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.

Closing Thoughts
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

By Toni Weisz/Spiritual Disciplines

Scriptures: 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, Joseph, 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 (Ref. 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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Miedo a la rendición

Miedo a la rendición

Miedo a la rendición

November 13, 2021

Miedo: Panic flight, causing of fear, terror (Strong’s Greek)

Surrender: Given out or over, surrendered, delivered (Strong’s Greek)

Scriptures

2 Timothy 1:7

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

Salmo 25:20

“Keep my soul, and deliver me; let me not be ashamed, for I put my trust in You.”

Salmo 27:1-14

“1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

2 When the wicked came against me to eat up my flesh,

my enemies and foes

They stumbled and fell.

3 Though an army may encamp against me,

my heart shall not fear;

though war may rise against me,

in this I will be confident,

4 One thing I have desired of the Lord,

that will I seek:

That I may dwell in the House of the Lord

All the days of my life,

To behold the beauty of the Lord,

and to inquire in His temple.

5 For in the time of trouble

he shall hide me in His pavilion;

In the secret place of his Tabernacle

He shall hide me;

He shall set me high up on a rock.

6 And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me;

Therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy to His Tabernacle;

I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.

7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice!

Have mercy also upon me, and answer me.

8 when you said, “Seek My Face,"

My heart said to You, “Your face, Caballero, I will seek”

9 Do not hide your face from me;

Do not turn your servant away in anger;

You have been my help;

Do not leave me nor forsake me.

Oh God of my salvation.

10 when my father and my mother forsake me,

Then the Lord will take care of me.

11 Teach me your way, O Lord,

And lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies.

12 Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries;

For false witnesses have risen against me,

And such as breathe out violence

13 I would have lost heart, unless I had believed

That I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

14 Wait on the Lord;

Be of good courage,

And He shall strengthen your heart;

Wait, I say, on the Lord!

When I say “fear of surrendering,” I’m not talking about our salvation. I’m talking about the things that we still hold onto that prevent us from completely surrendering our lives and will to Jesus.

Why do I still try to control my life, circumstances, and relationships? Why do I rely on myself instead of God?

Fear of surrender says that I believe that my way is better than God’s and that I trust myself more than the Lord to protect me, provide for me, and decide what’s best for me. It says that I am my own god.

When I am focused on my wounds from my past, I am not looking to Christ or to the liberty I now live in as His daughter.

Gálatas 5:1 says “Standfast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.”

Surrendering is a daily choice. Instead of surrendering to Jesus, am I running to activities or behaviors that will harm me and hold me back from freedom in Him? If so, what are those things?

Do I run to any detrimental outlets including or similar to the following?

  • Overeating, undereating, or obsessively controlling what I eat
  • Relationships that feed my negativity
  • Gossip
  • Judgment of others and having a critical spirit, which prevent me from recognizing my shortcomings and working on myself
  • Control of people and my environment (e.g., being a hover mother, bossing around spouses or friends)
  • Not trusting God to handle a situation and outcome for a friend or loved one
  • Obsessive cleaning and/or organizing
  • Substance abuse (e.g., of alcohol and/or drugs)
  • Compulsive shopping
  • Failing to take care of myself
  • Overexercising
  • Busyness in the name of God
  • Overworking or being overly career oriented
  • People pleasing instead of God pleasing

The fear of surrender is a demonic spirit to which we give opportunity for entry into our lives by not staying steadfast in our walks with God, not staying in the Word and renewing our minds, running to sin, and not keeping our eyes on Jesus.

Preguntas

  1. What things or old habits do you still run to that are preventing you from fully living a life surrendered to Christ today?
  2. What do you do to protect your mind and stay focused on the freedom that Christ has given you?
  3. Choose a scripture that you can memorize and speak out loud when you are struggling with surrendering a specific situation to God or ending an old habit. Please share it with the group.
  4. What specific thing can we be praying for you to be delivered from today?

 

God’s Beloved 1 John 3:2

 

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?

Dear One,

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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Nuestra percepción de Dios y por qué es importante

Nuestra percepción de Dios y por qué es importante

colosenses 3:2
Pon tu mente en las cosas de arriba, no en las cosas de la tierra.

Romanos 12:1-2
No os conforméis a este mundo, sino transformaos mediante la renovación de vuestra mente., para que podáis comprobar cuál es esa buena, agradable y perfecta voluntad de Dios.

No recuerdo de dónde saqué esta cita pero tiene mucho sentido.. “La ciencia nos dice que los pensamientos repetitivos con el tiempo se convierten en surcos físicos en el cerebro que afectan el razonamiento., opciones, y eventualmente nuestras creencias”.

