Quem são as pessoas da sua varanda?

Quem são as pessoas da sua varanda?

Quem são as pessoas da sua varanda?

By Toni Weisz/Recovery Tools

Referências bíblicas: Hebrews 10:24 and Matthew 11:28–30

Balcony peeps (people) are individuals who cheer you on in your life. They are literally hanging over the railing of a balcony, cheering you on in your walk with Jesus and in the hard things you have experienced in your life. They are your cheerleaders.

Who do you see as your balcony peeps? Can you see their faces? Can you hear their words of encouragement?

Too many people, even in ministry, are not kind, gentle, loving, or supportive. I have experienced a lot of pride lately in leadership roles, and it makes me very sad because I know that is not pleasing to our God.

In the book, Balcony People, the author talks about the toxic people in our lives and how much importance we put on their words instead of focusing on the positive people God has put in our lives that help stir us up to love and good works. (Referência. Hebrews 10:24)

 

Here is a poem by an anonymous source taken from the book, Balcony People by Joyce Landorf Heatherley:

I was hungry and you formed a humanities club to discuss my hunger.
THANK YOU.

I was imprisoned and you crept off quietly to your chapel to pray for my release.
NICE.

I was naked, and in your mind, you debated the morality of my appearance.
WHAT GOOD DID THAT DO?

I was sick and you knelt and thanked God for your health.
BUT I NEEDED YOU.

I was homeless and you preached to me of the shelter of the love of God.
I WISH YOU’D TAKEN ME HOME.

I was lonely and you left me alone to pray for me.
WHY DIDN’T YOU STAY?

You seem so holy, so close to God; but I’m still very hungry, sozinho, frio, and still in pain.
DOES IT MATTER?

 

How do we meet these women’s needs? They need a safe place to come to lay their burdens down. That’s why we do the Sunday Conference calls. We want to be the hands and feet of Jesus to these dear precious women. We provide a community of women who have experienced the same trauma because we have walked the same walk. We know through experience what they are feeling.

They are yearning to feel deeply connected in a safe community. They have been used and abused and feel isolated in their pain, and they are vulnerable to the attacks of the evil one. They desire to be seen by others. They need love, support, and encouragement that one day, if they seek God with their whole heart, they will be healed. But it’s hard work, and that is what we are here for, to cheer them on and to help them heal from their past trauma. It is God that leads them to us, and it’s through the power of Jesus, the Word of God, and the work of the Holy Spirit that they are healed. We are just vessels God uses to accomplish this miraculous work.

We meet their spiritual needs as well as physical needs. We do not judge them for the things that have happened to them in their past because that does not define them. We love them, and we know they are weary with their pain and trauma from their past.

We are reminded of the words of Jesus in Matthew 11:28–30: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

I thank God for each of you on this call today. I know most of your stories, and I am in awe of God and the work He has been doing in your lives. I get to watch God miraculously heal your broken hearts, bodies, minds, and spirits. I am truly honored and humbled by the privilege to serve in this ministry and for each and every one of you.

Perguntas para levar a sério:

  1. Who are your balcony peeps, your cheerleaders?
  2. Do you see them hanging over the balcony cheering you on? What are they saying to you?
  3. Who are you encouraging? For those that are just beginning your healing journey, take care of yourself and your family first, then you can reach out to others.
  4. How can we pray for you on your healing journey?

Please reach out if you need to talk this week. Send me a text at: 561-327-7274 or email me at: toni@myashestobeauty.com.

Você é amado,
Toni

Leia mais sobre os blogs de Toni AQUI.
senhor, Eu quero ser curado

senhor, Eu quero ser curado

senhor, I Want to Be Healed

por Toni Weisz/Disciplinas Espirituais

Referências bíblicas: John 10:10b, Efésios 3:20, Isaías 41:10, Lucas 19:10 e Salmo 40:1–3

 

If we truly want to be healed from our past trauma, we must be willing to surrender all to God. We must step out and trust Him completely in this process even when it gets scary and it’s unpredictable and out of our control.

