“We can trust God’s plans as we realize that His story is being written into ours. His power is perfected in the broken places we consider to be our greatest weaknesses – our most vulnerable emotions we don’t want anyone to know about. In those hiding places, God calls us out of captivity. When we’re willing to let Him, He brings hope for our future despite the pain of our past.” – Chapter 4
Chapter 4 takes a lot of courage. And I’m so proud of you for being here and not giving up, for wanting all He has for you. I know your Heavenly Father is so proud of you too, for your pursuit and your willingness to walk with Him one step at a time. Remember Christ died to forgive our sins but also to heal our souls so that we can live in Him – with HOPE again!
Don’t give up friend, no matter what! Stay close to Jesus. Stay connected here. We’re in this together. HE is so worthy!! And you? You are so worth it!!
Here’s this week’s messages. Please don’t miss it. I want to be able to share with you face to face this. You were on my mind and in my prayers when I filmed this teaching several weeks ago. Please click the arrow below to watch.
Message Notes: You can download video “Message Notes” in a PDF format here or in a MSWord doc here. I encourage you to watch it once and just let God speak to your heart. Then if you want to, watch it a second time and follow along with the message notes which include parts of the message, verses and blanks to fill in. 🙂
I know the timelines I encourage you to do are scary for many. I really do understand. And it takes time. I wish I had shared that more clearly in the book. Today I’m praying for God to give you courage and perseverance to press through any fear that would keep you from starting it. Fear is Satan’s way of keeping us from the freedom God wants in our lives. You don’t have to do a timeline if you don’t want to or if God doesn’t lead you to. The reason I encourage one is because it’s valuable for us to identify memories and emotions caused in the past that play a role in how you see ourselves and others, and how we handle life and relationships today.
In her comments under this post, May shared how she’s been taking it a little at a time and how answering the questions at the end of the chapter has helped her start her timeline.
Connecting in Community: Let’s share with each other what God showed you through our video message? Also, if you feel comfortable, please share some of your answers to questions at end of Chapter 4.
Click “share your thoughts” right below this post and do just that. I’ll be here reading and praying and commenting as time allows. Let’s take a minute today to pray for or encourage someone else as time allows. This chapter is one where it sure is good to know we have friends here to pray and walk beside us, isn’t it? LOVE you guys!!!
Discover more from Renee Swope
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Please pray for this family in Bastrop, TX. I have never met them, but they had donations jars (just like I did) from National Transplant Assistance Fund (now Help Hope Live). I get email updates on how he is doing. This is what his mom wrote today: Our hearts are broken and we are aching.
The MRI results from January 30 are in and are final. All of the medical teams, including oncology, neurology and radiology in Austin and Memorial Sloan-Kettering, agree that the cancer is progressing. What they previously called a cyst is now called a tumor mass. The cancer has grown even with this most recent radiation. There are no curative treatments remaining for our baby boy.
We have asked Mathaus to suffer through so many horrible treatments and procedures in return for a cure. His little body has endured so much. We cannot ask him to suffer anymore treatments if they are of no benefit to him.
We have done everything possible we could to cure him. We have asked so much of him. It wouldn’t be right to ask him to suffer any more. We know that each day we have had with Mathaus has been a blessing, a gift and a miracle. So we find ourselves in a special place. We have chosen to keep Mathaus’ comfort an d quality of life top priority. We plan to fill each day with love, fun, family, friends, laughter, silliness, snuggles, dancing and more love!
How is Mathaus now?
He is doing well. His pain has recently increased, but we have since increased medications and it seems to be back at a good place. He needs lots of meds, but he gets around, walks and plays. He is still dancing! He loves to snuggle and of course keeps McQueen very close. He is vocal and knows what he wants and doesn’t want, just as any 2 ½ year old should. He can still get out and about and he can play and have fun.
Right now our focus is on maximizing quality family time. We don’t know how long we have together. I once posted that with radiation he may have a year of life, but this tumor is growing fast and truly only God knows. While he is with us we want to celebrate Mathaus and what he means to all of us. We want to do a lot of things we haven’t been able during these years of treatment like getting together with you, our family and friends. So we are welcoming visitors and asking you to please come, our door is open. Bring fun and love, but it is ok if we cry too. We want to fill our home with family, friends, love and laughter. We want to make beautiful memories to always treasure.
