(Author unknown – thanks to Terrie Basko for sharing)

Karen F. Riley knows their plight. While the young men from the trial will encounter a myriad of psychologists, gurus, & such, Karen has found the solution for healing- faith. Relying on her faith in Christ has allowed her to persevere.

Family members and others who wish to help abuse victims often find themselves blank on the words to say. Karen offers practical suggestions on these very important dos & don’ts. Her message is full of hope and victory. She has learned a great deal about herself and being an overcomer. It is easy to slip into PTSS after such trauma. But, to hear encouragement from someone who has overcome such trauma is certainly an inspiration.

While it is definitely personal and transparently honest, it spares us scenes of a graphic nature. Abuse is an uncomfortable topic. Adding needless description makes it more so. Gracefully, she spares us from this. How brave she is to pen this story!

She’s done a marvelous job articulating exactly what she intended to. Serving as added inspiration is her dedication to her faith. She makes no other claims for her spiritual answers. She credits God completely for her renewal. From a self-deprecating victim to a tall-standing survivor, her story is told step by painful step.

There’s no doubt that victims’ lives will be changed through her story. Families are provided with answers as she gives tell-tale signs to be aware of. This may prove to be a valuable asset to someone, somewhere.

Such an honest and brave book deserves 5 of 5 stars and applause for Karen F. Riley.

Bible verses & references are from the NIV version from www.zondervan.com. More info on Karen & her writing can be found via www.destinyimage.com the publisher. I was provided with 1 eBook to write the review without any other compensation. As always, my opinions are my own.

Liz Terek is a book reviewer, housewife and homeschooling Mom of 3 sons. She lives in a very rural area and is actively involved in the local church and in community needs projects. Contact Liz through NewsBlaze.

Book Tour Schedule

9/16 – Liz – http://devotedmommyof3.blogspot.com – review
9/17 -
9/18 – Phaedra – http://indentitydiscovery.net – book preview/feature
9/19 – Roxanna – http://roxannajolly.com – review
9/20 – Jenn – http://momzunas.blogspot.com – bookpreview/feature/giveaway
9/21 – Sam – http://marchtomadnezz.weebly.com – review/giveaway
9/22 – NewsBlaze – http://NewsBlaze.com – review
9/23 – Amanda – http://www.ramblingsofafrugalmotheroffour.com/ – review/giveaway/interview
9/24 -
9/25 -
9/26 – Dani Sue – http://danisuedreams.blogspot.com – interview/giveaway
9/27 -
9/28 – Sonya – http://pargasjunkyard.com – review/giveaway
9/29 – Ashley – http://forgetfulmomma.com/ – interview
9/30 – Asha – http://ashabutterflys.blogspot.com – review/giveaway
10/1 – Leah – http://savygreensaver.com/ – interview
10/2 – Courtney – http://optimisticmommy.com/ – review/ preview feature/giveaway
10/3 – Emma – http://mommyandwelikeit.com/ – review/giveaway
10/4 – Carole – http://www.caroleraesramblings.com/ – review
10/5 – Melissa – http://www.thenovicechristian.com/ – review
10/6 – Jacinta – http://jacintaz3.blogspot.co.uk/ – review
10/7 – Kechell – http://kechell-j.blogspot.com – review
10/8 – Debbie – http://www.debbie-jean.com/ – review/preview/feature/giveaway
10/9 – Susan – http://coziecorner.blogspot.com – review/giveaway
10/10 – Simone – http://inspirationsbysimone.blogspot.com – review
10/11 – Jen – http://www.craftylife.net/ – review/giveaway
10/12 – Rachel – http://StressedRach.co.uk -review/giveaway

Peeing In The House Of God

While that is a very comforting thought and it may be the case, I like to think of God more as walking alongside of us. Deuteronomy 31:6 assures us: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Yet, there are many times that we feel we cannot “hear” God or that we have been abandoned. This is true no matter how long you have walked with the Lord. Yet, I have come to find in these desert times, that the Lord is often using our perceived silence or distance to draw us closer. A common church sign says, “If God seems far away, who moved?”

We can all get too busy with life to take the time to slow down and just silently wait on the Lord. We live in such an instant gratification world that we can have the tendency to put a time clock on our prayer requests.