For those who have experienced abuse and abortion in our past, it is hard to let go of control because it was our protection, so we thought.

We have to come to the point where we don’t want to just survive; we want to live the abundant life Jesus came to give us (Read John 10:10b). We no longer want to just settle; we want to experience true love and acceptance, perhaps for the first time in our lives.

If you are reading this blog, you most likely have decided you want to be healed, too. You are courageous and tired of the life you were living and want more. You want to stop the cycle of dysfunction in your life and for future generations. This is a long and very hard process, but it is worth it.

If you are willing, God is able to do exceedingly abundantly more than what you can ask or think (Read Ephesians 3:20). That’s the God we serve. He is not limited by time and space. He is eternal.

I remember back in 2006, when God called me to the post–abortion healing and recovery ministry, starting a journal called, “Why are the relationships closest to me toxic?” God gave me awareness that there was something going on in my relationships with those closest to me. But what was it? I was the common denominator, so what was I doing to enable these toxic relationships?

I discovered many answers over a ten-year period of relentlessly going to God as a broken surrendered woman, “Lord I want to be healed from all the pain, rejeição, abuso, and my abortion. I want to be set free from my people-pleasing, fear of authority figures, and codependency. I want to know your love in the innermost parts of my being. I want to feel loved, cherished, and safe, but how do I get there?” Please read my blog, “When I Finally Received the Love of Jesus in My Heart.” https://myashestobeauty.com/when-i-finally-received-the-love-of-jesus-in-my-heart-toni-weisz-abortion-recovery-and-abuse-support-group/

God was so gentle with me because He knew how fragile I was after a lifetime of pain, rejeição, and trauma. He was leading me with His righteous right hand on a path of healing that was so difficult at times, but it was also beautiful (Read Isaiah 41:10).

I discovered the heart of God on this journey, e para isso, I am most grateful. To know the Father’s heart towards us is life transforming. He is love, gentle, kind, faithful, peaceful, generous, powerful, and eternal. He is close to the abused, neglected, abandonado, and broken. He came to seek and to save the lost (Read Luke 19:10). We were all that at one point. But God in His infinite wisdom, His abounding grace and love picked us up out of the pit and placed us on the Rock, Jesus Christ, our Lord, our strong foundation (Read Psalm 40:2).

Hallelujah!!! Obrigada, Jesus.

Perguntas para levar a sério:

  1. When did God show you the dysfunction in your life?
  2. What was your next step after your awareness?
  3. How is God healing you? Who or what did He use to accomplish this?
  4. Como podemos orar por você?

Please reach out if you need prayer or a word of encouragement. You can email me at: toni@myashestobeauty.com.

I watched this movie trailer recently that truly blessed my heart: Kendrick Brothers’ Show me the Father.

Here is the YouTube trailer: https://youtu.be/k4g0CFfGkMk

I pray it blesses your heart also.

 

Você é amado,

Toni

 

Eu faço novas todas as coisas

Eu faço novas todas as coisas

Eu faço novas todas as coisas
Por Toni Weisz/Disciplinas Espirituais

 

Referências bíblicas: Revelação 21:1–5, Efésios 2:8–9, Efésios 3:14–21

Revelação 21:1–5
Agora eu vi um novo céu e uma nova terra, pois o primeiro céu e a primeira terra já passaram. Também não havia mais mar. Então eu, John, vi a cidade santa, Nova Jerusalém, descendo do céu da parte de Deus, preparada como uma noiva adornada para seu marido. E ouvi uma voz alta do céu dizendo, "Contemplar, o tabernáculo de Deus está com os homens, e Ele habitará com eles, e eles serão o Seu povo. O próprio Deus estará com eles e será seu Deus. E Deus enxugará toda lágrima de seus olhos; não haverá mais morte, nem tristeza, nem chorando. Não haverá mais dor, porque as coisas anteriores já passaram.”

