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    God Says I am Battle-Scar Free: Testimonies of Abuse Survivors - Part 3
    God Says I am Battle-Scar Free: Testimonies of Abuse Survivors - Part 3
    God Says I am Battle-Scar Free: Testimonies of Abuse Survivors - Part 3
    Ebook188 pages2 hours

    God Says I am Battle-Scar Free: Testimonies of Abuse Survivors - Part 3

    By Angela R Edwards

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    About this ebook

    BATTLE-SCARS: Neglect. Molestation. Brokenness. Abandonment.
    Those WERE some of the experiences endured by the authors of "God Says I am Battle-Scar Free".

    PURPOSE-DRIVEN! HEALED! STRONG! SURVIVOR!
    Those ARE the words used to describe those same people today!

    In this third installment of the Battle-Scar Free series, new testimonies of God's amazing grace and protection are shared. With each painstaking memory penned herein, the pathway to healing appeared - and, for some, their healing is still in repair.

    For those in like-circumstances, may these testimonies inspire YOU to become Battle-Scar Free.

    BE ENCOURAGED!
    BE EMBOLDENED!
    BE EMPOWERED!

    No longer shall God's children be subjected to a life He never intended. God loves us more than we could EVER love ourselves. In turn, He desires that we be loved FULLY by others...NOT abused by them.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPearly Gates Publishing LLC
    Release dateJun 13, 2017
    ISBN9781945117756
    God Says I am Battle-Scar Free: Testimonies of Abuse Survivors - Part 3
    Author

    Angela R Edwards

    Pearly Gates Publishing, LLC (PGP) is a Christian book publisher based out of Houston, Texas. The vision of PGP sprang to life in early January 2015 after God gave Angela Edwards (CEO) the mission to bring to the world authors whose desires encompass keeping their God-given inspiration in their literary works. Founded in February 2015, the business has continued to blossom into a sought-after publishing house for both current and up-and-coming Christian authors worldwide. PGP’s youngest authors are ages eight and ten, and the oldest is 72. Pearly Gates Publishing, LLC is a low-cost publishing option for those individuals seeking to spread their messages of empowerment, inspiration, and education. Since its inception, PGP has produced numerous Amazon Best Sellers – with two making the coveted number one spot. A variety of topics from PGP’s authors include (but are not limited to): Faith, Bullying, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Autism, and Domestic Violence. The Battle-Scar Free Movement – an all-out effort to ERADICATE domestic violence – is a product of Angela’s past victimization. What started as a call to abuse survivors to co-author a book entitled “God Says I Am Battle-Scar Free: Testimonies of Abuse Survivors”, it has since grown into a movement of individuals who are lovingly known as Trumpeters for Change. Change begins with one: One thought – One person – One action. Change begins with YOU!

    Read more from Angela R Edwards

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      Book preview

      God Says I am Battle-Scar Free - Angela R Edwards

      GOD Says I am Battle-Scar Free

      Testimonies of Abuse Survivors - Part 3

      Foreword By

      Dr. M.E. Porter

      Copyright © 2017

      Angela R. Edwards

      All Rights Reserved.

      No portion of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any electronic system, or transmitted in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise) without written permission from the publisher. Brief quotations may be used in literary reviews.

      Verses marked KJV, NIV, and NKJV are used by permission from Zondervan via Biblegateway.com.

      Library of Congress Control Number: 2017941382

      For information and bulk ordering, contact:

      Pearly Gates Publishing LLC

      Angela R. Edwards, CEO

      P.O. Box 62287

      Houston, TX 77205

      BestSeller@PearlyGatesPublishing.com

      Published by Pearly Gates Publishing LLC at Smashwords. This book is available in print at most online retailers.

      DEDICATION

      GOD Says I am Battle-Scar Free: Testimonies of Abuse Survivors - Part Three is dedicated to the countless women, men, teen, and children victims who are suffering at the hands of abusers.