¿Cuál era tu percepción de Dios cuando eras niño??

¿Fue amable?, cariñoso, y accesible o frio, distante, y enojado?
Mi percepción de Dios cuando era niño era que Él era inaccesible y enojado y me castigaría por la más mínima ofensa., No era un Dios de amor sino de ira.. Crecí en una iglesia que veía castigo por la más mínima ofensa con gobernantes y regaños.. La gente allí era muy dura y crítica.. Y que Dios se trataba de seguir reglas. No vi el amor de Dios ahí.
Puedes leer mi Blog bajo pensamiento apestoso.: https://myashestobeauty.com/stinking-thinking-my-distorted-view-of-god/

¿Cómo te afectó eso mientras crecías??
Debido a mi visión distorsionada de Dios, cuando me encontré en malas situaciones, Decidí tomar el asunto en mis propias manos en lugar de preguntarle a Dios qué debía hacer.. No pensé que Él se preocupara por mí.. Estaba en tal oscuridad que no podía ver Su luz en absoluto.. Debido a las relaciones poco saludables que tenía con otras personas más cercanas a mí, que eran bastante manipuladoras y controladoras., No pensé que valía mucho para Dios ni para los demás.. Entonces, que importa lo que le haga a mi cuerpo, Mi bebé, u otras personas? Pero Dios aparecía de vez en cuando cuando sentía que Él estaba allí y estaba interesado en mi vida.. Pero no llegaría a conocerlo como mi Señor y Salvador hasta que fuera 34 años.

Efesios 3:16-19
que él te concedería, según las riquezas de su gloria, ser fortalecido con poder por Su Espíritu en el hombre interior; para que Cristo habite en vuestros corazones por la fe, que Tú, estar arraigado y cimentado en el amor, que puedas comprender con todos los santos cuál es la anchura, la longitud, la profundidad y la altura, para conocer el amor de Cristo que sobrepasa todo conocimiento.; para que seáis llenos de toda la plenitud de Dios.

¿Cómo ves a Dios ahora??
Ahora finalmente he recibido la hermosa obra redentora de Cristo en mi vida una vez que pude recibir Su amor en lo más interno de mi ser., esa verdad me cambio para siempre. Incluso después de que fui salvo, Permití que la gente abusara de mí y me usara porque no tenía límites., y porque no me amaba, los demás tampoco me trataron con amor y respeto. Pero una vez que su amor impregnó mi corazón, Tuve coraje para poner límites y comencé a cuidarme y amarme.. Fue lo más liberador y hermoso que he experimentado., conocer el amor de Dios por mí mismo. Sentir y saber en mi corazón., que no importa lo que haya hecho en el pasado él me ama.

¿Cómo te ve??
Estoy agradecido por la verdad de la palabra de Dios de que cada persona es creada a Su imagen y se le da un valor intrínseco y es creada con un propósito para Su reino.. Ya no estoy atado a Satanás y al pecado, sino que soy adoptado en la familia de Dios.; Soy hija del Rey de la Gloria. Él me amó tanto que murió por mí en la cruz.. Su amor es tan profundo, y ancho, y alto que no puedo comprenderlo, pero creo en mi corazón que soy apreciado y amado por Dios. Y estaré con Él para siempre en el cielo por toda la eternidad.. en julio de 2017 estábamos teniendo a mi familia extendida en la ciudad, mi hermana y mi hermano y sus familias. Como resultado, Empecé a sentirme ansiosa y comencé a sentirme rechazada por todos ellos., porque ves que aún no conocen al Señor, así que ya no soy parte de su familia. El rechazo fue una herida enorme para mí y puedo llegar allí muy rápidamente si no estoy cimentado en la Palabra.. Para combatir mi herida de rechazo, Dios me hizo escribir verdades bíblicas específicas sobre, “Quien soy yo en Cristo," dice así:

quien soy en cristo

Soy digno
soy amado
pertenezco
Soy aceptado
soy adoptado
Tengo confianza y soy competente.
soy un niño de Dios
Tengo el Espíritu Santo dentro de mí.
Soy victorioso en Cristo
tengo un hogar en el cielo
Nada podrá separarme del amor de Dios en Cristo Jesús mi Señor
no temeré ningún mal

Estoy muy orgulloso de ti por tener el coraje de dar un paso adelante y confiar en que Dios te sanará..

Estás a salvo su amada hermana..

Eres amado,
Toni

Salmo 147:3
Él sana a los que tienen el corazón roto y venda sus heridas. (NKJV)

Toni y el equipo en myashestobeauty.com

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