His precious blood on the cross for my sins. I am loved by God just the way I am. I am so grateful for this truth.

Second, I believe being in a Christ-centered community is critical for our healing. In this community, the Word of God is used along with the power of the Holy Spirit. Prayer and recovery tools are also used in this loving environment, creating a safe place to share.

I believe abortion breaks the very soul of a women into a million pieces. Those pieces, created by the trauma of having an abortion, can only be picked up and put back together by Jesus. We were designed by God to love, protect, and nurture our children; we did the opposite. This group is a safe place to share our hearts and our hurts without judgment or condemnation.

Lastly, it is okay to still be protected from people who are unsafe emotionally and/or physically. God does not want His daughters abused. As God heals you and you become more confident, He will lead you to start sharing with those with whom you feel safe. This group is a good place to start sharing within a safe and loving community to build your confidence.

Healthy boundaries are necessary to keep us safe so we can have more fulfilling and meaningful relationships with others. On the other hand, holding on to secrets is not a good way to have deep and meaningful relationships. When you feel safe to do so, share your secrets so you can be set free, giving the enemy nothing to hold against you.

Domande

  1. Are you ready to let your wall down to let God in so you can receive the love and the help you need?
  2. Who are you praying about sharing your past with? Do you have a healthy relationship with this person? It’s okay to keep yourself protected, but do not allow the enemy to isolate you or put you back into the prison.

Sei amato,
Toni

Leggi My Wall — My Prison (Part One) QUI.

 

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My Wall — My Prison (Part One)

My Wall — My Prison (Part One)

My Wall — My Prison (Part One)

Genesi 1:27, Genesi 2:7, John 8:44, and Luke 15:10

When I look back on my past and try to put all the pieces together, I remember being a very young child, hiding from my father’s anger. He was unpredictable, and I was frightened by him. Al tempo, my mother was also struggling. At 23 Anni, she had rheumatoid arthritis and a husband who was a rageaholic. She would become extremely frustrated and take it out on us kids. It was an extremely difficult time for our family. It was at this point that I began building a wall to protect myself from getting hurt by others. I became very quiet and isolated. It was a way for me to stay out of trouble and the only way I knew how to control my unpredictable environment. Little did I know, this wall would become impenetrable, and I would become a prisoner of it.

Alone and isolated: This was exactly where the enemy wanted me to be so he could torment me and hold me captive, destroying my life. The devil hates anything that God has created, especially humans. He hates humans because we are made in the image of God (Genesi 1:27) and have living souls that connect with God on a deep level (Genesi 2:7). The devil wants humans to bow down and worship him instead of God. How does he accomplish this? He does this by isolating us and lying to us, like he did with me. I built a huge wall around myself, a wall that I did not know would ultimately become my prison cell. He was a murderer from the beginning, as well as a deceiver, liar, and the father of lies (John 8:44). It’s no wonder that he was behind the first sin when Adam and Eve fell in the garden, and also the first murder between their children, Cain and Abel. He is alive and well today in the abortion industry, convincing women that abortion is their only choice.

When I lived behind my wall, I could not receive the love I desperately needed because I was cut off from the rest of the world. When we isolate ourselves, the enemy attacks us the most. We have no one to turn to for love, fellowship, or help. We are alone, tormented by our thoughts and the lies of the enemy. I have learned from experience that when I feel like isolating myself and putting my wall up, I need to do the opposite. So I reach out to someone and ask for help. That’s how I protect myself from the fiery darts of the enemy. I pray this was helpful for you.

All hope is not lost. God performed a miracle on my behalf, and He can on yours too. He pursued and wooed this broken, solitario, and tormented woman. He made me feel safe enough to slowly peek out of the window of my prison cell to hear about the beauty of the Lord and see Him working in my husband’s life. I so desperately wanted to feel loved and connected with another person in a deep and meaningful way. I have heard it said that God created us with a God-shaped hole in each of our hearts. We try to fill this hole with the things of this world, yet only He can fill it.

