Luke 17:3 Ministries Inc
Thursday, September 09, 2010
For Adult Daughters of Controlling or Abusive Birth-Families

Index of Articles and Announcements

PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR INDEX..

Like us?  Visit our facebook page and "like" us! Voice your opinion on our facebook discussion Narcissistic Red Flags-  warning signs and how to recognize a narcissist when you first meet her.
 

We are thrilled to announce Sister Renee's new book "Narcissistic Predicaments: A Biblical Guide for Navigating the Schemes, Snares, and No-Win Situations Unique to Abusive Families"-now available on Amazon and  BarnesandNoble.com.  Click here for the Amazon listing.  Click here for the Barnesandnoble.com listing. Please note the entire description might not be there yet as it takes Barnes and Noble and Amazon a while to catch up with their new listings, but can be read by going to the page for the Kindle edition or clicking here for the Narcissistic Predicament's webpage.Thank you so much everyone for your prayers and patience, we pray that this book will bless you and help you with the dilemmas you are facing because of your abusive relatives. Thank you, Lord!

***PLEASE review these books on Amazon and BarnesandNoble after you read them.  You would be helping us a great deal!  Thank you so much!

DON'T MISS SISTER RENEE'S BOOK "THE FAMILY FREELOADER- A BIBLICAL ANSWER FOR SOB STORIES, CON GAMES, AND NEVER HAVING TO GET OFF THE COUCH"  - AN EXPANDED VERSION OF OUR ARTICLE FEATURING EVEN MORE FREELOADER TESTIMONIES, SCAMS AND TACTICS AND 21 WAYS TO SPOT A CON, IT'S AVAILABLE ON AMAZON AND BARNESANDNOBLE.COM.  CLICK HERE FOR THE KINDLE EDITION.  CLICK HERE FOR THE FAMILY FREELOADER WEBPAGE AND ORDERING INFORMATION.   AFTER YOU READ IT, PLEASE REVIEW IT ON AMAZON- WE'D LOVE TO READ YOUR FEEDBACK.  THANKS SO MUCH AND GOD BLESS.


***Thank you from the bottom of our hearts to everyone who posted links to our site or mentioned it on your sites, blogs, articles, chat groups and boards over the last year.  We had 81,583 hits in 2009!  God bless you for helping us minister to those who are hurting.  Please keep spreading the word of freedom in truth and our Father's love for HIS children!***

 

  When my father and  my mother forsake  me,

then the Lord will take me up........Psalm 27: 10 KJV


 "Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail.  But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God"....Acts 5: 38-39 

 

 

 

 

Sheldon-  "You can catch even MORE flies with manure.  What's your point?"

        ......from The Big Bang Theory

 

"Listen!  And understand!  That terminator is out there.  It can't be bargained with!  It can't be reasoned with!  It doesn't feel pity, or remorse, or fear.  And it absolutely will not stop, ever, until you are dead!".....Kyle Reese, The Terminator, 1984

Do you think you understand how a psychopath thinks?  Here's a riddle for you:

A young woman is at her mother's funeral.  There she meets a man she's never seen before.  They talk for awhile and she feels an instant connection to him- it's love at first sight.  He's everything she's ever wanted in a man.  She could easily see herself spending the rest of her life with him. She can't believe she's finally found her Prince Charming! The only problem is, she doesn't get his name or number before he leaves.

Two weeks later, she kills her sister.

Why?

Take some time to think about it, and then scroll down for the answer.

Our Father's Promises To Us
 
And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.  And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.  And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new....Revelation 21: 3-5 KJV.
 
Check back next week for another Promise from God......

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

***WOW*** over **307,000** hits! Our site has been logged onto from 144 countries and translated into 34 languages!  Please keep posting us on your groups, blogs and boards.  We are reaching more and more survivors every day!  Praise the Lord!  All the glory goes to him!

 