Então Aquele que estava sentado no trono disse, "Contemplar, Eu faço novas todas as coisas.” E Ele me disse, "Escrever, pois estas palavras são verdadeiras e fiéis.”

Deus me deu, e aqueles que servem comigo neste ministério, um privilégio especial caminhar ao lado de vocês, mulheres corajosas e corajosas, em sua jornada de cura. Vimos você ficar arrasado e com medo de compartilhar seus segredos de trauma de abortos e abusos anteriores. Você tem medo da condenação e do julgamento. Deixar de lado seus segredos não é uma coisa fácil, especialmente para aqueles que os carregam há muitas décadas.

Mas nosso misericordioso e amoroso Pai não quer mais que você faça isso sozinho. Ele quer que você seja curada para se tornar a mulher que Ele criou você para ser.

Eu vi Deus em minha própria vida quebrar, deprimido, suicida, mulher atormentada e me levante do chão, e me mostre Seu grande amor, abrindo meus olhos espirituais para ver que eu era um pecador indo para o inferno.

Minha vida foi transformada quando ouvi pela primeira vez o Evangelho de que Jesus nasceu de uma virgem, viveu uma vida sem pecado, foi crucificado, morreu, sepultado e ressuscitou ao terceiro dia, para derrotar a morte e Satanás. Ele tomou meu lugar na cruz, Ele pagou minha dívida de pecado. Corri para Jesus para me resgatar do tormento de uma vida que eu estava vivendo 34 anos. Eu nunca poderei retribuir a Ele pelo dom da salvação que Ele me deu.

Efésios 2:8–9
Pois pela graça você foi salvo por meio da fé, e isso não vem de vocês; é o dom de Deus, não de obras, para que ninguém se glorie.

Nosso processo de cura é uma jornada para toda a vida. Fiquei surpreso com o quão quebrado e disfuncional eu estava quando comecei minha cura lá atrás. 2006. O tempo todo o inimigo me enganou que eu estava bem, não há necessidade de olhar para o meu trauma passado porque foi há muito tempo. “Eu estava bem.”

Isso não poderia estar mais longe da verdade. Você vê, o maligno quer nos manter isolados sentados na escuridão sendo atormentados por ele porque então ele nos tem exatamente onde nos quer.

Mas Deus não quer mais que Suas filhas sejam atormentadas. Ele quer que sejamos curados e libertos do inimigo e da nossa visão distorcida da verdade. Ele quer que tenhamos a coragem de dar um passo à frente e confiar que Ele nos guiará. Ele quer que usemos nossa voz e nosso testemunho para ajudar outros a dar um passo também. É um processo difícil, mas é tão lindo porque Jesus nos conduz gentilmente pela Sua destra justa.

Jesus me deu uma nova vida, uma nova música, e um novo propósito. Ele fez novas todas as coisas para mim, e eu sei que Ele pode fazer isso por você também se você se humilhar diante Dele e confiar Nele. Ele te ama mais do que você pode compreender.

Minha oração por você:
Efésios 3:14–21

Por esta razão me dobro de joelhos diante do Pai de nosso Senhor Jesus Cristo, de quem toda a família no céu e na terra recebe o nome, que Ele lhe concederia, segundo as riquezas da Sua glória, ser fortalecido com poder através do Seu Espírito no homem interior, para que Cristo habite em vossos corações pela fé; que você, estar enraizado e fundamentado no amor, possa ser capaz de compreender com todos os santos qual é a largura, o comprimento, a profundidade e a altura - conhecer o amor de Cristo que excede todo o conhecimento; para que você seja cheio de toda a plenitude de Deus.

Ora, àquele que é poderoso para fazer muito mais abundantemente além daquilo que pedimos ou pensamos, de acordo com o poder que opera em nós, a Ele seja a glória na igreja por Cristo Jesus, por todas as gerações, para sempre e sempre. Amém.

