By
mary on Monday, September 20th, 2010 |
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“Two babies saved from murder today at the Mississippi death pit. Six mothers murdered their children. So great and common the slaughter, so few care or come out to offer help or pray. “Lord, call forth laborers into the ripened harvest field in front of America’s killing centers.” – A pro-life Christian activist
Wow. I have to say I was astounded when I read this Facebook post several months ago. Having worked in abortion recovery circles for nearly 14 years, and working to cultivate compassion in the church for abortion-wounded people, I was sickened by the verbiage of this Christian man. Read the rest of this entry »
By
mary on Friday, September 17th, 2010 |
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“God yearns to make your pain redemptive in your life.” (Mansfield, p. 39)
Who of us, as believers and followers of Christ can honestly say we have never been wounded by others in the Church?
Yeah…just what I thought!
Wounding each other, judging one another harshly, and doing so in God’s name is a pretty standard practice among Christians. Oh, we don’t mean to hurt each other, but our woundedness, selfishness, arrogance, pride and even sometimes our passion and compassion can be daggers we drive into the hearts of those we call brothers and sisters. And yes, pain is always the result.
What we do with that pain is where the proverbial rubber meets the road.
I read a book a few months ago that brought a fresh clarity to this all too common occurrence. I cannot recommend it highly enough.
The book is titled, ReChurch: Healing Your way Back to the People of God by Stephen Mansfield, copyright 2010 by BarnaBooks, an imprint of Tyndale House Publishers (ISBN: 978-1-4143-3328).
ReChurch is not what I expected, but it was what I needed. Read it with an open heart to God, asking Him what He desires for you in the midst of your pain at the hands of other Christians. I think you will be pleasantly changed.
Joyfully in Him,
Mary
By
mary on Thursday, September 16th, 2010 |
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I’ve been exploring the topic of “loving like Jesus” the past few weeks. What does it mean to love like Jesus? How do we love like Jesus? What does it look like? What are the results?
The thing that sparked my curiosity on this topic was seeing how Christians often behave in the public arena regarding issues such as abortion, homosexuality, gay marriage, freedom of speech and religion, the practices of the President of the United States and other social and government related topics.
As someone who has worked in the area of abortion recovery (from a pro-life standpoint) for a number of years I am familiar with the sensitive nature of these issues and the flash-point of human emotion on such heated topics. Being loving in the midst of these topics is unnatural, to say the least! Yet it is what we are called to be.
My plan is to begin to explore this topic here on my blog over the next few weeks. My hope is that it will challenging, enlightening, uplifting and most of all, pleasing to my Jesus, who for the joy set before Him endured my cross (Hebrews 12:2).
Invite your friends. Add your comments. Join me here and let’s explore this topic together.
Joyfully in Him,
Mary
By
mary on Wednesday, September 15th, 2010 |
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No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will bea peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way. Hebrews 12:11 (New Living Translation)
Do you have those relationships that have gone sour for whatever reason, that, when you run into this person or hear their name you have this pang in your chest that reminds you this relationship is broken? I’m sad to say I have several of those and I made an attempt recently to try to repair one such relationship.
As brothers and sisters in the family of Christ, it is our responsibility—indeed we are commanded to mend these broken relationships as far as it is possible with us [Romans 12:18]. Read the rest of this entry »
Mary Comm is an Author, Speaker and Ministry Director. Founder of In Our Midst Ministries, Mary's passion is to help those who have been wounded by some of the deepest hurts of life to find hope, peace and healing in Jesus Christ. Years ago Mary participated in an abortion decision involving a friend (which changed her life forever), and through which she has acquired a deep compassion and love for others wounded by an abortion decision. To learn more about Mary and her ministry, visit her