Hurt by a fellow Christian

Have you ever been hurt by another Christian? It's a different pain than one we've experienced in the world.  Maybe it's because we trusted on a deeper level.  Maybe it's because we simply expect more from a Christian.  Maybe it's because we instinctively let our guard down with Christians; we assume we're on the same team.

I've personally known people who've left their church over the wounds they received from another member. I know one sweet lady who now refuses to attend another church.  It's sad because she was a leader and a faithful member. One person's harsh words changed all that.

It's really difficult to know how to respond in these situations. I don't have the answers. My goal is to follow the scripture in Hebrews and attempt to live in peace with everyone because, as the scripture says, if we don't strive to be holy we will not see the Lord. That helps me to focus on what is important.

I'd like to hear feedback on this topic.  Have you ever been hurt by another Christian?  How did you handle it?

Longing...

Tomorrow, spring is scheduled to arrive but our weather is not following the calendar. It snowed all day and our fireplace is blazing to burn off the chill. The weatherman said that the next few days won't be much different.  After the long, cold winter, it's disappointing to welcome spring dressed in a wool coat, hat, boots, and mittens. 

Maybe I'm torturing myself, but I've been daydreaming about summer days. I miss walking in the woods. I love the sound of the wind shuffling the leaves of the trees. I can close my eyes and imagine that sound. I wonder if anyone has ever recorded it.  

Sitting lakeside is another thing I'm longing for. My husband and I will take our Kindles, a blanket, and some snacks to spend a few hours together.  We attempt to read, but ultimately we'll find ourselves distracted by the beauty of the water. I can't count the conversations we've had about our future lakeside home. I have no idea if we'll ever buy one, but it's fun to talk about it.  

I'm longing for new green grass, buds on the trees, and a lake that is free of ice. I'm longing for the peace that I always find deep in the woods or nestled beside a lake. I'm thankful that our father provided such such amazing place for us to live.  
 

It's Not about Me

I'll admit this.  I get caught up in the cares of this life.  My thoughts are occupied by so many small things; work, home, grocery shopping, cooking, cleaning, my family, my problems, etc.  If there were a way to accurately gauge the time I've spent thinking about problems, I'm sure I'd be ashamed.  

Often, when I am facing a challenge, I will think about it endlessly.  I'll have imaginary conversations where I am formulating the perfect arguments and comebacks. I can get so wrapped up in my own thoughts that I forget to look to the Lord for guidance and instruction. 

What if I could learn to live my life as though it were no longer my own?  Imagine the change that would occur if I finally accepted that I no longer live and it's all about CHRIST!   

Currently, I am dealing with some personal issues that have been lingering for years.  I'm a victim of internet harassment and character defamation.  I met a group of women in a chat room nearly four years ago and we had a disagreement. It spiraled downward and we all made mistakes in the way we conducted ourselves. They are unwilling to let it go and have been stalking and harassing me ever since. They accuse me of assorted crimes, make posts about my family and my marriage. They talk about my children and make up vicious lies.  

It's been really hard not to respond. I'll admit, I've slipped and responded a few times, like the time they posted the youtube link to my grandma's memorial video so they could mock my figure. That attack stung because I adored my grandmother and six years later, I'm still grieving her passing.  (For what it's worth, I think they confused me with my aunt- but that doesn't matter.) 

So, as I continue to endure this season of my life, I am challenged by this scripture. It's not I that lives, but Christ in me. How much should I allow these women to affect me?  Daily, I forgive them.  Sometimes I forgive them several times in a day.  I do have peace, in spite of the nasty attacks, because I guarding my heart. I won't allow bitterness to plant a seed. I do pray for them, but I won't pretend that it's easy to do that. 

I've learned to forgive more quickly and for that, I thank these women.  They've given me daily opportunities to practice forgiveness. (I'm not being sarcastic.) Through trials, we have the opportunity to improve. We can test our endurance and gain strength. When this is all over, and I'm sure that it will one day be over, I'll be a stronger, more patient person who deeply appreciates the fact that I am no longer living for myself. It's not about me. It's all for Jesus.  

Hannah's Voice- BOOK REVIEW

Synopsis

When six-year-old Hannah's brutal honesty is mistaken for lying, she stops speaking. Her family, her community, and eventually, the entire nation struggle to find meaning in her silence.

School officials suspect abuse. Church members are divided—either she has a message from God or is possessed by a demon. Social workers interrupt an exorcism to wrest Hannah away from her momma, who has a tenuous grip on sanity. Hidden in protective foster care for twelve years, she loses all contact with her mother and remains mute by choice.

When Hannah leaves foster care at age eighteen to search for Momma, a national debate rages over her silence. A religious movement awaits her prophecy and celebrates her return. An anarchist group, Voices for the Voiceless, cites Hannah as its inspiration. The nation comes unhinged and the conflict spills into the streets when presidential candidates chime in with their opinions on Hannah—patriotic visionary or dangerous radical. A remnant still believes she is evil and seeks to dispatch her from this world. 

Hannah stands at the intersection of anarchists and fundamentalists, between power politics and an FBI investigation. All she wants is to find her momma, a little peace and quiet, and maybe some pancakes. 

One word would put an end to the chaos if Hannah can only find her voice.

My Review

This author took on a challenging topic and with a lot of room for potential offense to readers.  He handled it masterfully.  I'm a fully committed Christian and I found his descriptions of some of the extreme characters to be humorous and, sadly, accurate on many levels. 

This book was deep, beautiful, and it left me feeling as though Hannah would forever be a part of my life. The conclusion is not easy or rushed.  The ending left me with a sense of satisfaction mixed with bittersweet emotions for all that Hannah faced in her young life.  

My hope is that this book will be discovered and possibly made into a screenplay in the future.  I encourage you to treat yourself to a copy of Hannah's Voice.  You'll thank me.  


Purchase Links: 
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Robb Grindstaff

Author Bio:

In addition to a career as a newspaper editor, publisher, and manager, I’ve written fiction most of my life. The newspaper biz has taken my family and me from Phoenix, Arizona, to small towns in North Carolina and Texas, and from seven years in Washington, D.C., to five years in Asia. Born and raised a small-town kid, I’m as comfortable in Tokyo or Tuna, Texas. I now reside in a small community in Wisconsin where I manage the business operations of a daily newspaper. The variety of places I’ve lived and visited serve as settings for the characters who invade my head.
I’ve had a dozen short stories published in several print anthologies and e-zines, and several articles on the craft of writing fiction. My first novel, Hannah’s Voice, debuted January 15, 2013, and two more novels are in the works for 2013-14.
I also edit fiction and non-fiction books for authors from around the world. It helps that I’m fluent in five languages: U.S. English, U.K. English, Canadian English, and Australian English, plus my native language, Texan.

AUTHOR CONTACT INFO:

Website: http://robbgrindstaff.com/writing

Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/robbgrindstaffauthor

Twitter: @RobbWriter

On Evolved Publishing: http://www.evolvedpub.com/press/litfic/hannahs-voice/