Family Secrets

It is true that every family has its secrets; however, it is the content of the secret that really counts.

Secrets can be small and insignificant, (planning a surprise birthday party celebration or a vacation) Those type of secrets and their keepers cause no harm.

On the other hand, traumatic, painful, or life changing secrets potentially can damage on the entire family’s mental health and well-being for some time.

Should You Keep Family Secrets?

Here’s why it might be harmful to continue doing so.

The most frequently kept secrets within a family include, but not limited to finances, serious health issues, abuse and death, and impeding divorce.

While keeping a family secret from the outside world may be advisable in some instances for privacy or protection, keeping secrets with a family can prove problematic.

Here are a few reasons why:

  • Keeping secrets can destroy relationships.

Keeping secrets within a marriage, or any significant adult relationship, can cause a breakdown in communication. The bond between the adults my be irreparably harmed, causing harm to any children as well.

When I was a children my brother drowned in a lake, when he was a scout trip. He was 11. I remember asking my parents where by brother was. “O’ he hasn’t come back you.” I heard my parents talking out his death. So, I walked to the funeral home and seen him laying in a coffin. When my father came home from I asked again, I said, I knew where my bother was. I told them I walked to the funeral home. He said “O he’s just sleeping. I lost all trust in my parents.

  • Keeping secrets can affect children’s lives.

Keeping secrets from children should be carefully thought through. Children are extremely perceptive, when they sense something wrong they become alarmed, and anxious.

  • Keeping secrets can cause suspicion and resentment.

Keeping secrets within the family can ignite feeling of suspicion and resentment among family members. We would all like to believe that those closest to us and claim to love us mean what they say can be trusted.

  • Keeping secrets can create a false sense of reality.

Keeping secrets within the family can create a false sense of reality. Especially among children. Children learn about the world from the adults in their lives. When they are eventually told the truth, either by the parent or even worse by someone outside the family, their world may feel shattered. Secrets’ impact on children can be profound, regardless of their age.

When I was in 3rd grade I finally go up the nerve to tell my teacher, what my mother was doing to be. To say the least that didn’t help at all. The teacher went straight to my mom. And of course, she told the teacher that I just had a big imagination. And when I came home from school I was punished for telling a “family secret.” So, from then on out, I knew I could trust no one one.

  • Keeping secrets can cause illness

Keeping traumatic secrets can result in excessive stress and guilt for the person carrying the burden of knowledge, even when that silence is thought to be the best possible option from all concerned. Physical symptoms such as anxiety, headaches, backaches, and digestive problems often can occur when disturbing secrets are internalized, rather than shared, especially over a long period of time. Person harboring such discomfort, often turned to alcohol or addictive substances to mask their pain. I began drinking at the age of 12.

That was my tipping point. I thought “well,if they don’t care about me, why should I care about myself.”

Secrets, especially ones about abuse, can lead to a horrific adult life. I held on to my secret of abuse for about 40 years. I had seen many therapists but I kept my mouth shut. I didn’t have a childhood. So, I lived my childhood through the things I did with my children.

To this day, I cannot believe my husband stayed with me. I still wonder why today.

With my faith and having hope that my children didn’t ever know what I went through as a child. Thank God, they are both very successful adults today. And my husband and I forgave each other for everything in the past. And started from scratch, a new husband and wife relationship.

Despite everything I endured God kept me alive. I know He had a purpose for me.

No matter what people have to experience in their lives. Everyone has a gift from God and a purpose.

Is Your Soul Tired?

What to do when your soul is tired.

In the modern world 90% of adults claim to feel tired. Perhaps, it is not more sleep we needs, but more things to inspire us. Spiritual fatigue can be overwhelming. You may sleep, but still not feel like you are invigorated about life. When your soul is tired, it can be tough to find your way toward the light.

Here a few ways to wake up your weary soul.

  • Move

One of th best things you can do to reinvigorate your soul is to get moving. You don’t have to spend hours at the gym to get results. Physical movement is the best ways to get a release of healthy endorphins which give you a natural high. With just 30 minutes of moderate exercise, you can start to feel your soul start to lighten up. As your body continues to move your circulation will increase, your heart will open for new blood flow and your mood will be boosted.

  • Spent Some Time Meditating

With personal schedules getting out of control and so many demands on our time, life can be overwhelming. To help renew your soul, you need to step away from the noise and constant movement each day by sitting quietly in a calm place so you can reawaken your soul.

