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Consider Divine Love
By Donna J. Farris
     
    Smashwords Edition
     
    Copyright 2011 Donna J. Farris
     
    Ebook cover images:
    Copyright: Denned - Fotolia.com
    Copyright: nsphotography-Fotolia.com
    Copyright: bridge-Fotolia.com
     
    Smashwords Edition, License
Notes
     
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    Acknowledgments
    Special thanks
to House of
Compassion Ministries and
the brave women who have come forward with their stories of
struggle, survival, and salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.
They are alive because of Divine Love.
     
     
    Table of Contents
    Introduction
    Part 1 - Who is this Jesus
Anyway?
    Part 2 - Words of Love for
the Battered Heart
    Part 3 - Behold What Manner of
Love
    Decision Time
     

     
     
     
    Introduction
    When a woman has been
abused by a man she once loved, it is extremely difficult for her
to consider the possibility of trusting anyone again, even God. For
victims of domestic violence, concepts of intimacy, respect, honor,
and submission have, to one degree or another, been defined by the
perversions of her tormentor. You may be one of those women.
    Maybe at one time you experienced, or perhaps
are still in, a relationship where power was abused and twisted for
self-centered domination. As a result, when Christians talk about "surrendering your life to the love of Jesus Christ," you
may think they are crazy. You may wonder, "Why in the world
would I give my heart again to any man? I did once and it nearly
cost me my life. Never again!"
    Maybe, during times of extreme sadness,
loneliness or despair, you found yourself emotionally moved by the
biblical claims of God's love. You wanted to respond in some way,
but hesitated. Doubts invaded your mind and you began to question
the integrity of God's word. Your mental images may have been
different; your emotions, descriptions and examples uniquely
personal. But in essence, you found yourself asking some of the
same kinds of questions listed below. See if you recognize any of
these hindrances to receiving divine love.
     
     

     
     
    Part 1 - Who is this Jesus Anyway?
    Who is this
mysterious man called "Jesus"? - Anyone born so long ago, so
distant and impersonal makes me feel very uncomfortable. How can
someone like me relate to someone so foreign and "different?"How
can I know whether or not Jesus is telling the whole truth about
who he really is and what he wants? What if Jesus is hiding
information about his life, or has covered up some deep, dark
secret about his past? How could I know for sure? And besides,
Jesus has been dead for more than two thousand years. Why should I
care what a man dead for so long has to say about anything?
    Many men claimed to love me.
What makes Jesus claims of love any different? - My husband
said he loved me on our wedding day. But since then, nothing I do
seems to please him. I don't understand what I've done to make him
hate me so much, but he is probably right. There must be something
really wrong with me. When God finds out who I really am, and
eventually He will, I'm certain He will despise me just as much as
my husband does. Then I will truly be alone. And no one in the
entire universe will care whether I am alive today or am murdered
tomorrow.
    Men are full of insecurities,
jealousy, pride, and anger. Isn't Jesus the same kind of
man? - Does He have a short fuse like my abuser? Instead of
just calmly discussing an issue with me, would Jesus start
screaming and throwing lightning bolts down from heaven in a fit of
rage? Is God insecure about His identity, or does He have any