CCSF Newsletter December 2022

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13

Dear Friends,

With the new year fast approaching, wouldn’t it be nice to go into the new year with a healthy, forward-looking outlook? One way to do this is with an understanding and acceptance of biblical hope. See our thoughts, below, about HOPE. And with this final e-news of the year, we wish you all peace, courage, good health, and the energy and perseverance to continue to help those whose lives have been impacted by domestic violence.

Merry Christmas!

This month’s e-newsletter includes:

Hope for the Future

Something to Think About

Book Review: Enough is Enough

New Resource

Stop the Abuse, Heal the Family, Change the Future

Email: ccsf.hope@gmail.com

Website: https://www.ccsfhope.org

Twitter: @CCSFDV

Hope for the Future

By Lani K.

One of God’s greatest blessings to us is HOPE. Books upon books have been written about hope. The Bible is the ultimate book about hope. But what is hope?

There are two kinds of hope: I hope it doesn’t rain tomorrow; I hope the grocery store isn’t out of toilet paper; I hope the Seahawks win tomorrow. (Does God like football?) But there is another kind of hope. It is hope that comes from trusting in God for our futures.

Consider these words about hope:

Hope is not unfounded optimism, but unshakable confidence concerning your future.

Hope is knowing where your strength and courage will come from.

Hope is knowing that you don’t have to have all the answers and knowing Who will have all the answers.

Hope is knowing there is absolute right and wrong and God will be on the side of right.

Hope is belief in God’s benevolence and that He will always act out of His benevolence.

Hope is knowing that God will never fail you.

Hope is knowing that God will not forget His people.

Hope is knowing that God will keep His promises faithfully.

Hope is the assurance of a future destiny with God.

Hope is knowing that God offers salvation to all and saves all who will come to Him.

Hope is tied to faith and faith is being sure of what we hope for.

Hope is not your ability to hold onto God but confidence that He hold onto you!

Something to Think About

By L.W.

I had an opportunity to talk with a Christian woman who grew up overseas and prayed to marry a Christian man. She was thrilled when that happened, and that he was in the ministry. Unfortunately, very soon after marriage he became abusive.

As many good Christian people do, she sought counsel from her pastor and was essentially told to go home, pray and continue on. The abuse continued and she returned to her pastor who said the same thing each time. The couple had children and things worsened over the next few years.

On one occasion, when she felt she was in significant danger she said to herself that she wasn’t going to take the same course of action of going to the pastor, praying and nothing changing. As she tried to figure out what to do different, she clearly felt God say to her: “You don’t have to die for someone I already died for!”

With that epiphany, she packed bags for herself and her children and left. As she and I talked, I told her how amazing and gracious of God, as so many Christian survivors take many more years if not decades to leave.

I have always known we are not responsible for our spouse’s salvation, but it was a fresh take on God’s Double Jeopardy rule, that Jesus paid his life once and for all, and He is not asking anyone to stay in a dangerous situation to pay for it again.

Book Review: Enough is Enough

Review courtesy of Amazon with our edits

When the abuse starts, that’s when you know enough is enough. It’s time to find a haven somewhere else. There will be a chance down the road to assess where your marriage is headed in the long term. No one is saying divorce is the inevitable outcome. God can transform anyone. But He doesn’t promise to do that. People choose to persist in sin. And that’s why it’s imperative for you to leave… so you can think clearly, take stock of the situation, and most of all, protect yourself and those whom you love.

Dr. David Clarke, a licensed psychologist specializing in marital therapy for more than 30 years, wants to help you make the break from your abusive relationship. You need to get out so you can sort it out. Dr. Clarke understands this journey won’t be easy. That’s why he provides a step-by-step plan that includes practical advice as well as biblical guidance. But leave you must because abuse is a sin that doesn’t come from above. This book can help you get away from your abuser so you can give your marriage the best chance to succeed. Because only with some distance will you be able to see what your loving, ever-faithful God has in store for you.

New Resource

The Christian Coalition for Safe Families website is continually updating and adding helpful information. We recently added Helping Survivors of Sexual Abuse and Assault to our list of resources.