What I really needed was a Savior: someone who would love me, pursue me, sacrifice His life for me, and tell me I was worth the cost. I was waiting for my prince to come and rescue me, and He did. His name is Jesus, my Savior, my friend, and my Lord. He rescued me from the clutches of the enemy, and I am forever in His debt. I will serve Him all the days of my life, and I will be with Him forever in glory when I pass from this life to the next.

Domande

  1. Have you put up a wall to protect yourself?
  2. Are you still hiding behind that wall?
  3. Are you ready to give God a try and lower your wall, so that He can heal you and love you?
  4. Have you asked Jesus to forgive your sins?Do you believe that He is the sinless, Son of God who died on the cross for your sins, rose from the dead on the third day, and is now sitting at the right hand of the Father in Heaven? If you have not, then today is the day of salvation. The angels rejoice over one sinner that repents (Luca 15:10).

Please let us know how we can help you on your healing journey.

Sei amato,
Toni

 

Read My Wall—My Prison (Part Two) QUI
When Is It Safe to Let My Wall Down?

 

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The Memorial Stones: Ricordando ciò che Dio ha fatto

The Memorial Stones: Ricordando ciò che Dio ha fatto

We see several times in Scripture that God commanded the children of Israel to set up a memorial of remembrance for what He had done for them. These memorials were to be shared with future generations so they could see what God had done for them. I believe it is important for us to look back as well, to see where we’ve come from and remember what the Lord has done for us.

Think back to a time before you knew the Lord. When you were walking in the way of this world and living your life for yourself and your own selfish desires.

What did your life look like before Christ? Tell others the wonderous and amazing things that God has done for you. There is power in your testimony. I pray God leads you to share this with others.

When I was 12 Anni, I decided the, “good quiet” persona was not working for me. I was not getting the attention that I longed for. Così, I decided to take another path, one that would lead to self-loathing, addiction, and destruction. I was blinded and unaware of the evil that I would do to myself and to others. My unhealthy destructive choices would only intensify with age and become more and more grievous as I plunged headlong into drug and alcohol usage, promiscuità, smoking, and ultimately an abortion.

I just wanted to be loved, but instead I was used and abused and did the same to others. I would continue on this self-destructive path until I was 34 Anni. Poi, one day in January 1994 in a small Baptist Church, Ho ascoltato il Vangelo per la prima volta: Jesus was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, was crucified on the cross for my sins and the sins of the whole world, was buried and rose again on the third day and ascended into heaven and is now seated at the right hand of the Father. It was His love for me and you that kept Him nailed to that cross. (1 Corinthians 15:3-6, Acts 1:9, romani 8:34)

I don’t deserve His love, but it is the sweetest gift I have ever been given. I have been forgiven from my sin debt and I have been set free to live the life He created me to live. I am so humbled and grateful to Jesus for His work and for my relationship with Him. Sono una nuova creazione in Cristo; le cose vecchie sono passate, behold, the new has come. (2 Corinthians 5:17) ho una nuova vita, un nuovo scopo, and a new song in my heart thanks to Jesus.

Joshua 4:1-7

And it came to pass, when all the people had completely crossed over the Jordan, that the Lord spoke to Joshua, detto: “Take for yourselves twelve men from the people, one man from every tribe, and command them, detto, ‘Take for yourselves twelve stones from here, out of the midst of the Jordan, from the place where the priests’ feet stood firm. You shall carry them over with you and leave them in the lodging place where you lodge tonight.’” Then Joshua called the twelve men whom he had appointed from the children of Israel, one man from every tribe; and Joshua said to them: “Cross over before the ark of the Lord your God into the midst of the Jordan, and each one of you take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, that this may be a sign among you when your children ask in time to come, detto, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’ Then you shall answer them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord; when it crossed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. And these stones shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel forever.”

Nel suo amore e servizio,

—Toni

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