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RESTORED TO LOVE!

8/30/2020

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From time to time you meet someone in your life who just exudes love to those around them.  Julia is one of these people.  Her story, a painful story of family betrayal, where God steps in and in His love brings great restoration.  She is truly Restored to LOVE!  



The year is 2008. I am in my late 40's with three children. The oldest is a recent college graduate and employed, the youngest is in high school; and the middle child, who I’ll call Jan, who had suffered a disease in infancy that caused severe brain damage, at home with me. My husband  and I have recently completed the construction of our home in the mountains of Central Mexico, in the spot he, starry-eyed, had promised to build me a  house one day while we were dating. People are always pointing out how my husband of 27 years looks at me, and how much he loves his family.

One more child to get through college then the "relax, pay-off years". We talk about a motorcycle with a specially-made side car we'd have built, so that the two of us could travel with Jan. It would always be us three.  We'd invest in that little home on the beach and retire someday.  Things were going to get easier soon, and we'd finally be able to get some help with Jan and enjoy our time together. That trip to Europe, maybe, for our 30th anniversary? I feel immensely blessed and so grateful to God!
One morning, we've had our coffee (always clink the cups together before drinking it) and are joking around and getting ready to go for our daily walk. We hear a crash and run upstairs, to find our poor angel, Jan, face down in a pool of blood, having suffered a Grand Mal seizure. We rush her to a private hospital.
Fast-forward roughly two months. In our kitchen,  my husband and I cling to each other in tears. I remember exactly where we stood; his shirt, his cologne. We have a large hospital bill to pay, and no one will insure our daughter now due to her condition. My husband suggests it's time to return to the U.S. where Jan can again get the insurance and benefits that are non-existent in Mexico. I would come back first while he works on selling our home, and when it has sold, he will join us. My heart aches. I don't want to leave him or my home, and pray that the house will sell quickly.
Once back in the States with my daughter and son, I begin the arduous task of getting reestablished. I miss my husband terribly and adjusting to life back home after 15 years abroad is more difficult than I ever could have imagined.  Knowing that, soon, he would be with us, and we'd have a new home and a fresh beginning together, helps to keep me moving forward.
The house is taking a while to sell.  He informs me he is going to open a small business just to " keep busy and out of trouble" while it is on the market. Months go by. I say I want to come home, that somehow we'll find help with Jan and I can go back to teaching English there. Things would be hard financially with our son in college in the States, but with God's help, it would work out somehow. There were always loans, if need be.
He always has a reason why we have to "be strong and wait a little while longer."
Then, on a warm and rainy Wednesday night, as our children sleep, I get an email. He wants out.
Betrayal.
How to describe the feeling of it? It is a sudden rush of acid searing through the tender, innermost being; piercing, barbed tentacles that anchor around the heart. Oppressive, terrible fear and disbelief. The future becomes a priceless, hopelessly smashed vase on the floor; and the past is questioned, all in an instant.
Months follow with little food or sleep. It gets to the point that I can feel my body consuming itself, but cannot swallow food. Constantly dizzy, it is difficult to breathe. My whole body shakes constantly.  In my work as a school teacher,  there are times when I cannot control the sudden tears; so make up an excuse about a cold or allergies. In the grocery store, lost (we had always shopped together), the tears would come. Suddenly, out of nowhere, at any time and place, the brokenness grips my heart and escapes in liquid form.
How can this be my life?
Fast forward to the nightmarish, blurred day in a room full of strangers,  standing before a judge. A lawyer I barely know says, "My client asks your Honor to grant her a divorce as her husband is living with his girlfriend in Mexico. That is correct, is it not?" I cling white-knuckled to the counter between me and the woman who, with a word, has the legal power to sever the sacred covenant into which I entered years before and to which I’d given my all for nearly three decades. The room spinning, I can only muster a barely audible, "Yes". The shame and loss I feel are indescribable.
Rebuilding. Having no desire to rebuild. Depleted of strength; in a fog. A strange home with strange sounds in a strange town. Trying to look "okay" and not worry others. My empty ring finger is deeply indented, a reminder of The Promise Broken, and it is somehow embarrassing to me. I wake up alone; prepare only one cup of coffee. Many people either turn away (not knowing what to say? Simply busy with their owns lives?); or they say things they think could be helpful, but sadly that’s not the case. While I’m sorry for her loss, I find no comfort, no camaraderie, hearing the details of your hairdresser's horrible divorce. I can only focus on surviving right now. Breathe in, breathe out. Get through the next day. The next minute. Life’s problems roll in and there is no back-up, no "emergency contact". In the physical, there is only me. Sickness, injuries, home repairs, blizzards, storms, a constant vigil on our...or, now, apparently, my daughter. Just me. Jan searches the house for daddy and dissolves in a puddle, over and over. He is not here. I bathe her and put her to bed every night, and the house is silent. I do not know how to be this person. I don't want to be her.
The crushed hearts of our children! One evening I find my son, in college now, in our dark living room, his face shiny with incredulous, angry tears. His words: "I always thought I was one of the really lucky ones." There are Jan's outbursts after chasing men in public places, thinking she has seen her father, only to be disappointed repeatedly.  Our eldest daughter, living in the same city as a man whose body looks just like the one her dad had inhabited; helplessly watches him openly flaunt his new life, new business, new money.  Her voice on the phone saying,  "He is a completely different person, mom. You had no choice but to do what you did...". She sounds broken; as if her world has stopped turning. My helpless mother's heart aches indescribably for them.
No wonder God's word warns so direly of infidelity! He who created us knows too well it will harm not only the person who enters into it, but will also mercilessly crush the innocent who happen to stand nearby.
Many things have happened on this journey. I want to share a few, in the hopes of inspiring others that  God will help you get through very difficult times. First, I have spent a lot of time in prayer and sensed God's presence repeatedly. A wise man told me to ask Him for signs that He is near. I have, and He does. Once, I came home to a strong scent of cinnamon, which holds healing properties. No one had been here, and there was no source to explain the presence of that fragrance.  Another: I have two sets of pictures. In one, a bright light from Heaven appears where a shot taken seconds before shows only the grey, winter evening on a dark country road. In another, in a secluded area with no wind, a strong whirlwind of snow is seen. I saw neither of these events in the natural.  Some have to do with numbers that repeatedly show up and looking up Bible verses with those numbers, to find that there are those that directly apply to my situation.  There are many more examples I could list. Ask God to give you your signs that He is near!
A few years have passed since the world my children and I lived in shattered. Slowly, our hearts have healed. To this day, there are sights, sounds, and places that stir memories that sting. However, the waves of grief over the erosion of what could have been no longer surface as before. The pain and anger have lost their grip. God has put us in a place where peace is possible. He has cared for us, provided for us, kept vigil over us. He’s brought great people into our lives. I no longer wonder if we’ll ever be “okay” again, because we are! My hope and faith are in our loyal God, in His Son, our Savior, Jesus; and in our Comforter and constant companion, the Sweet Holy Spirit.
Ours is a God who bestows crowns of beauty  and not ashes, restores the years the locusts have eaten,  brings peace in the midst of the storm and strength to the weary. These are His promises. They are to be read, written down, learned and taken to heart. Also, the Internet is full of positive, affirming messages that uplift and bring hope.
I know now that I have been shielded, in many ways, from further hurt.  God's will is not for any of His daughters to live life being dishonored by a man who made a sacred promise to love, honor and cherish her; and refuses to do so.  I can now see clearly that God was in the future and prepared a safe place for me and my grown children.
  "...Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning." (Ps. 30:5)
I trust this. I trust HIM.
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School of Identity: June 4-6, 2021 with Cary and Mindy Salinger and Team.  Join us for an amazing weekend as we learn about our identity in Him, then take it to the streets to minister to those around us! Don’t miss this weekend! It will be a powerful