Welcome and peace to our friends in The United States, Canada, England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Australia, Spain, Germany, Kenya, South Africa, Norway, Philippines, France, Trinidad & Tobago, Ivory Coast, Guam, Sweden, South Korea, Chile, Brazil, Bangladesh, Poland, India, Croatia, Fiji, Slovakia, Netherlands, Israel, New Zealand, Malaysia, Taiwan, Mexico, Belgium, Japan, French Guiana, St. Lucia, Greece, Hong Kong, Antigua & Barbuda, Kuwait, Denmark, Italy, Nigeria, Egypt, Eritrea, Suriname, Portugal, Peru, Turkey, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Ghana, United Arab Emirates, Puerto Rico, Singapore, Iran, Seychelles, Barbados, Czech Republic, St. Kitts & Nevis, Vietnam, Pakistan, Thailand, Lithuania, Benin, Cyprus, US Virgin Islands, Hungary, British Virgin Islands, Togo, Bermuda, Finland, Moldova, Aruba, Saudi Arabia, Panama,  Dominican Republic, Iraq, Uganda, The Bahamas, Jamaica, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, China, Russia, Argentina, Malta, Serbia, Slovenia, Qatar, Senegal, Oman, Lebanon, Romania, Kazakhstan, Jordan, Burundi,Tanzania, Haiti, Austria, Namibia, Malta, Saint Vincent and The Grenadines, Anguilla, Malawi, Ethiopia, Ecuador, Zimbabwe, Mauritius, Cape Verde, Zambia, Ukraine, Estonia, Latvia, Morocco, Guyana,Venezuela, Cambodia, Colombia, Honduras, Netherlands Antilles,Yemen, Bolivia, Northern Mariana Islands, Saint Lucia, Iceland, Belarus, Nepal, Costa Rica, Mozambique, Botswana, Dominica, Bosnia and Herzegovina,Gibraltar, Jersey,Tunisia,The Faeroe Islands, Azerbaijan, and Burkina Faso.

 

The Lord said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by." Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind.  After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake.  After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire.  And after the fire came a gentle whisper.  When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave............1 Kings 19:  11-13 NIV
 
And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave, as a testimony against them.....Mark 6:11

 

Leonard- "You can catch more flies with honey than vinegar."

     
     Jerry: Marriage is a big step, Elaine.  Your life'll  totally change.

 

     Elaine: Jerry, It's three-thirty in the morning. I'm at a cockfight.  What am I clinging to?

     ............Seinfeld, The Little Jerry, 1/9/97

WHY are you sticking around, or coming back for more??? Great article and checklist on Traumatic Bonding with abusers and psychopaths:   

http://www.womansavers.com/relationship-articles.asp?a=127


****FOR ARTICLES ON FINALLY CHANGING YOUR HOLIDAYS FOR THE BETTER, VISIT OUR 'HAPPIER HOLIDAYS' SECTION.

 

****WHY DO DESTRUCTIVE NARCISSISTIC RELATIVES JUST LOVE TO RUIN OUR HOLIDAYS??? FOR THE EYE-OPENING UNVARNISHED TRUTH, READ DR. SAM VAKNIN'S RIVETING ARTICLE 'A HOLIDAY GRUDGE':

http://samvak.tripod.com/journal40.html

 ****For a healthy dose of common sense, don't miss Anna Valerious' wonderfully well-written, educational, and intriguing blog  Narcissists Suck.  CLICK HERE.

****Check out the Characteristics of Narcissistic Mothers by clicking HERE.

****Don't miss this wonderfully educational and healing resource whose motto is "The Pain Stops Here" (PLEASE NOTE: This is a secular forum, not a Christian forum)- Daughters Of Narcissistic Mothers.com. CLICK HERE.

***ANSWER TO PSYCHOPATH RIDDLE:   She reasons that if he was at her mother's funeral, he must be a friend of the family.  So, if there's another family funeral, maybe he'll show up again......

     Did you get it wrong?  Well, don't feel bad.  You don't think like a psychopath, but until now you also didn't understand how they think.  At least now you know what you're up against.

  ****Many thanks and blessings to our dear Sister Pavitra for allowing us to post her original poem "A Poem To My Family Of Origin" on our site.  It is an inspiring poem of victory over abuse and triumph over evil.  You can find it in our Claiming The Victory section or just click on the link above.  May you be blessed by it as we have been.

***Thank you so much to all who have posted our website on your blogs and chat groups.  Because of you taking the time to help others, you have made it possible for us to help others as well.  It is so uplifting to know that so many are standing up for what is right and taking a stand against abuse. We are so grateful for you and we remember you always in our prayers.  Keep spreading the word, and God bless you.  With much love, Sisters Renee & Denise

 

***Many thanks to Dr. Sam Vaknin, author of the book 'Malignant Self-Love- Narcissism Revisited' and well-known for his extensive studies on narcissistic abuse and how to deal with it, for publicizing our website on his sites, and for sending us numerous links to his own websites and others so we could add them to our links page.  Click on The Lord's Links and check out these very educational and valuable sites.  Thanks Sam,you are a blessing to us and to victims and survivors everywhere. 

***Are you the Black Sheep of your family?  If so, Dr. Angela Woodhull would like to interview you for her new book,  'EVERY FAMILY NEEDS A BLACK SHEEP.'  Dr. Woodhull is a psychologist, minister, teacher, private investigator, journalist and author of numerous articles and books, including 'Coping With Difficult Teachers', 'Private Investigation Strategies & Techniques', and 'Police Communication in Traffic Stops'.  If you are interested in participating, you can call Dr. Woodhull at  352 332-0514 and reverse the charges.  You can also write to her at PO Box 14423, Gainesville, FL 32604-2423, or e-mail her at chachaangelina@yahoo.com.

