Love & Marriage Issues Topics
Healing After Divorce
Everyone involved in a divorce is wounded, even though they may not realize it. We, as the Body of Christ, ought to follow the example of our Savior and offer a safe haven of healing for those wounded ones. Sadly, the church can sometimes deepen the wounds. We are not called to judge except within the narrow confines outlined in scripture. What we see on the "outside" of a situation can be so misleading! Let us reach out in Christian love to those who are the "survivors" of divorce or separation. Pray with them, fellowship with them, give them "room" to talk and time to grieve. Bind up their wounds with loving acceptance. Leave any judgment to Christ where it belongs.
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Invisible
By (Doc) Doug E. Knowles, NMD

There is an old saying that goes something like, "gone, but not forgotten." Its a simple phrase, yet it speaks volumes to us in its subtleness.

How someone's life may have impacted a particular individual to change for the good, would be the hope of this statement. And often it is the good things remembered about them that propels us to say it. 

The death of a person is sometimes easier to accept, than it is accepting a persons failures while they are living. 

Instead of saying, gone, but not forgotten,  - for the person living under unforgiveness and judgment by others, they are "forgotten, but not gone..." 

invisibleness replaces the prominence and visibility once enjoyed - while loneliness, like a chronic illness,  takes hold and becomes the secret dread. Those you felt who were always there for you, and would love you always, somehow forgot your number and unintentionally misplaced your address. Friends and family alike drifting from your daily life like uncontrolled currents of the sea, tearing them away from your desperation.

Even trusted best friends, quietly judging you -  saying one thing with their lips, while not fully meaning it in their heart. Eventually disappearing from your life.

How strange we must appear to angels, in their seeing all our personal weaknesses  - carrying out the same sins we judge in others, while entertaining far worse acts in the imaginations of our hearts - yet we view our failures, sins and short-comings somehow "not" as bad as those of others.  Like somehow the secret sins of the heart is judged and measured differently.  Judge not, lest ye be judged...

Be sensitive to those around you who are hurting, rejected and emotionally crushed.  Whether or not they have measured up to your expectations is really irrelevant, it is truly the blood of Christ that settles it. 

Where are the Holy Ghost Hospitals, the doctors of the soul who go out of their way to restore, to pour in the oil and wine, cushioning the pain of the afflicted.  Not fearing the failure of the individual, like somehow it could leap off them and they "catch it" by becoming too close.  Have we become so bound up in our "churchie" self-importance, and Christian political correctness, that we somehow neglect the very ones for whom Christ died?  Categorizing them as "tainted," no longer worthy of the company of the righteous.

 Jesus didn't come to make bad people good... He came to make dead people live - Our "goodness" is really not the issue at all. It is His goodness and grace that is placed in us by His resurrected power that is the issue.

Somehow the sin of divorce carry's with it a stigma that would seem too great even for God to fully forgive.  But He does forgive and chooses never to remember its action and consequence on the offender who has truly repented.

Reach out to someone that the church and Christians alike have forgotten.  You would be surprised just how many there are, and how utterly alone they feel. You may find them walking around in the malls, sitting for hours in public places like a Boarders, or Star Bucks,  just to feel some kind of connection with someone. Your words of love may be the very key that turns the locked up emotions of their wounded spirit. A simple acknowledgement of their presence, may keep them from falling into the abyss of another unbearably lonely day.  Wouldn't be amazing that if in your busy schedule, the very Creator of the universe orchestrated all the right details to occur and come together, just to make certain you find yourself in the path of someone who has been forgotten? 

In all the crazy and powerful things that are going on every second in this great big messed up world  - the thought of God Himself, caring enough to focus in on the broken heart of that one person, is truly overwhelming in and of itself. 

But what may be more extraordinary then all this, is the fact that He chose to send you .  What will you do with this forgotten soul, that the eyes of heaven have seen, and God Himself  has not forgotten -  but has strategically placed into your path to be His hand extended.

The Invisible

To all who have experienced the incalculable pain of divorce and its aftermath. Whether you were the cause, or victim - you are not invisible to the Savior.  He see's you, and He knew all that you would experience and go through before you did - even knowing you would fail, He never held back His love for you and to you.  He has provided you "beauty for ashes." 

Don't you believe its time to allow yourself to receive it.  Regardless of what anyone thinks or says to the contrary. It has already been finished for you by way of  Calvary.


The Doctor and the Man

Editor's Note: I offer both the dry bio as well as the warm personal notes Doc sent me. I am impressed that this brilliant doctor and evangelist takes time to spread the Gospel on Myspace. Please visit him visit His Space. Also be sure to check out Doc's article in our Health section.

A PERSONAL NOTE FROM DOC

Iona,
Checked out your Handmaiden site. Very impressive. It appears you have a wonderfully effective ministry to women.

As you may have read in my brief bio, I was a pastor for a number of years prior to becoming a physician. I started out as a young man of 21 working with a wonderful individual by the name of Rex Humbard here in Akron. I worked closely and traveled with Rex and his family for a number of years. I was considered like a son to he and Maude Amiee. I started on the radio locally while I was with his ministry, and as our program demographics grew, so did my opportunities to minister.

I was with Rex up until around1984, all the while I was speaking some 150 to 200 dates a year. Then in 1984, I joined with John Cox and we both began our first pastoral ministry together in South Florida. John was a member of the legendary Blackwood Brothers and a Grammy Award winner. Interesting enough, his daughter Heather Cox is currently in the top ten females on American Idol. We've know sweet Heather since she was a baby.

I stepped out in faith around 1986 and began a work in Boca Raton. Rex came and helped us launch our ministry there (he became a frequent guest throughout the years). I also started back on radio, which was picked up and carried in syndication in many parts if the country. We we frequent guests on secular and numerous Christian television programs. We began hosting TBN (Trinity Broadcasting Network) around 1989 and saw many awesome things occur in the natural, as well in the spirit. I became friends with many of what would be considered the "celebrity" Christian personalities of the day. Everything was going gangbusters, and then the bottom fell out of my world... I went through a divorce.

At 38 years old, my life changed in one day. I went from being the favorite golden boy of church and media, to an outcast. Everything changed.
Reputation, friendships, income, status... gone.

I was broken, confused and afraid. It was when I believed my life to be over - where the story really begins... It has been a magnificent journey to say the least. The power of His presence and how He has restored, and is restoring that which was stolen from my destiny, has been remarkable.

When all those I thought would stand by me failed, when the blank days in my date book glared and mocked me, when the phone never rang to see if I was still among the living... He was there.

I have so much to share, so much to teach and invest.
Life is truly wonderful.

Forgive me for going on and on, but it is a miracle that I am even here.
I wanted you to know just a little history.

It would be an honor to be associated with you in any way you feel I may help.

Thank you dear Iona,
Doc


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