The TIMES OF refreshing

Chosen One Outreach Ministries    Publisher Shearon Roach      www.timeofrefreshing.com       Issue No. 7    Date 04/11/03

SISTER TO SISTER

Proverbs 17:17 A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

You’ve been dating him for a while now and things are going pretty good.  Slowly you notice he’s not doing some of the things he used to do.  He’s not being as attentive as he once was, he’s making excuses as to why he can’t come over, He’s wanting you to call now before you come over.

Why is it when we find out that our man is seeing another woman, we turn on the woman?  Is it really the woman’s fault?  Is it right that we take out our frustrations on the woman, when it’s really our man (he’s not really ours is he?) that has committed the crime?  Doesn’t he recognize that he is (or was) in a relationship?  Didn’t he know that he said he loved you?  So why are you upset with your sister?  Yes, she is with your man, but she wasn’t the one who made the commitment to you, was she?

Most times the female didn’t know he was seeing someone until they are caught up in the relationship, then it’s the best woman who will win. Or so we think it’s the best woman.  Are we really getting a prize when he has been cheating on both of us? 

So you start calling and hanging up on your sister, but yet you are still talking to the man that cheated on you.  You call the other woman names, yet you tell the man that cheated on you how much you love him.  Ladies, what is wrong with this picture?   Why are you so forgiving to the man, yet have such hatred for your sister?

She’s not the one who made endless promises, she’s not the one you are sleeping with and spending your money (probably on someone else), she’s not the dropping you off at work (your car) and picking up someone else.  Yet, you are mad at your sister, and still calling him “your man”.

When will we learn to stop working against each other and come together? When will we stop blaming our sisters for what we are allowing to happen? When will we stop listening to the enemy tell you she is to blame for what is happening in your relationship? He is.  Your sister didn’t cause this problem; stop taking your anger out on her.  We have got to learn to confront the enemy head on and call him out.

Quit blaming yourself, and your sister.  Stop being a victim, take responsibility for yourself and remove yourself from the situation.  You deserve the best, you are special to God, and He wants you to have His best, not handouts from the enemy.

Make a change, embrace the sister that you’ve been hating (no reason). God wants us to come together, to support each other, to pray for each other, to just be there if only to listen.  God has given each of us talents; she may have a talent that can help you.  You may have one that will help her.  How will you know if you don’t stop the bickering, the fighting, the backstabbing, and come together to be a blessing to each other.

Scripture reading:  Luke 1: 39-42

Look at the friendship between Mary and Elisabeth.  When Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb.  Just from hearing her voice.  Then it says Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.  Now wouldn’t it be wonderful to be a blessing in your sister’s life this way.  That just the sound of your would bring blessings, and not curses.  Your voice could fill your sister with love and not anger.  Oh what a time you could have. 

Coming together to praise the Lord for bringing you (both) through a bad relationship.  You could turn everything around and make the enemy mad.  Start a support/prayer group, a book reading group or even have girls night just to get out and be with friends.  What the enemy meant for bad, God will turn around and make it for your good (if you let Him).

Stand up and let the enemy know you are not going to take it any more.  You see the enemy is depending upon your being weak, and accepting what is happening.  He is depending upon you closing your eyes to the situation and allowing him to go back and forth between the two of you until neither one of you have nothing left to give.

Show him up for what he is….. a liar. Reach out to your sister and build a strong bond.  Reach out and come together against what the enemy is trying to do to you. Remember she is not the one who hurt you.

Lean upon each other, keep each other encourage.  We all need someone to encourage us when things go wrong.  That’s what friends are for.  Don’t allow him to control you any more.  STAND UP AS ONE IN THE NAME OF JESUS, AND STOP THE ENEMY FROM HINDERING YOUR BOND WITH YOUR SISTER.

Ladies remember this song from “Waiting to Exhale”

       COUNT ON ME

Count on me through thick and thin A friendship that will never end
When you are weak I will be strong
Helping you to carry on
Call on me, I will be there
Don't be afraid
Please believe me when I say
Count on...  

I can see it's hurting youI can feel your pain
It's hard to see the sunshine through the rain
I know sometimes it seems as if
It's never gonna end
But you'll get through it
Just don't give in cuz you can  

I know sometimes it seems as if We're standing all alone
But we'll get through it Cuz love won't let us fall

There's a place inside all of us Where our faith in love begins
You should reach to find the truth in love
The answers' there within, oh
I know that life can make you feel
It's much harder than it really is  

But we'll get through it 
Just don't give in

Nails

by Roger Dean Kiser, Sr.

The large tree stood perfectly motionless, even though the wind was blowing through its outstretched arms at more than thirty miles per hour. Its tired limbs sagging a bit, stripped of leaves and its bark slowly peeling away near the bottom of the tree, as thousands of insects ate away at the heart of the once beautiful giant.