 

Great article on 'honoring' abusive parents from Christianity Today:

 

***BY POPULAR DEMAND, we have added a section of resources for DELIVERANCE & SPIRITUAL WARFARE to our links page. Please click on THE LORD'S LINKS.

   *** Don't forget to click on our Prayer List and remember our sisters and brothers in your prayers. You can send us any names you would like to add at luke173@hotmail.com or PO Box 684, Chestertown, NY 12817. You must include your full name although it will not be published.  We will pray for everyone , not just abuse victims. And, YES, you can add yourself!

 ***If you have a question or a topic relating to birth-family abuse that you would like us to write about in the future, please e-mail us.  We are always grateful for new ideas. If the Lord directs us to write about your topic, your name will not be published as we are committed to protecting your privacy.  All requests will be prayerfully considered and we ask for your prayers as well as we wait on the Lord's word.

DON'T MISS OUR BOOK REVIEWS IN THE READING SPOTLIGHT SECTION!

 

NEW ARTICLES:

 

AUGUST 2010 NEWSLETTER

I'M ONLY HUMAN...AND NOBODY'S PERFECT...AND HUMAN BEINGS ARE ALL SELFISH...AND I MAKE MISTAKES JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE.

WHEN YOUR ABUSER OR ESTRANGED RELATIVE DIES- CONDOLENCES, OBITUARIES, AND GOING TO THE FUNERAL

"MY DAYS ARE NUMBERED!" (AND YOU'RE SPEEDING IT UP BY CONFRONTING ME), OR "I'M SICK SO YOU CAN'T HOLD ME ACCOUNTABLE.

HOOVERING 101 AND NO CONTACT 101

 

 SECTION INDEX:

#We've made it easier for you to read our own personal stories.  Articles containing our testimonies are marked with a #. God bless, Sister Renee & Sister Denise

These articles (titled in bold below) are currently available in the following sections (underlined).  You can click on the articles directly from this index, or If you click on the title of each Section on the left menu, you will then be able to click on the articles in that Section.

***INDICATES THIS WEEK'S MOST POPULAR ARTICLES (HAVING THE MOST HITS)

ADULT-CHILD ABUSE- THE ONLY ABUSE STILL ACCEPTED: 

   The Abuse That Society Condones

ONLINE OPINION POLL:  TELL US YOUR THOUGHTS!

   Whether to Attend the Funeral or Visit the Deathbed of An Estranged Relative

A LITTLE ABOUT US:

 #  Sister Renee And Sister Denise

CURRENT NEWSLETTER & PAST NEWSLETTERS:

August 2010

***For Links to Past Newsletters, please click on the Newsletter link on the left menu and links to all the past newsletters will appear underneath it.

BIRTH-FAMILY ABUSES OF ADULT DAUGHTERS:

      Overview- The Many Abuses of Adult Daughters

   # Always A Losing Proposition:  Dondi's Story and Babette's Story

  #  Still The Boss After All These Years

   # Criticism- Chipping Away At Your Self-Respect, Undermining Your Self-Confidence, Hurting Your Feelings, & Cutting Deep Into Your Heart 

  The Family Freeloader- Sob Stories, Con Games, And Never Having To Get Off The Couch

      Betrayal & Treachery- Killing A Relationship The Fast Way

   # The Birthday Party Double Standard- When Your Abuser's Big Day Is A National Holiday, And Yours Is Chopped Liver

  # When Is It Ever Going To Be My Turn?- The Exploitation Habit- If You Start It, They Will Come!

 WHY THEY ABUSE, BETRAY, OR ABANDON YOU:

        Why? Introduction

      Why Do I Put Up With This Garbage?- Giving Up The Need For Approval, Fears Of Abandonment, And Our Own Hidden Motivations

     # The Price Of Independence-To Be Respected As Equals, We Need To Live As Equals- With 6 Major Abusive Relative No-Nos-(***Featuring my own personal testimony of my birth-parents' abusive behavior when I got married and when I gave birth to their grandchild)

   # Why?- Trying To Understand An Abuser's Motivation

    #Family Jealousy- The Shameful Secret Behind Abuse And Betrayal

THE SILENT PARTNER & THE SILENT MAJORITY:

      Introduction to the Co-Conspirators 

  #  Can One Person's Apology Make Amends For Other People's Behavior? Or, If You Make Up With Your Mother, Does That Automatically Include The Relatives Who Took Her Side Against You?

