Deadly Ties
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3. Though Mark’s teammates were as close to him as brothers, Mark said that one day he hoped to belong to a family of his own, one where he was wanted, not just needed. What are your thoughts on that?
4. Annie stayed with Dutch out of obedience to God, even though she was in an abusive relationship. Have you ever known someone in this situation? How would you counsel her?
5. Dutch believes the key to respect is money. 3 What do you think?
6. Annie wonders why she hadn’t trusted God to provide for her. Have you ever felt this way? 4
7. Lisa is frustrated feeling some Christians get favor, blessings, and peace while she is living on “fumes of faith.” 5 Have you ever felt this way? Mark tells her she doesn’t see the big picture. 6 What would you have told her? 7
8. Lisa feels like she has been sacrificed for her mother. Describe a time when you have suffered hardship or trials for the sake of another. 8
9. At one point Lisa feels she has been “forgotten in a dark tunnel.” 9 Have you ever felt God has forgotten you? 10 Have you ever felt you have forgotten God? 11
10. Mark said he believes Christ has redeemed him. 12 He knows this logically, but knowing it and feeling it are two different things. Because of his childhood, he grew up feeling that he had to earn love—Lisa’s and God’s. 13 Have you ever felt this way? How would you advise a friend who is feeling this?
11. Mark believes that everything Lisa has been through had a purpose. 14 What do you think?
12. At one point Lisa struggles with not asking God to kill certain people. She asks for forgiveness instead. 15 Have you ever felt this way?
* * *
1. To see what the Bible says about these things, you can begin by reading the following Scriptures from the New International Version: “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:12-14).
2. “We pray to God that you will not do anything wrong. Not that people will see that we have stood the test but that you will do what is right even though we may seem to have failed” (2 Corinthians 13:7).
3. “People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs” (1 Timothy 6:9–10).
4. “Let the beloved of the LORD rest secure in him, for he shields him all day long, and the one the LORD loves rests between his shoulders” (Deuteronomy 33:12).
5. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6–7).
6. “I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you” (Matthew 17:20).
7. “ ‘My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the LORD. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts’ ” (Isaiah 55:8–9). “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5–6).
8. “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9).
9. “Suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us” (Romans 5:3–5).
10. “I say to God my Rock, ‘Why have you forgotten me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?’ ” (Psalm 42:9).
11. “Does a maiden forget her jewelry, a bride her wedding ornaments? Yet my people have forgotten me, days without number” (Jeremiah 2:32).
12. “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace” (Ephesians 1:7).
13. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8–9).
14. “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails” (Proverbs 19:21). “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).
15. “And if ye offer a sacrifice of peace offerings unto the LORD, ye shall offer it at your own will” (Leviticus 19:5, KJV).
Dear Reader,
When I was growing up, significant events occurred at the kitchen table. We discussed all manner of things there—shared our troubles, our joys, thoughts, and dreams. We also discussed how our own perspectives can be based on logical and reasonable—even tangible—evidence and still be totally wrong.
Often during the challenges in our lives, we suspect (or fear) God isn’t listening or hearing our pleas, even though they are coming from the very deepest recesses of our souls. We get an impression, and it stays with us. And then, with that clarity of hindsight we hear so much about, we discover some new tidbit of information or make some discovery or something happens that we wouldn’t even have known about had we not been in the exact place we’re in. And suddenly everything looks totally different.
It’s hard to walk in faith when we’re in one of life’s long and dark tunnels. It’s easy to feel forgotten and lost and helpless and hopeless.
But we’re not.
In God’s own time, He reveals that to us, and rather than feeling forgotten, we know that He was right there with us in that dark tunnel, gently leading us to His light.
As we learn this, so too must Lisa Harper and Mark Taylor. I so hope you enjoy their journeys and that their discoveries aid you in some small way or affirm your own.
I’d love to hear from you and invite you to visit me at [http://www.vickihinze.com] www.vickihinze.com. Drop me a note anytime with stories of your journey.
Blessings,
Vicki
Don’t miss Beth Dawson’s and Joe’s exciting story in Not This Time
Available in Spring 2012!
Table of Contents
Copyright
Dedication
Acknowledgments
Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Readers Guide
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