6/7/2020

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Cary and Mindy Salinger, happily married since 1984 have 3 beautiful daughters and 6 lovely granddaughters.  Cary and Mindy are Senior Pastors of Latter Rain Ministries Church of His Outpouring in LaPlace, LA., also founders of: The Rain School of Identity, The school of the supernatural, Cary: founder of Immortality Revealed", Mindy founder of "Daughters of Glory and Beauty": freedom from abuse of any kind: A ministry under: Latter Rain Ministries for equipping women in their true identity: A crown of beauty establishing stability in their lives as the King's daughter.  Latter Rain Ministries is a five-fold ministry that trains and equips the body of Christ for the work of the ministry through the gifts Jesus gave to His church.  Our leadership base is consisted of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers, bringing stability and establishing our foundations as sons and daughters of God.  Bringing the gospel to the church through demonstration and power of the Holy Spirit through the school of identity and hands on training, instructing the body of Christ in walking in miracle signs and wonders.  Our goal and purpose at Latter Rain Ministries is to reveal what was reconciled through the cross of Jesus Christ: Our true identity, the revealing of the sons and daughters: Our Glorious Inheritance, the restoring of Kingdom authority, the ability to move in the ways of God, a lifestyle of miracles, signs and wonders.  ​

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We Are Not Kingdom Hoppers!