When we do this, not only are we missing out on the blessings that the Lord has for us, but we are also risking not seeing what He is doing in and through the silence. That quiet time may not only be to draw us closer, but to show us how to minister to another or force us to slow down to see someone in need that we may have missed otherwise.

As hard as it is, learn to cherish those quiet times. It will do your soul good and may just save anothers.

It wasn’t until years later that I learned that the reason she was unable to come was because her family was too poor to give her money to buy me a gift and so her mother was too ashamed to allow her to come empty-handed. The pendant she gave me? It was the only thing of value in her life at the time – and yet, she gave it to me. Just like the widow in the Bible giving up her last two mites, she gave me the one thing she treasured.

I could say that one person’s junk is another’s treasure, but it is more than that. The lessons I learned that day from her unselfish gift have lasted me a lifetime. So often, when I am quick to judge another’s actions, the Lord tugs on my heart and reminds me that I have not walked in their shoes. I don’t know what is going on in their lives at this moment that may have caused their actions.

I was reminded of this lesson this evening. Someone had promised to help me and then failed to do so. My initial reaction was to seethe with anger, because the reason I had asked for their help with one thing, is because I was helping them with another. All sorts of ugly feelings surfaced – from anger to pride.

Was it fair that I was tired and yet still doing my part of the bargain, while they reneged on theirs? Maybe I wouldn’t be this tired and stressed out had I not been helping them to begin with. Then arrogant entitlement crept in, also known as pride: So it’s okay for me to give up my evening doing what we agreed to while you are off doing what, besides forgetting our agreement – having fun? Resting?

Fortunately, my thoughts didn’t get too far out the gate. The Lord silenced me before I could open my big mouth and put my foot in it. Instead of responding in anger, the Lord held my tongue. As I fought to let go of my resentment, He rewarded me by reminding me of the story of my friend and her pendant. I chose to forgive and not judge; I chose to bless them rather than curse them.

I’m not saying it was easy. But what made it easier is reminding myself that my role each day was to honor Him – and Him alone. We don’t always know the reasons why things happen the way they do. It is not ours to question. We are not the ones in control, as much as we’d like to be.

Seconds after handing the reins back to God and resigning my negative feelings and allowing His grace to wash over my heart in its place, I learned that there had been a medical emergency that prevented the other person from fulfilling their part of the bargain.

I silently praised God that I didn’t have to eat my words because I ultimately yielded to Him. We have free will – we either do things His way – or we do them His way – a wise pastor once told me. It’s up to us whether we want to take the easy route or the hard way. “For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Such is the case with insecurity. Point blank, being violated says that someone else used you for their own pleasure and gratification or to have dominance and power over you, so it makes sense that you would feel worthless as a result. Clearly that act sent strong signals to your young mind that you had less of a value.  The scars of that carry through adulthood and send out red flags to those around you. Most victims believe that they are “blending into the woodwork” and appearing almost invisible, yet their behavior screams loudly to those around them.

Trying to be like others, whether it is becoming promiscuous to get others to “love” you, developing eating disorders to attain the “perfect body” or trying so desperately to be liked just to have “friends” is really self-defeating because what you’re accomplishing or attempting to isn’t real. When you and others discover that, you will be left feeling more alone and empty inside.

The only cure is to realize that nothing in the world will ever fill that empty hole up inside of you because God is the only One who can. His unconditional love and undeserved grace is the only salve that can balm those aching wounds. People, even with the best intentions, will only let you down because they are human and imperfect. The air-brushed models that grace the covers of the supermarket tabloids don’t exist, either. You were made for something so much bigger and Jesus offered these stern words for those who would hurt a child: ““Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.” (Matt. 18:6)

When we devalue ourselves, we are sinning even though it may not seem like it. Insecurity is just a false sense of pride, because we are calling attention to ourselves – “Look at me and what the world has done to me. I am a victim. Pity me.” We might feel like that is what we are saying, but we are, nonetheless. There is an old saying, “You cannot be a doormat unless you lie down.”

You are a beautiful child of God. He chose you before the foundations of the earth and loved you enough to allow His only Son to die for you, a horrible death on the cross, so that you may have eternal life. Don’t worry about what others think or say; there is only One opinion that matters!

If you missed the interview, you can listen to it by visiting this page:

http://www.bridgefm.org/eventsinterviews.asp#

and clicking on the interview listed under “Riley” (in alphabetical order).