Prayer for Sandy Hook Elementary

My heart breaks for all the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. Join me in prayer for the families, friends, and community.  

I grew up in a sleepy little town like Newtown, Connecticut. The tranquility of such a place leads you to have a "it will never happen to me" mentality. Having your safety violated in such a profound way is a deep wound only God can heal. The community must be in shock and horror.  

I also know the pain of unexpectedly losing a young child. My daughter,Madison Zoë, died at age 3 years 10 months and 1 day.  It has been 11 years, but there isn't a day that passes that I don't miss her.  

When I prayed this morning, I asked God to pass a message to Madison. I hope these heartfelt words can bring a little comfort to those affected by this evil tragedy . I know it is unspeakable pain which only God can heal. He once told me when I was angry with Him for taking Madison, that He knew the same pain. He gave His Son, Jesus Christ, for us all to have eternal life.  My words won't take away the pain, but maybe they can bring a glimmer hope. 

Madison: 
You have lots of new kids and a few nice teachers to help welcome into Heaven today. I bet there is a huge party. You probably volunteered to be their tour guide since you love to explore. Whisper to Jesus to send comfort to their families like he continually does for me when I miss you, my sweet girl. Mommy loves you and one day when God says it's time, I'll be in Heaven with you. Remind your new friends that soon their mommies, daddies, brothers, sisters, cousins, other families and friends can join them too. Everyone who has King Jesus as Lord of their hearts will soon come. And not to worry, let them know many people like your Mommy are spreading the good news about Jesus.  I'm sure with all our prayers and preaching, all their loved ones will go to Heaven.  Then there will be another celebration.  Until that time comes, I know you will help them have so much fun. I can't wait to meet all your friends and let you show me around. I am trying to imagine how beautiful it is.  I know you have a favorite spot, maybe near a big tree that overlooks a gentle river. I want to lay under that tree with you when I get there! 

Hugs, love, and kisses,  
Mommy

No Longer Wounded is Moving to WORDPRESS!!

Hello All!  I've decided to move my blog over to Wordpress.  It is a better fir for me and my writing.  Please continue to visit me there!  
My new website is:
http://nolongerwounded.wordpress.com

Thank you for your support and encouragement! :)

Cherished Joy

As I share my testimony, many people are saddened by the suffering I’ve endured.  Many often apologize to me.  But the other day it dawned on me, I’m actually blessed to have overcome all the trails and pain throughout my life.  I’ve been to the pit of hurt and agony so I call myself blessed. God’s joy is more precious to me than someone who has lived a good, pain-free life.  If I had not been to such extreme lows, I would not cherish the highs as much.  My point of reference would be skewed.  I would only have good and better to rate my experiences.  Though, I wish the pain I suffered on no one.  I cherish my vast array of reference from torture to triumph. 

It's time to speak!

During my quiet time with the Lord today. I read Psalm 12 and Proverbs 12. I was lead to do so since today is 12/12/12. :)
Reading those verses took me back to the wicked things which happened to me in the Air Force. But God promises to keep me safe from the wicked and overthrow the wicked. I know my novel, which is based on actual events, needs to be told. It will bring healing and awareness to many. Unfortunately,  military sexual assault and harassment is an all to common occurance which is seldom spoken about.
Despite the horror I survived, I still cherish the time I served in the military. The Air Force isn't evil, yet there is evil within the Air Force. It is time for that to change! I will do my part by telling my story. The rest is up to our government leaders. 

Walls

As I was taking my puppies on their morning walk, we passed by a condo where there is a bigger dog who we never see but always hear.  He barks loud and ferociously.  This makes my little boy bark back in a defensive way and my little girl gets scared and leaps for my arms. 

I thought about this dog and how he is enclosed by his fence.  I've never seen him out.  It made me reflect back on a quote I love.  "Sometimes we put up walls.  Not to keep people out, but to see who cares enough to knock them down."  The dog had no control over his surroundings and enclosed atmosphere, but the people around us do.

I've found in my experience working with troubled youth that most people who put up walls want you to tear them down.  But first they need to know you really care.  There are so many hurting people in this world who find it simpler to build walls than to reach out for help.  Sometimes we must reach in to them.

Is there anyone in your world that you can reach today?

Don't give your crown to the fools!!

