Your Day Of Freedom (To My Fellow Abuse Survivors)

This was not a planned post, so I am going to let His Spirit lead me as I type this. I don't know where you are on your road to recovery from child sexual abuse, but I pray this encourages you today. Do you feel that have suffered too long and you desire that your pain is gone? Please, don't give up on your life or on God. Just like you would give a relationship another chance, I ask that you give God another chance. Let me use a passage to illustrate how we as survivors can celebrate our day of freedom as the chains if bondage fall. 

In Acts 16, starting with verse 23 we see this happening to Paul & Silas: And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely. Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.

Ok the backdrop was that Paul & Silas were on a missionary journey and they spoke against the spirit of divination. As a result, they were placed in chains. What is the message? They weren't arrested and silent for doing wrong. They were innocent (because they were seeking to do good) and were silenced, bound in chains. Many of us were robbed of our innocence and we were told to be silent or else we would lose our lives. I can tell you that I was threatened through the means of fear. So I was in chains mentally! 

But wait, there's more to this story. And if you remember a post I did near the end of October 2013 called My Voice (As A Survivor) Is My Weapon, you'll see right now why it's a weapon if it's used the right way.

Verse 25 & 26 in Acts 16, About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bonds were unfastened.

So what is the message here? Pray for justice and mercy. But sing praises for His Goodness. Let me say this: No, you did not deserve the abuse, it was not your fault. What am I talking about here? Your scars and pain (coupled with that the fact that you're still alive) is a testimony that you are here with a purpose to share your story and help remove the chains of someone else. Praise God that His true justice will come in due time and praise Him for your life. If you look at the interview I did to the right of this blog, you'll see what I'm talking about. 

Also note, this was at midnight, in the darkest part of the day. For many of us, we have had our dark days. I'll put this out there: two years ago today, I didn't want to live, but I constantly prayed and didn't give up on His plan for us. Understand the mere fact that because we went through and we're alive, not only are we strong, but we're over comers. Many people wanted us dead (our abusers, those who neglected us, etc.), but you should be able to rejoice in the fact you're still alive. Notice the chains came off when they rejoiced and praised. You have a purpose in this life. Don't feel that God has abandoned you. Because I went through it, I can boldly type this post. 

As Jesus Culture said in one of their songs, there is power in the name of Jesus to break every chain. 

Let this day be your day of freedom.

Blessings:

The Mayne Man

I Have A Dream (poem excerpt)

Here is an excerpt of my poem entitled "I Have A Dream." The entire poem is in my debut poetry book Take It From Me: Cautionary Tales From A Former Fool (The You Can Take It Poetry Series: Volume I). Blessings to you all today.

I stand today and see the dream inside of me

It’s deeper than what my eyes can see

Look at me, I have ambition, I have a desire

Nobody can put water on this fire

I have this dream inside of me that’s growing strong

If I can bear the short-term discomfort, the dream won’t take long

I am encouraged, I am blessed, and I am a soldier in this fight

Because I’m strong in the Lord and in the power of His might

I can’t let anything tie me down; I have too much at stake

I know I have to press forward and do whatever it takes.

Never to neglect the Lord who blessed me and saved me

Because it is He who loves me and it is this dream He gave me

I have to fulfill it; I have to nurture it with all of my heart

Because He knew this dream was for me from the start

If Pharaoh and Dr. King can have a dream, then I can have a dream

And when it’s resurrected and affirmed, it’s not as distant as it seems.

If I neglect this, I’m letting you, God, and myself down

This is my time, and I’m turning this life of mine around

This is it! Destiny has to be fulfilled

I refuse to be tied down; that’s not God’s will

This poem might be hard for your ears, so it seems

But this is me, and I’m blessed to be living the dream.

Author Spotlight (Kelli Bolton)

I met this author in September 2013 at the BWABC Literacy Festival. I was privileged to sit across from her (that meant she had to put up with my jokes). Anyway, this sister has a glow in her spirit. Show your love for sister & fellow author Kelli Bolton.

Kelli Bolton is a compassionate young woman with a desire to see the Word of God set the lives of his people free.

She earned an Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Development in 1998 from Columbus State Community College and a B.A. in Cross-Disciplinary Studies from Ohio Dominican University in 2004. It is at this time that Kelli acknowledged the call of a teacher on her life. She has spent the past ten years helping at risk youth and families through various programs such as; Conflict Resolution, Independent Living Mentor, Community Support Provider and ABLE/GED Instructor.

In 2000, Kelli received a prophetic word concerning writing, it was in 2001 that she started her first book “A Good Man or a Godly Man, Which Do you Prefer?” Again in 2005, she received the same word, this time with an emphasis on “books”.

Not sure what God was doing on leading her to do, Kelli continued to write. In March 2009 Kelli was inspired to write a book about teen dating and domestic violence after the recent incident between young Hollywood’s hottest couple. Through Kelli, God is showing young people what real “love” looks like in her book “You Said You Loved Me”. Now she has released her second novel titled “Church Gossip” addressing a serious matter in many churches today. Kelli’s hope is that people will look beyond the title and allow the message to mend those that have been broken by the judgmental attitudes of people in church.

Kelli is a faithful member of Agape Family Worship Center under the leadership of Pastor Yolanda Tolliver where she is actively involved in ministry as; Administrative Support Staff, Deaconess in Training, Helps & Hospitality Ministry, Intercessor, and Youth Sunday School teacher . She enjoys fellowship with family, friends and the body of Christ. She is also a member of the Columbus Christian Writer’s Association. She has had two articles published in the online magazine First Lady Magazine and is credited as a contributing author.

She and her husband Vernon have three children whom are deeply committed to training up the way that they should go.