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April 2023 Prayer Letter
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![Healing Hearts Ministries Internaional [LOGO]](https://www.healinghearts.org/nimages/HHLetterhead_Web700.png) Dear Friend,   Like a lot of other people, I grew up in a home broken by divorce and all that comes with that. I heard on a regular basis that I was “good for nothing and would amount to nothing.” Naturally, my self-confidence never really developed. But the bitterness in my heart sure did, and I fell from one failure to another. So I learned to do what I saw my Mom do—blame everyone else for my problems. After years of abuse and fighting, my mother decided it was best for her, and my brothers and sisters, that I go into foster care. Foster care can be good for some and not for others; I was one of the latter. I just burned through one relationship after another.  It wasn’t until I was 31 that I met my amazing wife. Yes, it was very difficult for a long time, and we almost didn’t make it, BUT GOD…You see, it was a blessing that I went into foster care because that’s how I ended up coming to church, and eventually coming to Jesus. I wish I could say it was fantastic after that, BUT GOD had some house cleaning to do in my heart. I look back and can see how He was with me all along, caring for me, protecting me, but also allowing me to learn from my decisions. I made a lot of bad decisions and am still quite capable of making more, BUT GOD had me and still has me in His arms. He understands me better than I or anyone else could. When I finally came to Healing Hearts the first time, God was able to crack my hardness and remove my fake smile. I didn’t want to play church anymore, but I struggled with hating myself, and therefore was afraid of people seeing me the way I saw myself. God patiently continued to soften my heart while exposing more and more that He wanted to heal.  I returned to Healing Hearts again for a second time and began a new study called “The Good Fight.” I figured I’d be through this one much quicker than the first one. Boy, was I wrong. God was able to expose a root he wanted to take away that had a tight grip around my neck. I still believed what my Mom said to me so many times, “You are good for nothing, and you will amount to nothing.”The fact is, without God we are worse than good for nothing—we are lost to Him. Nothing we accomplish (or don’t accomplish) will matter at all if we are going to wander through life bitter at God for what we have experienced, only to end up completely separated from Him and all that is good. In God’s eyes, we have so much worth that he gave His only begotten Son to be sacrificed on the cross for OUR sins. How many of us won’t give most people the time of day, let alone our lives? How many of us would even consider giving up someone we love for someone who hates us? God did. Because He loves us. We have worth in His eyes. We can have a new identity in Him. I have been saved for a long time, but I never fully exchanged the identity I received from my mother’s opinion of me for God’s truth about me. I am a new creation. I can do all things through Christ, according to His will for my life. Through Him, I was able to forgive my Mom and finally find freedom from all of the pain that accompanied the bitterness I lived in for so long. I also never thought that God could use my brokenness, that He is healing, as a tool to connect with others who are hurting. I’ve watched Him use this study, the things I’m learning, and my story, to lead other men to this study—even while I was still doing the study myself! I’m watching Him change and heal my heart daily now, as I seek Him. This is not easy. Man, the enemy is ticked off and is really trying to get back the territory he has lost and is continually losing. BUT GOD has me and will never leave me nor forsake me. I’m thankful, too, for something else that God is doing. He isn’t building up my self-esteem, He is building up my faith in Him! They don’t compare at all. Faith comes from God, not from us. Self-esteem is a close cousin to Selfishness. Self-esteem is about ourselves, and no one else. Faith is about God, and not ourselves. You see, we are here for God and others, not ourselves. Ever heard of the expression “the best way to help yourself is to help others”? This is true. This is what love is. This is where healing can be as well. When we take our eyes off of ourselves and fix them on Jesus, see Him for who he is, worship Him, and allow Him to bless others through us, we will receive all that we need from God. Reading a testimony like this—and there are so, so many over the years—just thrills our hearts, seeing what the Lord does to draw men, women, and youth to Himself, redeeming broken years and setting their feet on solid ground from which their faith can grow, free from guilt, shame, or bitterness. What is even more thrilling is seeing God call these same individuals to minister to others with the hope they’ve received. Recently, Christopher Chisholm answered God’s call to enter into Healing Hearts’ leadership training program to become a Certified Healing Hearts Biblical Counselor so that he can minister to other men. Please pray along with us for Christopher and the other men and women currently in training, that God will continue to protect, strengthen, and equip them for the Gospel work ahead of them.  You, too, can help Men’s Ministry grow! Help plant the men’s studies in your church by encouraging your pastors, elders, or ministry leaders to request authorization to purchase one or more copies of our men's studies to use in their church's counseling ministry. They can learn more at: healinghearts.org/mens-authorized-buyerThank you for investing your prayers and resources to support Healing Hearts. For the latest projects and funding needs, please visit healinghearts.org/donate. |
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To Make a DonationYou may use the donation form on our website to make a donation, or you may also submit your check to the address provided below. Healing Hearts Ministries is a federally registered non-profit corporation, all contributions are tax deductible. One hundred percent of all contributions made to Healing Hearts go directly toward supporting the various aspects of our ministry no "administrative fee" is collected by a fund-raising service. All donations and expenditures are internally and independently monitored and audited. Annual financial statements are available upon request. We thank you for considering contributing to our ministry. Your contribution will enable us to reach out and touch individuals who need the hope and healing message that only Jesus has to offer. To donate online click this link: https://www.healinghearts.org/donate Send checks to: Healing Hearts Ministries PO Box 44670 Rio Rancho, NM 87174 phone (505) 355-6922 |