  • Deep Breathing

Breathing is a life essential that doesn’t get enough attention for the power that it possesses. If you are feeling overwhelmed or anxious, it will make you feel spiritually exhausted. Deep breathing techniques can help you bring your soul back to life and he, your body. When you practice deep breathing it can lower your blood pressure, regulate you heart rate, calm your nervous system and help balance your mood. You can find deep breathing guidance online or use the classic process that had you breathe in for the count of four, hold for four, and breathe for the count of eight.

  • Get Back To Nature

We are all natural creatures that rely on the world around us for survival and comfort. As modern-day hum and, we seem to spend more our time avoiding the natural world. If you have been feeling down or spiritually tired, you can try getting back out into nature. A short walk can help you to bring your soul back to life. Fresh air can make a world of difference to your general attitude and feeling of well – being.

If you are feeling tired, and it doesn’t seem to matter how much rest you are getting, you could have a soul exhausted by the demands you are putting on it.

Good Friday Event – What Really Happened

Good Friday, it’s called this because of an ancient usage of the word “good” as a synonym for Holy. In the same way as the Holy Bible at times is called the “Good Book, Holy Friday, indeed.

From the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus was led to a mock trial, after which He was beaten mercilessly with a cat of nine tails. This procedure was so brutal that some recipients didn’t survive it. The leather cords tipped with sharp metal, tore at the flesh of the victim, ripping off pieces of flesh. The beating with its nine cords, delivered 39 times, made a total of 351 lashes. This was barbaric and brutal,not on,y lacerating the back, but wrapping around the front of the victims body, including the face. It is hard to described this lashing without being too graphic for most readers. The depiction of the horrible damage in the Passion movie is no exaggeration. Suffice it to say that when finished, the victim was often unrecognizable.

The soldiers also beat Christ with their fists and spat in His face. To mock Him as “King of the Jews,” a crown of thorns as placed on His head and pressed into His skin, causing great pain and more loss of blood. When the ordeal was finished.Jesus was so mangled and covered with spittle and blood that He was literally unrecognizable. Isaiah said, “Many people were shocked, astonished and appalled when they saw Him. His appearance was so damaged, disfigured and marred. He didn’t look like a man; His form was so changed they could barely tell He was a man (Isaiah 52:14 the amplified Bible). The added punishments and torture, much more than the average victim of crucifixion was afflicted with, can only be explained as the fury of hell, trying to snuff out the life of the Son of God.

Jesus received this for you and me. Isaiah 53:5 and 1 Peter 2:24 tells us through the beating that we can be healed. Place your faith in this today. Receive healing by placing your faith in His substitutionary sacrifice.

Jesus was then led to His crucifixion. There are several prophetic references or pictures in the Old Testament pointing to the Cross. One passage of extreme importance is Deuteronomy 21:22-23, which references one who experienced death by hanging on a tree as being “cursed.” It is abundantly clear from Galatians 3:13 that this verse refers to Jesus hanging on a “tree,” taking our curse. “ Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us – for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree.”

Jesus’s (Yeshua’s) crucifixion took place at Gotgotha, “the place of the skull.” God centuries before, had ordained that this would be the place and, with stones and stones erosion, craved the international symbol of death onto the hillside. This also was the location of Isaacs interrupted sacrifice (Genesis 22), which pictured the Cross. Like Isaac, we were spared, and God Himself provided the sacrifice. “Then Abraham looked up (lifted his eyes) and saw a male sheep (ram) caught in a bush by its horns. So Abraham went and took the sheep, offering its whole burnt offering to God, and his son was saved (In place of his son). So Abraham named that place the Lord Provides (Hebrews: Yahweh Yireh). Even today, people today, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided (or seen) (Genesis 22:13-14; The Amplified Bible). In this chosen place, high on a hill so all could see the Passover Lamb bearing our shame, God provided the sacrifice for our sins. Jesus carried His own Cross, though He was able to carry it only part of the way. It was actually the cross beam that He carried. When He arrived at the place of crucifixion, Ne was first tied and nailed with spikes to this cross piece, which contained a hole in the center, enabling it to slide down into the upright post.

After a victim was tied and nailed to this portion, it was lifted and placed onto the top of the upright section, whereupon it would fall down and slam into place. This is often with dislocations that would occur in the crucified person, as the crosspiece slammed down. And indeed we know this occurred with Jesus, As was prophesied of Him in Psalm 22:14. The sliding down of the crosspiece is also why the spikes were placed at the bottom of the handles where they joined the wrist; this placement would have sustained more weight. It’s also why the victim was tied to the crossbeam, if they were not secured in this way, they would often to torn loose.