1/19/2020

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A few days ago, I was listening to a message….


During the message I felt life go out of me.


A little leaven, (law) truly leavens the whole lump.


Please read scripture letting the Holy Spirit speak to your heart.  Lay everything, everyone else aside but Him.


So much of what we preach today is taken out of context. I see this over and over especially in the area of the flesh and the Spirit.  Usually a scripture in Romans 7 (Written to those who knew the Law, jewish people.  Written about how Paul was while he was under the law), taken out of context used to “PROVE” that we still have a sin nature.  That we still war against the flesh that we….  You fill in the blank.


Romans 8 speaks very clearly to us that the mind governed by the flesh is death. 
Flesh (sin nature) equals death.

The mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 
Spirit equals Life and Peace

God sent His own son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering and so He condemned sin in the flesh in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be FULLY MET (not partially met, not positionally met, FULLY MET) in us who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
If we still have one foot in law and one foot in grace, that verse leads to greater questioning because we then vacillate day in and day out as to whether or not we’re living according to the Spirit or living according to the flesh…
Pure craziness is the result my friend.  Constant self focused thinking. The epitome of religious schizophrenia is the result:


Today I “think” I was in the kingdom of the flesh at 7:45pm until 8pm
Then at 8pm I was back in the Spirit
Then at 8:15pm… Where the HELL am I?

We take that one scripture or a handful of scriptures and spend our whole life wondering what realm we’re in at any given moment.
If we would just read the scripture within the whole context, with the Holy Spirit.
The result would be LIFE and PEACE.

That place of repose we were talking about…
You know, the, ‘It is finished place’.
His lovely place of peace and rest.


Look at this:  Closely


Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires.
Those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.

Mind governed by flesh is death
Mind governed by Spirit is life and peace
Mind governed by flesh is hostile to God…

Those who are in the realm (KINGDOM) of the flesh cannot please God

God said He transferred us OUT of the kingdom of darkness, (flesh, sin)
INTO the kingdom of light (life, peace, righteousness).

We are not kingdom hoppers!!

We don’t hop in and out of realms.

If it was you and I who made this divine transfer, (like it had ANYTHING to do with us other than believing what Jesus did), then certainly we could go in and out of those realms at any given moment.


But it wasn't us was it, it was Him.  God of the impossible.


Roman’s 8:9 is the clincher for me:


YOU HOWEVER ARE NOT IN THE REALM OF THE FLESH, BUT ARE IN THE REALM OF THE SPIRIT, iF INDEED THE SPIRIT OF GOD LIVES IN YOU.


And if anyone does not have the SPIRIT of Christ, they DO NOT BELONG TO CHRIST.  


So here in my mind, if I say I am in the flesh or go back and forth between the flesh and the Spirit, I am saying somedays I belong to Christ, other days I don’t…


Yet Jesus told me He was able to fully save me…




Colossians 2:9-12 says:


For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.  In Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision NOT PERFORMED BY HUMAN HANDS (God did it)  YOUR WHOLE SELF RULED BY THE FLESH WAS PUT OFF WHEN YOU WERE CIRCUMCISED BY CHRIST having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised with Him through your faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.


The biggest argument that I see with this is but my experience PROVES I still have a sin nature.


Not according to God’s word.  Not according to Colossians 2:9-12


Your WHOLE SELF ruled by the flesh was put off.


Flesh is equative to your sinful nature.


I am now, the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus!


Yay!


I will FOREVER remain in HIS Kingdom of the Spirit!


As my mind is renewed, not in the doctrines of men, but through HIS word, I am forever grateful of His ability to do the impossible in my life, in our lives as believers.  Praise Him!


My dear friends, enter into His REST.


For HE has done great things!