What do we need?
We need to know you still think of us, pray for us and love us. We know there doesn’t seem like there are the right words to say but hearing from you gives us strength that we are not alone. We know this is scary and painful but imagine if you had to do it alone. We need you. Your love and support has helped us through these years and no doubt we need that now more than ever.
We need forgiveness and understanding if we seem inconsistent. We are feeling up and down. We have moments of great sadness and moments of knowing we have a choice to be happy and present in these too few precious moments. We need forgiveness if we d on’t reply or respond. Between Mathaus’ needs and emotional turbulence we may loose track, but your messages are read and each greatly appreciated.
We need to know how Mathaus has touched your life. This feels very important. I know God put Mathaus here for a purpose. I may never know God’s purpose while I’m here but my mother’s heart wants to know that in his short beautiful life he has made a difference and touched lives. So please take some time to send us a note and ask others to do the same. This would mean so very much to us.
We haven’t looked to far ahead. We are still trying to process and decide how to spend our time while we have it.
We have spoken with the kids. They are ok, but death is hard to understand at their age. We are ready if you would like to speak with yours. We know that there are so many little hearts that will be touched when Mathaus dies. We are keeping all of your little hearts in mind. They will need to grieve and be given information in their own way and time. We are not afraid of their questions, it’s ok for them to ask. Please don’t feel bad if they do. It really is ok.
Soon I will post a list of books and resources I have been given from the social workers that you can use for your families as well. I am also able to get a book and video made by Sesame Street called When Families Grieve for any of you that would like it. My favorite book so far is ‘Gentle Willow’ by Joyce c. Mills.
We know that Mathaus’ time with us has been a gift and we want to celebrate and treasure each moment we have of God’s precious gift.
So, please pray for this precious family.
I have reached out to the mom today by email and I am going to make a cross for her family and little Mathias. I am also going to give her one of my songs that I wrote that God gave me to give to another family who lost a child to brain cancer. I feel I need to help this family and I am going to reach out to them more.
#5 Now I can see how God can use our sufferings and despair to make us stronger and bestow upon us the spiritual strength and wisdom we need. This gives us hope that we can be released from the pai of our past. #6 Unforgiveness strangles any progress that you can make to mover forward. If left to fester and grow it will become bitterness and stop any forward progress in out spiritual lives. I sitll struggle with this problem with 2 family members, but I am progressing a little bit at a time. #7 Yes I have felt moved to help many people by sharing my story, and now thru this particular chapter I feel like I can. God has spoke to me thru this study and gave me more confidence to move forward despite the pain from the past.
Renee thank you for sharing the video and your story. My parents also divorced when I was young so I can relate to alot of your story. My father was an alcoholic and abused my mother alot, so eventually my mother had his visitations taken away from him. So I really never really knew what it was like to have a father. I did believe in God and all, but didn’t really except Him as my heavenly Father untill 8 years ago when I became a Christian and began to have a relationship with Him. then I learned I always had a father in my life that loved me and would always be there for me. The only thing was I couldn’t see Him. God Bless
Caroline- I just logged on to this and happened to read your comment first…meant to be…this is exactly what I am going through right now. Your mother was a brave woman to leave and I’m sure she agonized, as I am, over the effect it would have on “the children.” I just keep asking God to lead me day by day. I don’t know what the future holds but I believe there is hope for us all, even if we didn’t have a “fairy tale” childhood (or marriage in my case!).
KathE Just keep in mind that You are not alone your Lord and Savior will be walking right alongside you as He has done for me. Ask Him for direction for your life. As for children love them the way God intended them to be loved. For this is also Jesus’ greatest commandment although it is hard for some it is usually easy to do with children. May the good Lord guide and protect you and your family. And remember time heals all wounds. Time is also haw children spell Love. God be with you my friend and sister.
