Dear Dad,
Today I chose to believe in You. Not just believe about you. Tonight I chose despite my lack of full understanding of your love for me, that I will believe you when you say you love me, even despite my feelings, for feelings are not truth. Tonight I chose to believe to put my full trust in you not because I was told by others, not because I can see what you're planning for me, but because you sent your Son down to die for me, a sinner. That realization I cannot deny. Tonight I put my faith in You because I know even though I cannot see what you're doing in me, your Word says you're holding my hand. Tonight I put my hope in you because I know I cannot win this battle on my own. You will take this broken person and one day make her whole. I believe I am a dirty sinner covered by your grace.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Monday, April 11, 2011
Resident Reflection
Can I know you as Abba
All that you are for me
And ever was
The diversity of life
You sculpt on Your three dimensional pallet
Thick white clouds that reflect sunlit hues
My eyes reflect emotion
Can my emotion reflect a sturdy trust in You
You are amazing God
I peer into the microcosm of cellular structures
The tiny seedlings
I view the macrocosm the horizon
The space below the blue
You are genius God
And I have the audacity to brag
My limited knowledge like broken puzzle pieces
Of magazines, television, books
Your knowledge consists of all things hidden
And all things revealed
Yet not only are you aware of everything
But you carved it Yourself from Your small
Atomic building blocks
Let us speak of yet another dimension beyond space and time
I shall call it truth and love
And you my God are the Master of both
All that you are for me
And ever was
The diversity of life
You sculpt on Your three dimensional pallet
Thick white clouds that reflect sunlit hues
My eyes reflect emotion
Can my emotion reflect a sturdy trust in You
You are amazing God
I peer into the microcosm of cellular structures
The tiny seedlings
I view the macrocosm the horizon
The space below the blue
You are genius God
And I have the audacity to brag
My limited knowledge like broken puzzle pieces
Of magazines, television, books
Your knowledge consists of all things hidden
And all things revealed
Yet not only are you aware of everything
But you carved it Yourself from Your small
Atomic building blocks
Let us speak of yet another dimension beyond space and time
I shall call it truth and love
And you my God are the Master of both
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Staff Commentary: Right Thinking
The topic of classes this week has been, "Right Thinking". This has to be one of my favorite topics we cover in our 10:00 morning classes. Next to saving grace, in my opinion, this would be one of the most important topics for the ladies at VOH to learn.
The majority of the ladies come to VOH with extreme struggles in their thought life. Thoughts like: "God deserted me"; "I can't ever change"; and "It is just hopeless, I've tried everything" are very common. These statements are so often on applications sent to VOH. These statements are also consuming the ladies thought life day in and day out. There is one common theme to this type of thinking-deception. The above thoughts are lies! So much of the work the VOH team and the ladies do is to identify lies that are believed and replace them with the truth found throughout God's Word.
As we begin working through the way a counselee is thinking, it is so exciting to witness the joy they have when they realize there are solutions to the problems that brought them to VOH. When they apply to the program, they are overwhelmed with changing their behaviors. This task seems impossible. However as we begin the hard work of digging into their thinking to get to what is going on in their heart, they begin to have hope. They have hope because they start to recognize the lies that they have been believing and allowing to effect every choice they make.
The choices they are making are self-serving choices. They choose what will make them have comfort, control, ease, escape or pleasure. Then they are distraught because they are not getting what they want. Instead they end up hopeless, trapped and spinning out of control. Why? Because these self-serving choices they are making are based on lies. Lies like: "Alcohol will bring me pleasure"; "If I numb my pain I'll feel better"; or "When I have complete control of my body weight I will be satisfied".
As we investigate the truth of God's Word, the ladies begin to believe that these self-service choices will NEVER satisfy! They begin to recognize the reason why God placed them on this earth- to live for Him rather than for self. We don't see instant recognition of these truths. We repeat these truths over and over and eventually see their thinking change. We see a new habit begin- we see them thinking through Phil 4:8-"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things", we see them believing truth. And we see peace replacing turmoil, Phil. 4:9-" Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you."
~ Heather Starkweather, VOH Social Worker
The majority of the ladies come to VOH with extreme struggles in their thought life. Thoughts like: "God deserted me"; "I can't ever change"; and "It is just hopeless, I've tried everything" are very common. These statements are so often on applications sent to VOH. These statements are also consuming the ladies thought life day in and day out. There is one common theme to this type of thinking-deception. The above thoughts are lies! So much of the work the VOH team and the ladies do is to identify lies that are believed and replace them with the truth found throughout God's Word.
As we begin working through the way a counselee is thinking, it is so exciting to witness the joy they have when they realize there are solutions to the problems that brought them to VOH. When they apply to the program, they are overwhelmed with changing their behaviors. This task seems impossible. However as we begin the hard work of digging into their thinking to get to what is going on in their heart, they begin to have hope. They have hope because they start to recognize the lies that they have been believing and allowing to effect every choice they make.
The choices they are making are self-serving choices. They choose what will make them have comfort, control, ease, escape or pleasure. Then they are distraught because they are not getting what they want. Instead they end up hopeless, trapped and spinning out of control. Why? Because these self-serving choices they are making are based on lies. Lies like: "Alcohol will bring me pleasure"; "If I numb my pain I'll feel better"; or "When I have complete control of my body weight I will be satisfied".
As we investigate the truth of God's Word, the ladies begin to believe that these self-service choices will NEVER satisfy! They begin to recognize the reason why God placed them on this earth- to live for Him rather than for self. We don't see instant recognition of these truths. We repeat these truths over and over and eventually see their thinking change. We see a new habit begin- we see them thinking through Phil 4:8-"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things", we see them believing truth. And we see peace replacing turmoil, Phil. 4:9-" Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you."
~ Heather Starkweather, VOH Social Worker
Friday, April 1, 2011
Resident Reflection
You sustain Your world full of people
Some You have preordained to know You
Why have You chosen the likes of me
Forever shall I wonder
For nothing good is in me but You alone make the flower radiant
You alone give true soul to music
Let my heart speak good back to you Lord
Help me Lord to change my foolishness into praises of my King of Heaven
All things are but shadows passing
You are the Rock, the Solid and firm Self-existent one
No one sustains You
You are Your own burning engine of power
For there is no before God
God has always the breath of Life
Some You have preordained to know You
Why have You chosen the likes of me
Forever shall I wonder
For nothing good is in me but You alone make the flower radiant
You alone give true soul to music
Let my heart speak good back to you Lord
Help me Lord to change my foolishness into praises of my King of Heaven
All things are but shadows passing
You are the Rock, the Solid and firm Self-existent one
No one sustains You
You are Your own burning engine of power
For there is no before God
God has always the breath of Life
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