Excerpt From Book

Today I am posting another excerpt from my book (soon to be released!).  In this chapter I recall the day I was called to the Hospital (as a volunteer for DVP).  The lady I write about has since become a very special friend and she has written a book about her experience.  He story is of amazing strength and power to regain her worth.  *A must read!  The title is "This Woman's Worth:  Reclaiming Life after Trauma"  by: Pam White

Be encouraged today that Daddy God is working even when we do not see it with our natural eyes!  That which the enemy intends to destroy God The Father can restore to fullness!!!

BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING!

It was a beautiful spring day in May. A storm had come through a few days before and uprooted a pecan tree beside our house, and it landed in our home! We had to go stay with Max’s grandmother until our house could be repaired. I had just left work and stopped by the house to grab some more clothes for Max, Hunter, and me. I was in a hurry and packed a bag quickly and was heading out the front door when the phone rang. I almost just kept going because everyone who knew us knew that we were not staying at the house. But I answered the phone, and it was the Rape Crisis Hotline. I was not on call, so this caught me off guard. The lady said that she needed me to go to the hospital to meet a rape victim. First of all, I had only taken one phone call to listen to a lady on the other end talk about being attacked by her husband. I had not made any hospital visits. In our training, we were told that there would be a supervisor to go with us on the first few visits to guide us in how to handle ourselves. I informed the lady from the hotline that I was very new and had not even been on a hospital call before, AND I wasn’t even on call this day! She said that she had made several phone calls and I was the ONLY one she could get a hold of! I was very nervous, but at the same time I knew what it was like to be sitting at that hospital with no one there with me! I said I would be on my way. When I got in the car I called my friend and told her what was going on and that I was really nervous. She prayed with me on the phone, and I felt a peace come over me that told me that I was right where I was supposed to be, doing just what I was supposed to be doing. I felt completely led by the Lord. But I was still nervous!

When I got to the hospital, I had no idea where to go or what to do. I walked in and told the lady at the desk all the information I had been given. I was told to go to the hospital to meet a woman named Pam who had been raped, stabbed, and beaten. I was so not prepared for what I saw when they took me into that room! The first thing I noticed was that she had bruises on her toes!! She had wounds from head to toe! Then I looked up and saw two familiar faces. Two of the other ladies in the room were parents of kids that attended the child care center where I worked. I soon found out this was their sister! I told Pam that I was very sorry and would be praying for her and for her family. I also told her to call me if she needed me for anything. I spoke briefly with her sisters, who were very upset. I assured them I would do whatever I could

to help them. I told Pam that I had experienced being attacked myself, and that if she needed to talk, I would be there for her. I left the hospital, but I could not get Pam off my mind. She was the reason I was doing this work. I knew that my calling for this time was to minister to her and share with her the healing that would come from our Creator. I felt almost immediately that all that soul-wrenching writing that was my journal was for her! I do not believe that God chose for either of us to be raped. That only happened because of the evil in this world and the free will of people who had opened themselves to the evil one. But God knows all things past, present, and future, and He prepared a supernatural work through me that would change her!

I love when God takes what the enemy intended to destroy us with and turns it for good to glorify himself! He is not only our strength but our Healer!

I kept up with Pam through her sisters and a few weeks later, I told one of her sisters about my journal and that I felt led to share it with Pam. She thought it was a great idea. She said Pam had refused to talk about her attack with any of them. I gave her the journal to take to Pam. Pam kept it for a while. I was quite nervous the whole time she had it. I prayed for God to use it to heal her and comfort her. Finally after a few weeks, I got the journal back and Pam had written this note to me:

Dear Teena,

Thank you so much for sharing your journal. At first I thought it would be too hard to read, but I found much comfort in knowing you have experienced and understand a lot of what I feel. Your journal, and you, will be so much help to others. I have felt very alone and did not want my family and friends to experience my pain. I know that many women have suffered this same fate. I hope that I can be like you and continue to get stronger. I’m trusting God to get us past this and to a better place.

Thank you for your support!

The Beauty of Letting Go

There have been many times in my life when I have had to 'let go' and trust God but yesterday as I prepared to share my story was like no other time I can remember! I have shared my life with a select circle and a few strangers but as my finger pressed that "enter" key, that word "enter" took on a whole other meaning!  As my hand shook I was about to open my very heart for everyone to enter into and stroll around and really get to know the real me.  The me that has a past, the me that allowed darkness to overtake my life, the me that hurt, the me that struggled with fear....but as I pressed "enter" I was also inviting everyone to enter into a life that has been changed, into a life of restoration, a life made complete by the healing powers of my Daddy God!  So as I pressed that computer key I "let go" and everything in me was overtaken with complete TRUST in God!  My life is His masterpiece and I am excited to show it off! 

I started receiving messages within FIVE MINUTES!!!  I was blown away by the raw and honest words that were being sent to me!  Hearts were deeply touched (mine felt like it was going to explode!), and relationships were mending.  God is on the move and I can hardly contain myself!!!  I am super stoked to have all of you walking with me and cannot wait to witness all the amazing things that our Father is going to work through each of us as he weaves us together as His children to go out and be LIFE CHANGERS!!!!

Some have asked about the book progress and I will just say that God has taken care of every detail in the process!  When I knew that the Lord was instructing me to publish my story I had NO idea of how, what, where!!!  hahaha  I first needed my journal edited!  I had a friend from high school that took on the task of taking the journey into my mind and edit my LIFE!  She did this for no other reason than to help me!  I  know it was not easy for her because she has a family and a job and she took this on during what spare time she had and did an outstanding job!!!  I researched a few publishing companies and settled on one fairly quick.  Because I am an unknown author and I didn't  want my story to be altered, my only option was to self publish.  This meant that I would be completely responsible for paying for the publishing and promotion.  As the publishing rep explained to me the cost (at that time is would be $1500.00), I told him that I was trusting God to clear this path because it was HIM that instructed me to move in this direction.  I knew that God wouldn't call me to do something that He had not already worked out!  Max and I being in full time ministry we do not have thousands of dollars laying around the house!  lol  The rep told me that he could bill me in 3 payments of just over $500 for the next three months.  At that time I told him that I would talk with Max and let him know what we decide in a few days.  Max and I agreed from the very beginning that money would not even be a part of any decision we made.  Money wouldn't hold us back from doing what we KNEW the Lord had told us to do.  That very afternoon a woman gave me $100 and said she wanted to sow seed into my life!  I put it into an envelope and labeled it "Teena's Book--Seed Money"....As I shared with a few people that I was publishing my story (non of which did I ever ask for any help)...I began to receive more "seed"....in 4 days I had $500, my first payment for publishing!!!  I called the rep and told him I was ready to sign up and make my first payment.  As we started setting up there were some problems with my bank card.  It seemed that there was a limit as to how much I could charge a day.  Instead of it ending there, the rep said to me "Do no worry about this, it will work out"...within about 20 minutes he had re figured me a deal where my payment were $430 for three months!!!  See, God really is THAT good!!!

I made that payment and by the next day I already had received enough "seed" to make my next payment!  I have learned so much about TRUSTING God through this.  When He says, "all your need with be provided," He MEANS ALL YOUR NEED WILL BE PROVIDED!!!  My last payment is due the 14th of this month and I know that even though it is not in my envelope in the "natural' God has ALREADY supernaturally supplied it!!!!!!!!!!! 

So that is the story within the story of how God is using THIS child to accomplish HIS Will =)  

BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING =)