Doing a great study this year with some lovely women from St. George's. The author of the study, Beth Moore, was a victim of child abuse and this lesson from week five speaks to this issue. As I worked on the lesson this morning, I thought about many of my friends in theatre. I was asked to lead the last two weeks. What fun. I get to do it again this week and next.
Here's a bit from Day 3 of Week 5
Satan wants to keep people from receiving Christ as Savior. Certainly, childhood victimization is an effective deterrent since many victims feel they "cannot believe in a God who could let such things happen." If only they knew how anxious the Father is to heal and vindicate! The enemy can try to keep them blinded.... Since the enemy cannot keep salvation from anyone who wants to believe, he tries to insure that they will be either too emotionally handicapped to turn into an effecctive witness, or perhaps better yet, to driven by destruction to avoid scandal. The enemy's hope for Christians is that we will either be so ineffective we have no testimony, or we'll ruin the one we have.
And from the end of the lesson, here's a beautiful letter from God (based on what we know about him from the Bible). Put your name in the blanks.
My child, _________________, I loved you before you were born. I knit you in your mother's womb and knew what your first and last words would be. I knew every difficulty you _______________ would face. I suffered each one with you. Even the ones you didn't suffer with me. I had a plan for your life before you were born. The plan has not changed, _______________, no matter what has happened or what you have done. You see, I already knew all things concerning you before I formed you. I would never allow any hurt to come into your life that I could not use for eternity, _______________. Will you let me? Your truth is imcomplete unlesss you view it against the backdrop of my Truth. Your story, _______________, will forever remain incomplete...until you let Me do what only I can do with your hurt. Let Me perfect that which concerns you.
I remain,
Your Faithful Father.