      You are not alone, though you may feel lonely.

      You are worthy, not worthless.

      You are a child of the Most High God and made in His image (Genesis 1:27).

      May the truths penned on these pages encourage and empower you NOW. Change must come. No longer be a victim…be a SURVIVOR!

      To those who are no longer with us on this side of Heaven due to their untimely passing at the hands of abusers: We are sounding the alarm in your honor.

      You are already Battle-Scar Free. Your memories live on in the hearts and minds of those who loved you.

      We will never forget. We will NOT keep silent.

      Domestic violence and the devastation of abuse will no longer be accepted as the norm!

      ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

      We cannot proceed without first giving ALL praise, honor, and glory to God our Heavenly Father. Thank you, Lord, for guarding the hearts and minds of your servants who made a contribution to the composition of GOD Says I am Battle-Scar Free: Testimonies of Abuse Survivors - Part Three. Through the use of our collective voices - coupled with the guiding light of your Holy Spirit - we pray that change comes to the lives of the victims, abused, AND abusers…one life at a time.

      To each of the contributors who submitted their experiences of strength and survival, along with those who provided inspirational poetry and encouraging thoughts: Your servitude does not go unnoticed nor unappreciated. Your willingness to share very intimate details of your life with people unfamiliar to you speaks volumes about YOUR heart and YOUR passion to make a change and break the chains of the cycle of abuse. It begins with YOU, and I thank you for your resounding YES! as this life-changing project continues. GOD chose YOU for a time such as this, and I wish to extend my sincere appreciation for and to you.

      To Marlowe R. Scott: I thank you for your Staple Poem of the Battle-Scar Free Movement and accompanying book series: Abuse is NOT Love. Each time it is read by me, I feel a stirring and knowing in my SOUL that your words of wisdom and experience will bless others. In addition, I am appreciative of you as my second set of eyes as we worked tirelessly to ensure this project was at the level of readability the Pearly Gates Publishing LLC audience has come to expect and love. Thank you for being a constant supporter and my ROCK! I love you, Mom!

      To Dr. Marilyn E. Porter: Thank you for writing the Foreword for each book in the Battle-Scar Free series. Just when I think, She's out of juice. She has nothing new to offer, God responds by simply stating, TRUST ME: THERE'S MORE. He guides your heart while you put pen to paper. You miraculously shed a little bit more light on who you are and what you have endured…and more pieces of your own Survivor Story shine through. As always, GOD KNOWS WHAT HE'S DOING! You, my friend…my BFF…are a priceless treasure! I love you, Murl!

      Last, but far from least, we shout a united THANK YOU, LORD! His whole armor protected and healed us with each keystroke or pen stroke as we began the process of pouring out our hearts. We ask, Lord, that you BLESS the readers and keep your loving arms around them as they, too, begin to lay claim to their FREEDOM from abuse in any form.

      Amen and Amen.

      ~ Angela R. Edwards ~

      Compiler and Co-Author

      PREFACE

      EVERYTHING in life has a season. Everything? Yes: E.V.E.R.Y.T.H.I.N.G. Many relationships - both personal and romantic - are considered seasonal as well. There's also a season in life when it's time to be FREE from the pains of abuse.

      Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 states this very plainly. To summarize:

      To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the Heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

      Now in its third season, GOD Says I am Battle-Scar Free: Testimonies of Abuse Survivors has been published for yet another season of renewal and release. For the authors who have included their testimonies herein, each has come to the realization that there is a need to not only share their story, but to do it in a way that relays the message loud and clear:

      YOU, DEAR READER, ARE NOT ALONE!

      The testimonies penned here are real. While reading, be forewarned: You may find yourself cringing, crying, and shaking your head in agreement (or disapproval) as you come to relate on some level to the former plights of the authors.