In reading the discussion questions for Lesson 4:
#1 When I was little and a new christian I did not see how God could possible use me for anything as I was shy, scared to death of people and couldn’t trust anyone. But that all changed somehow when I had graduated from high school and lived on my own for a while and then worked full-time and got engaged and married. I felt like I had made it. I had 2 little girls and and was married. I guess I made mistakes and still wondered how God could use me. When my marriage fell apart and I was left all alone, I realized that I love God and no circumstance is going to make me change my mind. I take the Word seriously and hunger for it more than I ever have. We live in a fallen sinful world and bad things happen. He has used broken sinful people all the time throughout the Bible, so I guess he can use me.
#2 God loves me, but he gave us free will. Unfortunately I have made mistakes in my life that have taken me away from Gods protection and also people have hurt me – we live in a fallen world. I Peter 4:12-13.
#3 I felt like God has carried me during some real difficult times in the past. When traveling 9 months pregnant to my brother’s funeral with an angry hostile husband. God just gave me this awesome peace!
Please pray for me as I go through the process of healing of past hurts. Indeed, lots of tears… You gave me hope by saying it takes time to heal. I connected to what you said in the video 100%. Again, please pray for me to give myself to the Lord 100% and let Him pour His will over me.
Felicia, As many of us read through others comments and come to yours, many prayers will be lifted up for you. I am commenting specifically on your comment but have lifted prayers to many others as I read their comments so while you may not see many replies to your comments, there are many of us reading it. I pray to God that as your tears become more cleansing than painful and His grace and peace surround you as you grow into that new creation we are all promised to become through our faith in Christ.
Ack! It takes me a long time to process what I read. I have to write down my thoughts in order to make sure that I have it clearly understood. I just finished reading chapter 3. I don’t like being behind!
Renee, I wouldn’t mind if you took some time to fully recover and we all could slow down.
Thanks so much for that video! That was very inspirational. I will keep seeking God and believing to see the wonderful plan he has for me! God bless you!
Hi again Renee,
Wanted to say thank you for the e-mail you sent out this evening and sending some “hope” our way. Just what I needed. Also, the picture and verse from Jeremiah 29:11. I started the day feeling hope, but towards the end, I wasn’t “feeling” much hope. I have been thinking back over what my counselor and I discussed today, and it is difficult.Thank you for taking us back to God, our hope always.
I just found your site tonight. Thank you for new inspiration. I am looking forward to following you in the future. Blessings.
Funny you should read from page 81 because I love the line – “Learning to live in the security of God’s promises is a daily journey of dependence.” Not only reminding us that this is not some miracle that happens in a second, but that we need to be aware of this minute by minute and that we need to learn to be dependent (something most of us are not good at doing!) on God every one of those minutes:) Thanks Renee!
Pam,
My thoughts EXACTLY…….the devil is just waiting around the corner for you to let your shield down!
This may sound crazy, but I have to admit, facing the whole “write out a timeline” has been super challenging for me! I am afraid of scratching scabs off the old wounds. Yet, I am seeing I am not alone… Not only are some of you having the same fears I am, which is comforting (even though I hate ya’ll are hurting as well), but I was comforted by the truth that God is right here with us as we go through this process. Let’s work through this knowing “God’s truth cuts to the core of our struggles, bringing purpose to our pain, redemption from the past, and HOPE for our future”…how awesome is that!!!!!!!!!!!!! We CAN and WILL do this timeline! I love you, SIsters and are praying for you!!!
Thank you so much for this video. I love how you put the verses in Jeremiah 29 in their proper context. I have to admit that the first time I read your book I got as far as Chapter 4 and put the book down. I didn’t want to do the timeline.Then I saw that you were leading a study through the book and decided to give it a second chance.
The reason I didn’t want to do the timeline is because at various times over the past 30 years of being a believer, I have had to deal with my past. My problem was that I couldn’t seem to keep it in the past as it was always creeping into my today. I see now that even though God has healed my past, I was clinging to the guilt. In Psalm 32:5 it says that God has forgiven the guilt of my sin. In Romans 8:1 it says there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ. I am looking forward to continuing to read the rest of the book. I will now read it with the view that I am a new creation in Christ, behold the old is gone and the new is here.
Thank you for the hope that you have written between the pages of your book.
