Category Archives: {living}

Sheep, Shepherds, and Wolves

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Not all ongoing control, violence and cruelty comes from within the home. The times when I talk about abuse on this site, it’s usually about marital abuse, fracturing the closest of human relationships. But God, in His Word, talks about another kind of abuse, in the broader family. He condemns the misuse of that relationship too. And shows us His intention for it. I’ve been pondering sheep, shepherds, and wolves a lot lately. YHWH has brought them up in many different contexts, so I had to dig in. It’s interesting how often His Word talks about them—and how often He… Continue reading →

Happy birthday, Freely Whole!

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As Freely Whole turns 10 today, I reflect on what God has done in this last decade. He has clarified what Freely Whole is and is to be, continually bringing more clarity. As I expected, Freely Whole exists to come alongside you, as a “helper of your joy”, to bring you comfort, encouragement, and support, while helping you grow more deeply in your understanding and love of Jesus. Not expected was its ministry to abused, divorced women, who love and follow Jesus. But not only to her! It is for any who desire to grow closer to Him. Who desire to express their worship to Him in creative ways. Who desire to walk in greater Freedom and Wholeness. Freely Whole is for YOU! Continue reading →

Happy Spirit Filling Day

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🔥 Happy Shavuot! 🔥 On the day of Shavuot/Pentecost, (50 days after Passover,) Jesus’ disciples were gathered together in one accord, one mind, one passion. (On the Jewish calendar, this was this past Friday. As Christians we celebrate it on the Lord’s Day (1st day of the week.) On this feast day celebrating God giving His Law/Torah to Moses, He sent His Spirit to fill and indwell the men and women who followed Him, His disciples. He came to write His law on their/our hearts, not just on tablets of stone. To empower them/us to share God’s Word, His life… Continue reading →

Joy in the Storm

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Last week, my peonies and roses started to bloom. It’s been so dry here, I was surprised to see them mid-May. I’m so thankful I snapped some pics, even though there weren’t many blossoms, because just an hour later it started to hail. I didn’t know how bad it would be, or if they would survive it. My doubts sprang from disappointment just a few weeks earlier, when just after the first day of Spring, my first 3 daffodils bloomed. A freeze just after that insured none of the rest would. But the next day, I walked outside to see… Continue reading →

Retreat

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What does a Retreat look like for you? Is it complete R&R time? No schedule. No plans. Just slowing down, resting and relaxing? Is it reflection time? Spending time in nature? Journaling. Creating. Reading. Pondering your life. Your purpose. Your present. Your future. Is it renewing time? Getting great teaching for growth? Prayer and support for healing? Connecting with old friends. Making connection with new ones. Iron sharpening iron. I just returned home from my annual Christian women’s Retreat for—domestic abuse survivors and people helpers that advocate for them, the Called to Peace Ministries Retreat. There, I experience all of… Continue reading →

How Jesus Views Women

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The ancient world, for the most part, had a low view of women. After sin entered this world, God said that sinful men would desire to rule over women, and it surely happened. Although Jesus came to “reverse the curse”, restore what had been lost through The Fall, sadly many, even those who proclaim Christianity, somehow think that those sinful desires should be perpetuated. Believing that women are less than, lower than men, and that men should rule over women. Even though that directly opposes what Jesus teaches about how His followers’ hearts and actions should be. Throughout the Gospels… Continue reading →

Rhythms of Life

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I recently came across a reel with the words in this image. Strong truths about life. That brought strong pondering in my soul. In my education in trauma healing, I was often “surprised”/not surprised to learn how many of the healing/regulating “techniques” are things that are done naturally—and have been throughout time. Things we did automatically, even as children, to “self-soothe”. Things mom and grandma and loving, caring others did naturally—without any training or therapeutic language for it—to help those around them when in times of trouble, that are now seen as “co-regulation”. Calming, “nervous system regulating,” activities that kept… Continue reading →

Our God is for Us

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“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” ‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭31‬-‭32‬ This verse is solid truth we can hang our hopes on. But it doesn’t always feel that way. We face a lot of things in life that are scary. Those of us who have lived in DV know very well the feeling of being alone and that everyone and everything is against us…. Continue reading →

Safety–Exit Plan (Part 4)

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The following is the first part in a series of articles that are each segments from the Freely Whole Safety–Exit Plan. The entire formatted, as checklists, document can be downloaded for Free here. I’ve broken it into parts for posting as articles. Part 1 can be read here. Safety and Exit Plan Part 4 Budget Considerations I’ve decided to add this category to this document, since it is info you will also need when filing for divorce/separation. Much of it can be determined from the above documents (in previous articles or the full document). But some women have never be a… Continue reading →