      GOD Says I am Battle-Scar Free: Testimonies of Abuse Survivors is a work of literary ART. It is composed and designed by GOD. For you to have your hands on this anointed book in this season means it is TIME! Time for what? Only you and God know…and that's ALL that matters. Today, get your FREEDOM!

      My Brother- and Sister-in-Christ: Your season is NOW!

      ~ Angela R. Edwards ~

      Contributing Author &

      CEO of Pearly Gates Publishing LLC™

      FOREWORD

      Love does not breed pain and violence. People who do not know how to love must take responsibility for that. Perhaps the vilest thing about abuse is that it more often than not hides behind the guise of love - which began (for most of us) as children.

      How many can remember mom or dad saying these words:

      I only spanked you because I love you.

      As a mother myself, I can admit I have yelled at my children or engaged in some form of punishment that more than likely played out in my children's minds as abusive - and, after the situation was calm, I gently explained to them how it's my job to discipline and protect them so that nobody else would have to. The abuse messages are planted early on, and because a child cannot tell the difference between who and why they are subjected to permit certain behaviors, they carry over into teen and adult years as acceptable and necessary behavior.

      My mother was a screamer. Very rarely did I get spanked, but she would yell to the high heavens! As I grew older - about age 11 - I can remember the rage I felt in my heart and soul when she yelled at me…and SHE was wrong! The message I received and the lesson I learned was that it was okay to punish me and accuse me rightly - even when I was NOT wrong.

      I recall a time as a teenager when I did get beat (not spanked, but BEAT) because the neighbor's child had snuck boys into their house. Because my mother didn't want them to think she believed me (in those days, the child was always wrong - no matter what), when I adamantly stated I was not there, she STILL screamed at me and hit me with a belt. The message I received and the lesson I learned on that day joined forces with the sexual abuse I had experienced at the age of five:

      Waa-laaaaa! I was sure that abuse was a sign of true love!

      I am sure many of you can relate. But this book is not about me; it's about US - the ones who are still here to tell the stories, read the experiences of others, and honor the memories of those who simply did not get away soon enough.

      The Battle-Scar Free Movement is so powerful because it speaks to the whole of Domestic Violence. There is nothing withheld. Gender? Doesn't matter. Finances? Doesn't matter. Career choice? Doesn't matter. Religious preference? Doesn't matter. Color of skin? Doesn't matter. NOTHING matters outside of the healing power of an Almighty God. The healing, the deliverance, and the support is the real purpose of the Battle-Scar Free book series and Movement.

      My dear friend, Angela, did not have a true understanding of my own survivor story when she invited me to say a little something on the pages of this healing agent (dressed up as a simple 'book'). I have never been beaten by a man - at least not with a fist. I have never been shot - at least not with a gun. I have never had nourishment withheld - at least not as it relates to food. Since the age of five, I have not been forcibly penetrated. I did not suffer with physical bruises that would prove I was afraid to say no.

      Abuse is an ugly monster - its bite deep and dividing. It will pit you against yourself because it often comes from those whom you truly love, making it impossible to love both yourself and your abuser.

      Victims must choose to love themselves before being able to wear the designation of being Battle-Scar Free.

      ~ Dr. M.E. Porter ~

      www.MarilynEPorter.com

      INTRODUCTION

      In the Garden of Gethsemane, the Son of God (Jesus Christ) experienced a level of suffering - both internal and external - that we will never know (Matthew 26:36-46; John 18:1-11). Christ didn't HAVE to suffer as He did, but did so because He loves us ALL. His enemy, the devil (which is also our enemy), made an all-out effort to destroy Christ in that Garden. The devil wanted to prevent Jesus from shedding His precious blood for us on the Cross at Calvary.

      No other love is greater than the sacrifice and price Christ ultimately paid for our salvation: His death.

      We are given angels to strengthen us during times of weakness and warfare. Those angels can come in the form of comforting spirits of and from God. They also come as people who enter our lives to assure and remind us that we are loved, valued, and

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