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Spiritual Sounding Board – This is your place to gather and share in an open format.
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In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah:
We have a strong city;
God makes salvation
its walls and ramparts.
Open the gates
that the righteous nation may enter,
the nation that keeps faith.
You will keep in perfect peace
those whose minds are steadfast,
because they trust in you.
Trust in the Lord forever,
for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal.
He humbles those who dwell on high,
he lays the lofty city low;
he levels it to the ground
and casts it down to the dust.
Feet trample it down—
the feet of the oppressed,
the footsteps of the poor.
Isaiah 26:1-6
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Feel free to join the discussion.
You can share your church struggles and concerns.
Let’s also use it as a time to encourage one another spiritually.
What have you found spiritually encouraging lately?
Do you have any special Bible verses to share, any YouTube songs that you have found uplifting?
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photo: taken in desert of Eastern WA on JA’s morning walk
Spiritual Sounding Board 
For us not engaged in the real world with the spiritual community, these are very very helpful many of us will not post but we are touched. JA you have paid a heavy price taking the path you have but you have help to heal many of us, me being one of them. So thanks for this it is deeply appreciated.
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Well said Brian
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Words are more powerful many times than physical blows. The Franciscan brother who threw me out of the student teaching program in my 4th and final year of college ( for the horrible ‘ infraction ‘ of wear jeans ) and then stomping me to death with the words, ‘ You’re a freak, you’ve always been a freak and you deserve whatever you get in life ‘, haunts me still and colored my entire life. The clergy have a lot to answer for.
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Elizabeth-Anne, that is horrific. He was no true leader. He was a fraud and the love of Christ was not in him. I’m so sorry you had to go through that and that those words shaped your life. I hope you have now replaced them with the truth.
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Hello Julie Anne:
Many kind thanks for your lovely words.
It has been a lifelong struggle to overcome all the words and blows f rom my childhood from my mother, who is now deceased and the ‘freak’ comment from ‘ Brother’ Vincent.
About 28 years later I wrote to the college President wanted a resolution to something that has hurt me for decades and the reply was that he denied ever saying it and he resented his interruption of his retirement! My goodness, I nearly fell out of my chair. God knows the truth.
I am slowly healing, thru counseling, medication, prayer, quiet time, change of thinking, etc.
Bless you.
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What a shame, Eluzabeth-Anne, that he wouldn’t take ownership of his words. You were dealing with a bully and who knows how many others he harmed. A friend gave me a paper with verses of who we are in Christ. I think you could probably find this online as well, but sometimes we have to intentionally replace those old and harmful messages that were taught us.
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Brian, thank you for your kind words. They mean a lot to me.
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Elizabeth-Anne
What hurtful words…
Yes – “Words are more powerful many times than physical blows.”
Yes – “**The clergy** have a lot to answer for.”
I’m so sorry you had to hear that.
I’m so sorry you had to live with that lie.
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Elizabeth-Anne
Would you like to hear words of love?
Would it be okay to pray? Words of love to you? Words of God?
God’s Words of Comfort and Healing?
From the Bible?
On this blog?
If not – I’ll understand…
Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble…
He sent his word, and healed them…
Psalm 107:19-20.
He heals the broken in heart,
and binds up their wounds.
Psalm 147:3
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I need some sanity! I’m on a Facebook thread in the group Calvinism: The Group That Chooses You, and your name came up Julie Anne. It’s supposed to be a thread about domestic discipline, but it devolved into accusing you of being a liar and a gossip. I’m so mad I could spit! I’ve got to remember they are brothers and sisters, and just don’t know evil when they see it.
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No biggie, VelvetVoice. I’m not trying to win a popularity contest. I get greater joy when I read stories like Lauren, who validated domestic discipline and shared with others how she was able to get free from it; thus, encouraging many others who were able to read the article. That’s where the rubber meets the road for me. One person, one story, one changed life. That gets me pumped. Thank you for your concern, VV. You’re too kind.
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Thank you so much !
I am brand new to the site, having just joined today and I already feeled cared about and supported, I am so happy I found you guys, whether I am a ‘freak’ or not.
Blessings and love,
Elizabeth-Anne xx
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It sounds like you’re pretty normal to me, Elizabeth-Anne! Welcome 🙂
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Elizabeth-Anne, Hateful words, especially from someone in authority can be devastating. I am sorry that you have had this haunt you so long. Unfortunately there are people like him who are missing a sense of empathy and couldn’t care less how their words effect others. Obviously he has continued to be concerned with his own comfort and protecting his own brittle personality. People like that don’t often change so I believe the next step is probably mourning the lack of remorse and sorrow you would have wanted to hear from him.
I encourage you to seek out people who have a greater capacity to love and let their love and support replace the negativity you have internalized. It is never too late! I promise. This week I had sort of a miracle. A family member had been inappropriate with me last month. This has been going on and off my whole life to some extent. Because no one would believe or protect me, I internalized the message that “I am bad”, that “I am not worth protecting”. I self-mutilated for the first time since I was a teen. But God was merciful. My son and husband stood up for me. My friends told me I was good and the family member was sick. Best and most surprising, my 85 year old mother told me she believed me, I didn’t deserve this treatment and I was good. I am still processing these new messages. I am 57 and I see change is possible. Setting limits is possible.
I pray that you open yourself to the good messages God sends your way. You have every right to be angry at your former instructor. He was cruel and wrong. He will not change, but you can allow your anger to keep you safe from cruel people. Your anger can help you rebuke the lie. At the same time, let your heart open to those who validate the unique and beautiful person God created.
JA has such empathy for those who hurt. You have come to the right place. I don’t comment every week, but I do read and listen to whatever JA has placed here on Sundays. It is always healing. I will pray for peace for you in the coming week. Xoxo Ann
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PS to Elizabeth-Anne,
Just a connection we have – I went to a Christian Brothers Catholic high school, so I was around a lot of brothers. That guy who talked to you was certainly a creeper. The brothers I remember were wonderful.
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Ann,
Thank you so much for your supportive words. I am 53 and have had a lifetime of abuse from my mother, men and clergy, and had but all but given up on any hope of happiness, healing or feeling any self worth at all.
Things have changed recently as I have committed to daily prayer, see my psychiatrist regularly and am medication compliant, see a psychologist weekly and spend time alone in quiet and peaceful and in nature and slowly slowly am healing.
Have a wonderful holiday weekend.
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Julie Anne,
What a beautiful picture to open up your Sunday morning praise, God’s creation unabashed. Simply lovely, and the Scriptures you posted for us were a reassuring reminder of our LORD’S promises to His faithful children. Such Blessed Hope!
Precious Elizabeth-Anne, please know that I will gladly join the assembly here in praying for you as well, not that I am so great, but because Jesus is LORD of all. You are heard here and you are loved here, and most importantly, you are loved by our King, Jesus Christ.
God be with you Elizabeth-Anne and godly friends.
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