Yeshua (Jesus) hung on the Cross for six hours in this emancipated state. While there He spoke seven times. They were all significant. Half way through the ordeal, at noon, the sun disappeared, and the sky drew dark (Luke 23::44-45). This was the fulfillment of Amos 8:9-10: “It Will come about that day, declares the Lord God ‘That I will make the sun go down at noon and make the earth dark in broad day light. The I will turn your festivals into mourning for an only Son, And It Will be like a bitter day.” Surely this is a prophetic picture of the Light of the World being snuffed out for us.

It was at the end of the 3 hours that Jesus cried out, “My God, My God, why hast you forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:46-47. Mark 15:34). He was quoting from Psalm 22, which is a detailed prophecy of the Cross. Jesus was crying out in anguish because, for the first time in all of eternity, He was experiencing separation from His Father. It is also the only record we have Him addressing God as any other than Father.

Jesus had taken our sins on Himself (2 Corinthians 5:32; Isaiah 53:5). Most scholars agree that when this occurred, He bore our separation from the Father, who could no longer look upon Him. Though Jesus no doubt endured, and cried out in anguish. It is worth noting the Christ never cried out during His beatings, scourging, thorns, spikes, or dislocations – only when His separation occurred from His Father, as He bore our sin.

Finally, it was enough. The price had been paid. Christ made His final two statements. The first, “It is finished,” this was not a statement referencing His death, but a loud declaration by Jesus, also quoted from Psalm 22:31. This decree was one word in Greek (tetelestia) and also in the Hebrew of Psalm (asah). Using the literal meaning of these words, Jesus was declaring that He had finished His assignment, paid our debt in full, and was bringing forth the new creation!

Yeshua then released His spirit to the Father. Death did not take Him, He “yielded up His Spirit” (Matthew 27:50). It was 3 o’ clock in the after noon. The priests in the Temple were performing their customary duties when, at the very moment Jesus yielded up His Spirit, the veil in the Temple was torn in two from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51; Mark 15:38; Luke 23:45). The purpose of the veil had been to separate everyone from the Holy of Holies, the dwelling place of God and earth. With this symbolic act, God was declaring that the separation caused by our sin was gone, and we could now enter into His presence once again!

This account of what to place was shared in an email I received this morning. These are the accounts of what took place on this Holy Day -Good Friday 2000 years ago. The email was written by Dutch Sheets, a Pastor and American Author.

I find it very sad that people today don’t take the time to learn what Jesus did for us on the Cross. Many are too busy celebrating a long weekend of fun. Jesus is truly our Savior.

What Is Inner Peace?

Having a nervous breakdown was one of the best things that ever happened to me.

Before reaching the absolute end of my stress threshold, I never thought that finding inner peace was possible-especially for a sensitive person prone to anxiety like me. Peace was a completely foreign concept to me.

After having multiple instances of mental breakdowns, I finally learned what inner peace is and it wasn’t what I expected it to be.

I didn’t think the journey would turn Spiritual or that I was capable of it I always seen myself as a weak individual. Hitting rock bottom -feeling like I couldn’t go on anymore. Not even realizing there was a way to find it.

So, what’s inner peace? Inner peace is what we feel when our body, mind, heart, and soul is at rest. Instead of striving to control or resist ourselves and others, we feel a sense of profound acceptance, forgiveness, love, and compassion. Inner peace is being in touch with your true nature. Inner peace is the byproduct of letting go of all the stress, brokenness and sufferings and surrendering everything to God

When you hit rock bottom there is no where else to go but up. There is nothing else you have to loose. It’s not about chasing, striving, and trying to earn tranquillity. We you try to fight for inner peace is contradictory and pointless. It just deepen our suffering.

Finding inner peace is about relinquishing our need to control and fight. Essentially, you could say it’s about giving up (I’m just not going to fight anymore I’m done). But you don’t do it in a disempowering way. It’s a form of resignation that is based on a deeper level of understanding that we don’t need to constantly resist everything.

It doesn’t mean you become a pushover or a doormat that people can abuse. Living in peace is letting go and surrendering isn’t about letting yourself be used and abused. There just comes a point in life when we have to focus on ourselves, practice self-care, self-control and self-love. It’s time to pamper yourself and stop trying to make everyone happy except yourself. This might mean setting boundaries, saying no, and removing ourselves from harmful situations that don’t create peace in your life. But it also means surrendering, blame and hatred toward anyone. And you’ll be able to see the difference immediately. If it steals your peace then it’s to expensive. Life is all about balance.

Here’s a exercise that will help you to understand what inner peace is like

Sit down somewhere quiet. Then tense your entire body. Imagine you’re being scrunched into a tight rubber band ball. Hold that for 30 seconds. Become as contracted as possible. Make yourself super stiff and uncomfortable. Then release. You can feel how spacious you boby is now. That’s what inner peace feels like -except it radiates from the inside out.

