The Vortex of Drama, Drama and More Drama

For the first 40 or so years of my life, everything was about the drama. There was always something traumatic happening and it was always someone else or something else that was the cause; never me. When I began the process of healing through professional counseling, the paradigm shift that occurred in me was huge. I had in fact caused my own drama and I remember seeing snakes come through the walls for 4 days when I realized how much I had hurt my son and many, many other people.

Isaiah 61:1-3 remains the core statement of my mission for helping wounded women to heal and to recognize who Almighty God is and how much he desires relationship with each of us. "The Lord God has put his Spirit in me, because the Lord has appointed me to tell the good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort those whose hearts are broken, to tell the captives they are free, and to tell the prisoners they are released. He has sent me to announce the time when the Lord will show his kindness and the time when our God will punish evil people. He has sent me to comfort all those who are sad and to help the sorrowing people of Jerusalem. I will give them a crown to replace their ashes, and the oil of gladness to replace their sorrow. and clothes of praise to replace their spirit of sadness. Then they will be called Trees of Goodness, trees planted by the Lord to show his greatness." (NCV)

Jesus read these words from Isaiah in Luke 4:18,19 during one of his visits to the synagogue. After he read the passage, he told them that as he was reading the words, the words were coming true. They did not understand who Jesus really was and the ministry he was beginning. He told them that a prophet is not accepted in his own town and talked of Elijah and Elisha and the ministry they had. People were so angry they wanted to throw him off the cliff edging the town but he walked through them and went on his way.

In ministering to women it is always interesting to me how open or closed they are to God's truth. I can usually tell within a few moments which way things will go. Something struck me from the Isaiah passage and I made a note in the margin of my Bible. God gives a crown to replace ashes. He gives oil of gladness to replace sorrow. Finally he gives clothes of praise to replace a spirit of sadness. Do you notice that we are given a choice? We cannot have both. Either we choose the good or the grief.

Over the past 10 years of working with women, it saddens me when they cannot see this choice. The enemy has so wounded them that they "circle the drain" in their vortex of drama. Everything spoken is about how awful life is, thereby perpetuating their woundedness. Proverbs 18:21 is never more true than in this instance. "The tongue has the power of life and death." (NIV) What we speak truly gives life or death to any situation or circumstance.

My mother began to say when she was in her 30's, "Come give your poor, old, decrepit mother a hug." When she died after fighting cancer for 25 years, she was indeed poor, old and decrepit. I just spent time with a woman, who truly could not hear the life giving truth from the Word of God I spoke over her heart. All she wanted was to circle the drain in her vortex of drama and she actually got angry with me for not walking in agreement with her speaking death over herself.

I am so thankful that God did not leave me in my state of unbelief. He not only redeemed me, he restored me. Now everything that I do and say is focused on God's life-giving word. I am truly free indeed. Praise God for his wonderful works to the children of men!

Do you know my Jesus?

Over my sixty years on this earth I have experienced many ways to witness the gospel of Christ. As a preacher's daughter, my early experiences included attempts to go into the neighborhoods around the church and invite people to services. Gospel tracts with titles like, "Are you going to hell?" were often a part of witnessing for Christ. Hell was a big deterrent in sermons and discussions. I remember being scared to death that I would go to hell. I was on the receiving end of this style of evangelism in early adulthood. Well-intentioned individuals, who made attempts to bring me over to their side would often be critical of my lifestyle. Somehow none of this worked for me.

After I came to Christ, I watched from a different perspective. I too wanted the lost people to find Christ. To date I have successfully avoided any attempts to join in with church member efforts of passing out tracts, going on visitations or standing outside busy retail establishments handing out whatever happened to be the gift idea at the time.

In the past couple of years as God has taught me the example of Jesus and His life, I am seeing this part of ministry in a whole new light. In the assuredness of my redemption and the boldness that comes from walking with my Holy Spirit, I have come to recognize freedom in this area. I have begun to see open doors or opportunities to speak truth and life over those who come into my circle of influence. God gives me the words to speak and the boldness to declare truth. It usually come out as, "Do you know my Jesus?"

Because I have declared myself as a "Christ follower", rather than a "Christian", this brings an entirely different level of discussion. Either people have a relationship with God or they don't. Simple, really. Once that relationship or lack therof has been established, I know how to continue the conversation. Then I use God's word to speak truth over their heart, mind and soul.

Whether we realize it or not, we all desire to have relationship with God. To have a connection with this creator of ours and of our world. I see so many wounded hearts at the rescue mission where I volunteer. Their needs are raw, immediate and unfulfilled. Who can resist the words from Psalms 139, "You have examined me and know all about me. You know when I sit down and when I get up. You know my thoughts before I think them. You know where I go and where I lie down. You know everything I do. Lord, even before I say a word, you already know it. You are all around me- in front and in back- and have put your hand on me. Your knowledge is amazing to me; it is more than I can understand. For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be."

May I continue to be used to speak God's word always before others. May I continue to show others the heart of God. May I always be an example of living in relationship with my Abba, my Heavenly Father. Do you know my Jesus?