Thanks so much on the video for today. I really enjoyed it so much. Please be praying for us. We are going through some rough spots with our finances. Pray for God’s wisdom and favor in my husband’s job and that he can find a new job to bring in more money. Thanks again for the video.
Jeanie Kelley
this chapter was very interesting,it hit home with me,but kinda struggled with it too. but was a good chapter. the questions i have yet to answer yet,working on that yet. i am so glad for this study because this is exactly what i need right now. glad god is working through to teach us what we need to know out of this study. so glad there is always HOPE in God.
thankyou so much.
Hi CH Ladies,
Wow talk about God’s timing! Chapter 1-4 has been very eye opening to read & it is at a perfect time. I work at a private Christian school and we have been under such spiritual attack because God is about to do some amazing things here. Last week we had Spiritual Emphasis week which we do every year & it’s a week where the students go to chapel every day & a group comes down to minister to the kids.
Well of course this week the ongoing problems with girls in the 6th grade have come to a head. I met with the girls today & spoke to them on how we need to view each other & treat each other. I told them that they have been listening to the lies the enemy has been telling them and that is that they are ugly, worthless, and so on.
The meeting ended with the girls asking forgiveness from each other and clearing the air on some issues. It was a precious time of sharing as some girls were amazed where some of their friends were coming from.
I gave them a homework assignment which was to take time this weekend & write each girls name down on and list 1 good characteristic they see for that particular girl. They are to put their name last & write a positive about themself too. We are to meet on Monday to discuss them.
I am asking you to please cover these girls in prayer this weekend. Also please pray that the Lord would continue to use me to reach these beautiful girls and speak truth into their lives about their worth and their beauty!
The girls names are Aria, Nicole, Christine, Lianna, Brooke, Sophia, Ava, Gabrielle, Noelani, Juliana, Brianna, Caitlyn, Christina
I look forward to sharing the testimony about how the Lord spoke into their life this weekend as they have been lifted up before Him!
Thank you so much!
I will pray for these girls. My 10 year old daughter has issues with other girls in her class. We discuss these same issues. It is sad. Girls can be so mean. So many of her girl “friends” are from divorced families and suffer from neglect, verbal abuse, and exposure to inappropriate behavior and media. I encourage my daughter to invite them to our house where we can be a witness to them or just feed them!
What a wonderful ministry you have with girls this age. I am a school teacher in a public school. How I long to be able to share the truth I know with the two girls I mentor. You are in my thoughts and prayers for wisdom, love and guidance with these girls.
Answering the reflection questions at the end of the chpts has really helped with doing this timeline bc the questions made me start processing things from my childhood, understanding why things happened, how those things affected me and then understanding how God was there in the midst of it all. And understanding how it’s true that God heals, redeems our past and guarantees hope for our future. Answering those questions has been so hard and I’m glad that little by little I’ve been answering them so that the writing of this timeline/processing of these hurtful memories has been more gradual and a bit better to handle. Doing this is a HUGE task to tackle. And just like others have said here on this blog, we are all together and we are not alone in this. And God is right here w/ us! Taking it little by little, giving myself time to simmer for a few days what I write in my journal, has been so good. Let us feel God comforting us, being tender with us, healing us.
It is the end of the week and I was just now able to create a timeline. Being visual person, I needed to create in a format where it would be there. I have no idea what God is going to teach me but am praying that my heart will be teachable.
Renee, I hope your bronchitis is better.
Wow!!! I can’t believe how much this chapter hit home for me. I got emotional several times and I was even prompted to make a phone call right then and there, as I was reading, and make an apology. As a baby Christian (11-3-11), I know I have a lot of work to do but this really made me see how much. I know that there is hope and I have God to hold my hand along the way. Past hurts seem to play a major part of my entire life, but especially with my relationships with men. I am comforted in my troubles by knowing that I am not the only one that has the same problems and I feel that I am slowly changing. I know this will be a process but I pray that I can work through it quickly and get on with my new life. Thank you Renee and thank God for bringing me to your words of healing!
I never realized that my doubt’s in myself were something to bring to God. But by doing this through His power and love I will be able to see His plan for me. thank you Renee. Blessings on this day. Peg
Hope you feel better soon. Thanks for the video.