 

Se você está se perguntando como você também pode ter esta nova vida em Jesus:

Primeiro, devemos ter um relacionamento com Jesus, nosso Salvador. Ele é nosso curador. Não há verdadeira mudança de vida sem Ele. (Salvação)

Segundo, devemos ter coragem de sair e confiar Nele. Isso é difícil de fazer, mas devemos confiar Nele neste processo. (Confiar)

Terceiro, devemos gastar tempo diariamente lendo a Palavra de Deus e orando. (Devoções Diárias)

Quarto, devemos ser responsáveis ​​perante os outros. (Responsabilidade)

Quinto, devemos continuar a querer ser curados em todos os nossos lugares quebrados. Este é um processo que dura a vida toda. (Perseverança)

Sexto, we then go out and share our testimony so other women will have the courage to step out and be healed. (Sharing Our Testimony)


Perguntas para levar a sério:

  1. Where are you in your healing process? Salvação, Confiar, Devoções Diárias, Responsabilidade, Perseverança, or Sharing Your Testimony?
  2. Are you ready to go to the next level in your healing?
  3. How can we encourage you on your healing journey?

Rezo para que este tópico tenha sido útil para você. Please reach out to me at: toni@myashestobeauty.com.

Você é amado,

Toni

 

“You Make all Things New”
Big Daddy Weave

https://youtu.be/4_2aX_i4qpM?si=bJrJBO7ppX2n4j2Q

 

Guerra Espiritual

Guerra Espiritual

The Enemy Is Prowling
por Toni Weisz/Guerra Espiritual

Referências bíblicas: 1 Peter 5:8, Romanos 8:1 e Filipenses 4:13

 

Be sober, be vigilant; for your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 1 Peter 5:8

I have been under a barrage of attacks by the evil one since I shared the gospel in a letter to two of my family members. I want them to hear the gospel one more time so they can have confidence that when they pass from this life to the next, they can know they are saved and will be in heaven when they die. Not only that, but at the time of this writing, we have three, and possibly four, Recovery Bible Studies starting within the next few weeks. That’s a lot of women hearing the gospel, being healed and set free from the trauma of abortion and abuse.

The first week, the enemy used family. My kids were not in a good place, some hard conversations happened, and people were offended. Finalmente, they were able to communicate and work things out, without my help. The enemy was trying to get me to fret and worry and jump in and to take matters into my own hands (my old character defect of codependency and fear) instead of trusting God.

Then on a Saturday, the enemy used people in spiritual leadership. Ce were in a group setting, but I felt ignored and not included in the discussions. God showed me from this example what not to do as a spiritual leader. I am to be aware of everyone in the group. Ce all need encouragement and to feel included.

Then on uma Sunday, a leader at church made a weird comment. Again, God showed me how important my words are. They can uplift people or put people down. The enemy was trying to use spiritual leaders to peuck my rejection wound, desiring to awaken my people-pleasing character defect (my old character defect of people pleasing, putting others before God, which is idolatry).

Then a few days later, tele enemy used a woman who was very involved in serving in this ministry for many years, to react in a peculiar way and say some hurtful things. This one hurt pretty deeply. Again, I did not react. I actually did not send a text I had written because honestly, I did not know what to say. Em vez de, I prayed for her because obviously she is not in a good place. My old character defect of condemnation, listening to the lies of the enemy accusing me, was trying to make a comeback.

I was thinking to myself, “What in the world is going on?” Any one of these scenarios in the past would have pushed me over the edge, and I would have reacted badly or taken on rejection. Or my people pleasing would have kicked in and I would have scrambled around trying to make things right.

But because of the work God has been doing in my life over these 17 anos, I am able to see with my spiritual eyes what is going on.

I am so grateful God healed my rejection wound and que I no longer yearn for the approval of man. I want my life to please God. I am grateful there is no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus (referência. Romanos 8:1).