As I was leaving Canada to head back to the United States, after attending the Heartwarmers Conference, I walked up to the tree when I noticed that someone had driven ten or eleven nails into its trunk. All the way home I thought about that tree and it made me realize something very important about human beings. If only ten small nails could kill such a large beautiful tree, how many nails have we driven into our fellow-man over the years? How many little nails have we unintentionally driven into our children, and our friends causing their leaves to become weathered and their mighty limbs to droop.

The shock for me was when I realized that it was not really the nails that killed the tree at all. It was that big hammer that they chose to use in order to drive the nails in.

Starting today I will still continue to carry a nail or two. It is the hammer that I have chosen to throw away.

How many nails have you put into your sisters just because? How many holes have you left in her spirit just because?
Isn’t it time we put our hammer down and mend the holes in our relationship with our sisters?

 A Letter from God to Women

When I created the heavens and the earth, I spoke them into being. When I created man, I formed him and breathed life into his nostrils.

But you, woman, I fashioned after I breathed the breath of life into man because your nostrils are too delicate. I allowed a deep sleep to come over him so I could patiently and perfectly fashion you.

Man was put to sleep so that he could not interfere with the creativity.  From one bone, I fashioned you. I chose the bone that protects man’s life. I chose the rib, which protects his heart and lungs and supports him, as you are meant to do.

Around this one bone, I shaped you... I modeled you. I created you perfectly and beautifully. Your characteristics are as the rib, strong yet delicate and fragile. You provide protection for the most delicate organ in man, his heart. His heart is the center of his being; his lungs hold the breath of life.

The rib cage will allow itself to be broken before it will allow damage to the heart.  Support man as the rib cage supports the body.  You were not taken from his feet, to be under him, nor were you taken from his head, to be above him. You were taken from his side, to stand beside him and be held close to his side.

You are my perfect angel... You are my beautiful little girl. You have grown to be a splendid woman of excellence, and my eyes fill when I see the virtues in your heart.

Your eyes...don't change them. Your lips  -- how lovely when they part in prayer.

Your nose, so perfect in form.

Your hands so gentle to touch.

I've caressed your face in your deepest sleep.

I've held your heart close to mine.

Of all that lives and breathes, you are most like me.

Adam walked with me in the cool of the day, yet he was lonely. He could not see me or touch me. He could only feel me.

So everything I wanted Adam to share and experience with me, I fashioned in you; my holiness, my strength, my purity, my love, my protection and support. You are special because you are an extension of me.

Man represents my image, woman my emotions. Together, you represent the totality of God.

So man...treat women well. Love her, for she is fragile. Respect her, for she is strong. Remember her, for she is Me.

 The Gift

A young man was getting ready to graduate from college. For many months he had admired a beautiful sports car in a dealer's showroom, and knowing his father could well afford it, he told him that was all he wanted. As Graduation Day approached, the young man awaited signs that his father had purchased the car.

Finally, on the morning of his graduation, his father called him into his private study. His father told him how proud he was to have such a fine son, and told him how much he loved him. He handed his son a beautifully wrapped gift box. Curious, and somewhat disappointed, the young man opened the box and found a lovely, leather-bound Bible, with the young man's name embossed in gold. Angry, he rose his voice to his father and said, "with all your money you give me a Bible?" and stormed out of the house.

Many years passed and the young man was very successful in business. He had a beautiful home and wonderful family, but realized his father was very old and thought perhaps he should go to him. He had not seen him since that graduation day. Before he could make arrangements, he received a telegram telling him his father had passed away, and willed all of his possessions to his son. He needed to come home immediately and take care of things.

When he arrived at his father's house, sudden sadness and regret filled his heart. He began to search through his father's important papers and saw the still new Bible, just as he had left it years ago. With tears, he opened the Bible and began to turn the pages. His father had carefully underlined a verse, Matt.7:11, "And if ye, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Heavenly Father which is in Heaven, give to those who ask Him?"

As he read those words, a car key dropped from the back of the Bible. It had a tag with the dealer's name, the same dealer who had the sports car he had desired. On the tag was the date of his graduation, and the words, PAID IN FULL.

How many times do we miss God's blessings because they are not packaged as we expected?

How many times have you turned someone away because she/he wasn’t looking the way you wanted him/her  to look, dressed the way you wanted him/her to dress, or drove the kind of car you liked? 

How many times have we missed blessings because they weren’t new enough for us?

How many times have you missed God’s blessings for your life because you allowed your wants to get in the way? 

God promised to supply your every need, it’s up to us to accept it and say Thank You.

Times of Refreshing the Women's Ministry of Chosen One Outreach Ministries

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www.wherepeacefulwaters.com