I can feel it in my body now, when things start feeling tense. I feel pain between my shoulder blades. That’s when I know my body is contracting. And I need to remove myself from the situation – a sign I am losing my inner peace. Any situation you don’t feel at peace with. Remove yourself from it situation, no matter what it is, it not worth losing you peace over. If the situation is unavoidable. Get yourself away from it as soon as possible.

Don’t Sacrifice Your Inner Peace For Anyone.

The Last Supper

Jesus’s Betrayal, Arrest And Trial

The Last Supper was the final meal Jesus shared with His disciples, The night before His crucifixion. During this meal, Jesus predicted that one of his disciples had betrayed Him. At the end of this meal, Jesus broke bread and shared it with His disciples, telling them to “do this in remembrance of Me” Luke 22:19).

Jesus awkward and whine to Him disciples, saying to them, “ Drink from it, all of you. This is My new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you” (Luke 22:20)

These quotes show us that, the sacrifice of Jesus was about to make a new relationship would be formed between God and humanity.

The last supper holds a special significance for believers as it forms a basis of the Eucharist, a key church service.

The Betrayal And Arrest

After the Last Supper, Jesus was talking to some of his disciples, in the Garden of Gethsemane. Judas (one of the disciples) arrived, leading the chief priests and their guards to Jesus. Jesus’s disciples wanted to defend their leader, but Jesus told them to put their swords away. Peter, Jesus’s closest disciple, cut off the ear of the High Priest’s servant. Jesus killed it and ordered that there should be no violence. He was a little way to the house of the High Priest.

The Trial

Jesus was put on trial by the Sanhedrin. They consider Jesus’s claims to be the son of God blasphemy and found Him guilty of this charge.

The next morning, Jesus was taken to Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor. Pontius Pilate did not think that Jesus was guilty so he gave the assembled coward a choice; he would either release Jesus or a Jewish freedom fighter, Barabbas. The crowd chose Barbabbas to be released. That meant Jesus was to be crucified.

The soldiers mock Jesus, and placed a crown of thorns on His head. The crown of thorns represents both Jesus’s suffering and the fact that He was mocked by His persecutors.

The Crucifixion

Jesus was crucified on a Friday along side two robbers, one on each side of Him. A sign above His head read “King of the Jews.” As He was crucified, Jesus Cried out: “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:24).

One of the robbers confessed to Jesus, that he had sinned and said that he and the other robber deserved to die because of their crimes. The robber, who also acknowledged that Jesus was innocent. He just told the robber that they would meet again in paradise.

Christians believe that Jesus‘s crucifixion was a crucial moment in His life as this act brought human salvation from sin.

The Resurrection

After the crucifixion, Jesus‘s body was buried in a tomb, garden by Roman soldiers. Early on Sunday morning, three days after the crucifixion, some of Jesus’s female followers went to anoint His body with spices. However, the tomb was empty. Two men in leaning white clothes, appeared and told the women that Jesus had risen from the dead. The women informed Jesus’s disciples that the tomb was empty.

For most Christians, the resurrection is the most significant event. It is the ultimate miracle which proves the divinity of Jesus, as well as indicating that death is not the end.

The Ascension

The Gospel of Luke states the 40 days after His resurrection, Jesus told his disciples that they must stay in Jerusalem, and that they would receive the power of the Holy Spirit. Then, Jesus was taken up into a cloud. Two men in White appeared and hold the disciples that Jesus had gone to Heaven.

The ascension remind Christians that Jesus has gone to heaven to prepare a place for them, so that they do not need to fear death. As Jesus is no longer restricted by time, He’s always with them. Christians also believe that Jesus didn’t die again before ascending to heaven, the Ascension shows Jesus’s divinity.

Our Faithful God

When was the last time you went to bed at night and thought, “ I wonder if the sun will rise in the morning?” To put it more accurately, “I wonder if the Earth will stop spinning on the axis overnight?” You probably have never been in doubt about the sun and the planets faithfulness to make their appointed Rounds.

Prophet. Jeremiah connected the stability of the universe to the faithfulness of God. Just as a sunrise every morning, so is God’s compassion, and mercy new every morning. “It’s not as if God turned off his mercy and compassion overnight, and turned them on again in the morning. What Jeremiah meant was, God‘s mercy and compassion never cease because God is faithful; He keeps His promises, His blessings remain (Numbers 23:19-20).

Here’s the question: If God keep the universe, running on time, can we not trust Him to be faithful in the details of our lives? God’s word promises and blessings go along with His compassion and mercy – are new every morning.

Through the Lord’s mercy, we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is your faithfulness . Lamentations 3 22-23.