The accuser has no dominion over me. The Word of God has set me free, and the Holy Spirit protects me from the fiery darts of the enemy.

Eu posso fazer todas as coisas através de Cristo que me fortalece. (Filipenses 4:13)

I am so thankful to God for equipping the called. If God calls you to something, be confident that He will give you everything you need to succeed.

Perguntas para levar a sério:

  1. What kind of spiritual warfare have you been experiencing lately?
  2. Have you noticed a pattern? When are you most vulnerable to the enemy’s attacks?
  3. Como podemos orar por você?

Rezo para que este tópico tenha sido útil para você. Please reach out if you need to talk or need prayer. Envie-me um e-mail para: toni@myashestobeauty.com.

Você é amado,
Toni

Expectativas não atendidas

Expectativas não atendidas

 

Expectativas não atendidas
by Luci Boudreaux/Spiritual Insights

Referências bíblicas:

Hebrews 4:16
“Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

Salmo 27:13–14
“I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage wait for the Lord!”

 

After I surrendered my life to Jesus at age 25, I was so excited to go with God and live for Him. After years of mental and physical abuse by others and by my own poor life choices, which included abortion, I was anxious to start fresh. And I dared to dream for a normal life with God at the center.

I attended church, studied the Scriptures and hung out with other like–minded believers. I had great expectations about how God would fulfill my dreams to be a wife and a mom. And seeing all the young families at church intensified my longing to have my own family.

Years passed as my hopes and dreams went unfulfilled, in spite of my prayers. I got tired of waiting on God, so I took control and started dating a man who said the things I wanted to hear, but he turned out to be the opposite of the godly man I wanted to be with. You can read the whole story about “The Angel of Light” on MyAshesToBeauty.com under Luci’s Blogs, UMAônibus Rrecuperação.

After three years of abuse and separation from God, I ended the relationship and surrendered my singleness to the Lord. And not long after this, I met the man that I’ve been so thankful to be married to for 21 anos! In this difficult experience, God taught me that waiting on His timing and trusting His wisdom brings the best results.

Fast–forward to today, and again, God has me in a place of learning to trust and believe His promises. I have been physically suffering for years with GI tract and stomach pain. You might say, I carry stress in my gut! In the last few months, it has become debilitating. I’ve been aggressively reading and applying what the experts tell me to do, but nothing has brought relief. I also searched for a healthcare professional that could help to heal me. But as I prayed for guidance and searched for months, the doors continued to close.

My hope was fading as I questioned God, “Chy? Chy all this suffering? Chy all this waiting?” In my weakened state, I believed the lie that God would not bring healing e that He wasn’t hearing my cries for help.

In this process, God showed me that I needed an adjustment in my perspective because I had lost sight of what He was and is always doing in the life of His children. He was helping me see that I was allowing the cares of this world to affect me, that I was anxious about many things, and it was manifesting in my body breaking down. Além disso, he was preparing the perfect time for me to meet the right doctor. UMAnd as an added bonus, which I know was part of His plan, I not only met her but was também able to minister to her very precious mother who happened to be visiting.

God is not in the business of meeting our desires and needs in what WE believe to be the perfect time. He wants everything to be for our ultimate good (heart, mente e spirit) and for His glory. Just like Job, we can’t understand the mind of God, nor can we see the incredible plans He has for us. We have to trust that He loves us beyond our wildest dreams.

God has had His hand on my life circumstances this whole time! But He was waiting for me to give Him control and to trust His promises for me, as Scripture guides us. And one passage to emphasize is Psalm 25:9: “He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble His way.”

 

PUESTIONS:

What are you hoping and waiting for in your life?

Do you have a testimony of how God has answered your prayer in a way that surprised and blessed you beyond your expectations?

Como podemos orar por você?

 

Rezo para que este tópico tenha sido útil para você. You can reach me at: overcomer982@icloud.com.

 

Bênçãos,

Lúcia

 

 

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