Wise advice from Ms. Irene! I love the comment one reader left:
He said "All ladies must read this so that they stop giving their crowns to the fools."

That goes out to the gentlemen too! Our bodies our the temple of God! Holy and scared. Let's start treasuring ourselves as God does instead of being used and abused by those enslaved by sexual sin. Much prayer is needed in this area! God bless you all!

Written by Irene Gladu

DEAR READERS, esp. Ladies,
Sex is NOT love. Love is not sex. You can have sex and not be in love. You can be in love and not engage in sex. A man/woman may hate you and still have sex with you. Be wise.
Ladies, using sex to manipulate a man will eventually fail. It is self-deception to think that giving him sex will make him love you. True Love will never force you to engage in sex. A man who does

n’t love you will not change his mind because of sex. If he tells you to ‘prove your love’ by having sex with him. He is only using you. If he is in for the sex, ‘better sex’ will take him away from you. Making yourself his ‘sex slave’ is foolish.
Love will never shame or degrade you. If you have made the mistake of trying to use sex to buy this man, now is the time to re-assess your relationship and build it on the right foundation. If he gets married to you because ‘the sex is good’, it will be fatal to your marriage. Let him get married to you because he loves you, honors you, feels a strong emotional, mental and spiritual connection with you and wants you to spend the rest of his life with you.
THINK ABOUT.THIS VERY SERIOUSLY..

1 Corinthians 6:18 NLT

Run from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body.

Love Your Neighbor as Yourself :/

Mark 12:30-31 NIV

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

 

The other day as I was walking my dogs, I got a test in the greatest commandment of all! We often hear Mark 12:30-31 proclaimed as the greatest commandment of all. It is even declared in the Bible that it is. The first part is easy. Love God. Loving Someone who gave His Son's life to save us is pretty easy. After all, He loved us first and He loves us unconditionally. It's a no-brainer.

But then there's that pesky second part. Love your neighbor as yourself. First, we must accept Christ's love, see ourselves as He does, then we love ourselves as Christ intended. Yet, the neighbor part is still there. Some neighbors are easy to love. I have one that waters my plants when I'm away and even calls if something seems suspicious. He's great and easy to love. Yet, he's not my only neighbor. I have many because I live in a townhome community.  They are everywhere, hundreds of them, so I have many opportunities to show my love.

 

Back to the dog walk, my little boy dog is zealous. As his mom, I can tolerate him and love him despite the belief he has that he owns the entire common grounds on the property. I cannot get him to understand that not every tree and bush is his personal property. Most of my neighbors think a squeaking 5 pound Chihuahua is cute, especially when I pick him up and cover his mouth with him still trying to yap. It provides comic relief to the dog owners with large breeds, especially the ones with German Sheppards and such. They respect my dog's passion, but not the lady in the middle unit. On no!  She had a very different take on us!  My dog started yapping and I immediately grabbed him to ease the tension as I always do. But she started yelling and swearing. She took the Lord's name in vain and said a few words I hadn't heard since I worked in the inner city with juvenile delinquents. At first, I was shocked and caught off guard since I live in a peaceful community. I had a choice to make right then. I could either get offended and lash out or realize this woman was really hurting and it had nothing to do with me or my dog.

 

I chose to remain calm and remember Mark 12:31. Seeing her temperament, I knew I couldn't just have a cup of coffee and chat with this lady. Instead I prayed, I asked the Lord to show me what to do to help her and He did. He instructed me to mail her a card, from Him not me. In the moment I could feel His pain when she took His name in vain. I felt her pain. I did as He asked. I handwrote a card describing the Lord's pain that she was hurting and reassured her He was there and He loves her and will help her through these troubled times. I enclosed a teaching cd entitled "You are God's Masterpiece" from my pastor and a invitation card to attend my church. Then as God requested I mailed it off.  I do not know how this lady responded to my note. She may not have even opened it. But the point is, I followed God's instructions. I did what He asked. He will do the rest. I use to get all wrapped up in wanting to know every little detail of God's plan. But now, I see that's not my place. God asked me to plant a seed for Him. He'll take it from here. If He needs my help again, He'll ask. It was hard to love the unlovable neighbor but I did by asking God to lead me. I have learned usually the ones who come across the most unlovable, need our love the most.

 

Have you loved your neighbor today? Imagine if we all did a little to show God's love, what a big impact that could have in our neighborhoods! J