IT IS FINISHED
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God's Magnificent Wisdom and Wonderful Plan

1/9/2020

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I had this realization yesterday… That I’ve read God’s word for most of my life, under the old covenant… Reading it to, “find out what I should or should not do,” Instead of looking through the eyes of His new covenant with me.  Who is He?  How does he truly see me?  I am seeing so much LOVE.  He is such a loving Father.  
There is an amazing scripture in Is. 28:9-29, I’ve highlighted some of scripture below, that stood out to me.
God’s word can quickly become a rule book, to do this, do that, a rule or process for this, a rule or process for that.  A little here, a little there….
We so quickly make it into something that it was never intended to be…when HE is truly supposed to be our resting place of repose, (a state of rest, sleep or tranquility).  Sounds pretty relaxed to me. Lol.  
A place of, "It Is Finished."  I have all that I need, I do not need strive to get something that I’ve already gotten because Jesus already got it for me.
Our Father is extravagantly in love with us.  He delights in us and who we are.  He’s given us all of HIMSELF, His righteousness, His purity, His Peace, His Joy, His LOVE, His delight in exchange for taking on all of our sin and then goes even further in that He doesn't even remember our sin anymore?  WOW!  (Col. 1:14, Heb. 9:22-28, 1Pet. 3:18) 
In Song of Solomon 1, His words to us are, “you are lovely; you are so lovely like fine linen tapestry hanging in the Holy Place.  You are his radiant one, his dearest one, You’re thrilling to Him and my personal favorite, you are marked by HIS redeeming grace.  
Read below, ask the Father to speak to you, and this year focus on that place of rest, trusting HIM to be your place of repose. 

This year I’m going to continue to read His word in a much different way after understanding this scripture. 

I encourage each of you, to do the same.

Love y’all!  Cin

Is. 28:9-29


“Who is it he is trying to teach?
    To whom is he explaining his message?
To children weaned from their milk,
    to those just taken from the breast?
10 For it is:
    Do this, do that,
    a rule for this, a rule for that[a];
    a little here, a little there.”


11 Very well then, with foreign lips and strange tongues
    God will speak to this people,
12 to whom he said,
    “This is the resting place, let the weary rest”;
and, “This is the place of repose”--
    but they would not listen.
13 So then, the word of the Lord to them will become:
    Do this, do that,
    a rule for this, a rule for that;
    a little here, a little there--
so that as they go they will fall backward;
    they will be injured and snared and captured.
14 Therefore hear the word of the Lord, you scoffers
    who rule this people in Jerusalem.
15 You boast, “We have entered into a covenant with death,
    with the realm of the dead we have made an agreement.
When an overwhelming scourge sweeps by,
    it cannot touch us,
for we have made a lie our refuge
    and falsehood[b] our hiding place.”
16 So this is what the Sovereign Lord says:
“See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone,
    a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation;  1Pet 2:6
the one who relies on it
    will never be stricken with panic.
17 I will make justice the measuring line
    and righteousness the plumb line;
hail will sweep away your refuge, the lie,
    and water will overflow your hiding place.
18 Your covenant with death will be annulled;
    your agreement with the realm of the dead will not stand.
When the overwhelming scourge sweeps by,
    you will be beaten down by it.
19 As often as it comes it will carry you away;
    morning after morning, by day and by night,
    it will sweep through.”
The understanding of this message
    will bring sheer terror.
20 The bed is too short to stretch out on,
    the blanket too narrow to wrap around you.
21 The Lord will rise up as he did at Mount Perazim,
    he will rouse himself as in the Valley of Gibeon--
to do his work, his strange work,
    and perform his task, his alien task.
22 Now stop your mocking,
    or your chains will become heavier;
the Lord, the Lord Almighty, has told me
    of the destruction decreed against the whole land.
23 Listen and hear my voice;
    pay attention and hear what I say.
24 When a farmer plows for planting, does he plow continually?
    Does he keep on breaking up and working the soil?
25 When he has leveled the surface,
    does he not sow caraway and scatter cumin?
Does he not plant wheat in its place,[c]
    barley in its plot,[d]
    and spelt in its field?
26 His God instructs him
    and teaches him the right way.
27 Caraway is not threshed with a sledge,
    nor is the wheel of a cart rolled over cumin;
caraway is beaten out with a rod,
    and cumin with a stick.
28 Grain must be ground to make bread;
    so one does not go on threshing it forever.
The wheels of a threshing cart may be rolled over it,
    but one does not use horses to grind grain.
29 All this also comes from the Lord Almighty,
    whose plan is wonderful,
    whose wisdom is magnificent.



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    Cindy Buck
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