Do you know that song? In Christ alone my hope is found, He is my light, my strength, my song; this Cornerstone, this solid Ground, firm through the fiercest drought and storm. What heights of love, what depths of peace, when fears are stilled, when striving cease! My Comforter, my All in All, here in love of Christ I stand..... Have you heard it? I`ve heard it plenty of times, but just the other day, I listened and heard it as never before. It was as if the fog of deception had been lifted, perhaps for the first time the truth of lyrics pierced my heart and soul, thank you, LORD!
You might be pondering, what happened to Linda now? Ponder, I love to ponder, that is often when God speaks into my heart, oops sorry just sitting here smiling! So what has happened? God has been continuing to do what he does so well, peeling away the layers of unforgiveness, hurt and pain replenishing them with the truth! This layer was gigantic! As it often happens in dysfunctional families, the scares are deep, requiring the super natural power of the Holy Spirit to be remedied.
Let me dole out some good stuff about Father God. The Godhead, in Sozo healing is explained with the Father Ladder.
Picture three ladders; one Godhead side; Father God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit, second ladder; Body(our identify, protection, provision), Soul(our companionship, communication), and Spirit( our comfort, nurture, teacher) third ladder; earthly Family; Father, Siblings(friends) and Mother. In the perfect world, Father God represents our relationship with our earthly father. Fulfilling our body's needs, they provide, protect and give our identify. Jesus and siblings provide our soul with companionship and communication. The Holy Spirit and our Mothers quench our spirit by comforting, nurturing and teaching us.
However, due to the sin in the garden with Adam and Eve, this perfect picture is distorted by the sin in us. Not mention dysfunction, I used to say that our family put the "fun" in dysfunction. I have renounced that lie, it wasn`t fun, it was turmoil, stress, confusion, insecurity, and drama! Thank you God, for rescuing me and for the work that you are doing within my entire family, you`re the best, Dad!
This weekend our church is hosting an Unbound seminar, a ministry of healing and freedom in Christ. As I reviewed for this weekend, God gently whispered to me, it`s time you and your sister forgive one another. Thank you, God, I have tired unsuccessfully to do this but, I couldn`t! If you say, "I am, I`m ready!" The roots of unforgiveness, prevent us from truly receiving and knowing Jesus in the intimate way that He desires. The phone rang, it was my sister, Joyce. Just calling from work on her break to say, "hello." We chatted briefly, I recall thinking that was unusual, Joyce doesn`t call just to chat, hum! Now for the rest of the story; the weekend before the seminar the team from Unbound came to our church to prepare our prayer team for our part in the upcoming seminar. Sure enough, God provided the opportunity for prayer. As a member from the Unbound ministry prayed with me, they lead me through their five keys of healing. Tears, flowed and flowed, I forgave myself and my sister for years of deception and lies that prevented us from truly forgiving one another. It took the presence and power of the Holy Spirit to touch the spot in my heart that required restoration. I left with a sense of peace, knowing that God had touched me in a mighty way.
Sunday, as I was driving I heard the song, "In Christ Alone," it was as if I was hearing it for the very first time. Each word punctured my heart like never before. Had the unforgiveness between Joyce and I finally been lifted, allowing me to experience the gift of Jesus? I believe so, thank you, Lord. By the end of the song I was sobbing uncontrollably, ugly face tear! But, I looked beautiful and radiant in the eyes of the LORD. No guilt in life, no fear in death. This is the power of Christ in me; From life`s first cry to final breath. Jesus commands my destiny. No power of hell, no scheme of man,Can ever pluck me from His hand; Till He returns or calls me home, Here in the power of Christ I`ll stand. WOW, JESUS!
Trusting God to do what he does, I didn`t mention this to Joyce. Tuesday my phone rang, it was Joyce once again calling to just chat! "I`m not working today, just thought we need more than just a few minute chat." I felt and heard something in both of us that has been missing for more than a decade. I felt, JESUS! Thank you, LORD!
Luke 6:17-19 He went down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of his disciples was there and a great number of people from all over Judea, from Jerusalem and from the coast of Tyre and Sidon, who had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. Those troubled by evil spirits were cured, and the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all.
I pray that you will seek the LORD for His mighty healing, mercy and grace! There is no "fun" in dysfunction, we are new creations in Christ! 2 Corinthians 6:18 "I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the LORD ALMIGHTY." AMEN........................"IN CHRIST ALONE."