  #  The Devil's Advocate: Handling The Family Meddler...Oops, I Mean 'Peacemaker' -Including The Appalling Story Of How My Meddling Ex-Cousin Made My Mother Cry On Her Deathbed

   # The Silent Partner

   They Can't All Be Wrong And You Right...Or Can They?-

    -Family Mob Mentality, The Pathological Denial Of The   

     Truth, And The Scapegoating Of Those Who Speak It

THE EFFECTS OF ABUSE:

       Overview- What Are The Effects of Abuse?

SETTING & ENFORCING LIMITS & BOUNDARIES:

       Introduction to Setting Limits

    #  Off-Limits Subjects

       Enforcing Consequences Is Not Revenge

       Learning To Say No

     # Setting Limits- The Cure For Getting No Respect

      What about "Love Your Enemies"? (Matthew 5:44-48)

REBUKING:

      An Overview of Rebuke

      Rebuke- It's For Their Own Good

  Reaping What They Sow- The Natural Consequences Of Bad Behavior

REPENTING & APOLOGIES:

    Introduction to Godly Remorse

     The 3 Rs Of Accountability- Repentance, Restitution, and Personal Responsibility

   Why Don't They Just Apologize?

     Meaningful Vs. Meaningless Apologies

FORGIVENESS-NOT NECESSARILY WHAT YOU THINK:

     Introduction to Forgiveness

     If There Is No Forgiveness Without Repentance In The Bible, Then What About 'Father Forgive Them For They Know Not What They Do'? (Luke 23:34)

     No Forgiveness For The Unrepentant

    #  How Can I Forgive?

     Different Degrees Of Reconciliation- Go With Your Comfort Level

    Forgiveness- Does It Matter If The Abuser Is A 'Born-Again Christian'?

THE ABUSER'S REACTIONS TO REBUKE OR DIVORCE:

       Overview- What an Abuser Does INSTEAD of Apologizing and Changing Her Hurtful Behavior 

       I'm Only Human...And Nobody's Perfect...And Human Beings Are All Selfish...And I Make Mistakes Just Like Everybody Else

     "My Days Are Numbered!" (And You're Speeding It Up By Confronting Me), Or "I'm Sick So You Can't Hold Me Accountable"

     #  "Let's Go To Counseling Together And Work On Our Problems"

    #  The Preemptive Strike- Kissing Up To Your Spouse, Or Trying To Get Rid Of Him

    # Selective Amnesia- 'I Have No Idea What I Did Wrong!' & 'I Don't Know What Happened-She Just Stopped Speaking To Me!'

   The Old Age Excuses: She's Old- That's How They Get & He's Old- So He's Entitled

    # She Can't Help The Way She Acts- So You'll Just Have To Accept It, Forgive Her Anyway, And Not Expect Her To Change 

   #  The Mystery Excuse For Abuse: Various Versions Of 'You Don't Know What You're Talking About' With No Further Explanation Given

    # Desperate Measures- When They Sense They're Losing Their Grip on You....5 Surprising Ways Of Keeping You Attached

  Spin Control- Making Abuse Sound Like A GOOD Thing

     'You're Not Supposed To Judge Me'- The Difference Between Judging And Rebuking

   # 'After All I've Done For You....'- Trotting Out The 'You Owe Me' Excuse For Abuse

   # The 'Christian' Abuser- Twisting God's Word To Justify Abuse- Featuring Real Excuses From A 'Born-Again' Offender

REPROBATES & CUTTING TIES:

      Overview- What Is A Reprobate?

   When Your Abuser Or Estranged Relative Dies- Condolences, Obituaries, And Going To The Funeral

   #  Some Things Just Never Change- How My Birth-Father Called Me Again After 10 Years Of No Contact And Then Took Less Than 5 Minutes To Have His Usual Meltdown, & The Story Of The Christmas Presents From The Devil

   # Cutting Ties-Knowing When It's Time To Walk Away

   Hoovering 101 And No Contact 101

   # Should I Let My Estranged Relatives Have Contact With My Children?

   # Satan's Evil Minion- The Unredeemable Reprobate

   #  A Portrait Of Evil, Or How My Birth-Father Finally Sank Too Low To Dig Himself Out

HAPPIER HOLIDAYS:

    Overview- Is It Time For A Change?

    #But I'm A Mother, Too!  The Mother's Day and Father's Day Dilemmas

   Join Us For Our Annual 'Say No To Adult Child Abuse Week'- Every Year  Starting The First Sunday After Mother's Day

   # Just When You Thought It Was Safe To Put Up The Christmas Tree....The Strange Phenomena Of The Surprise Pre-Holiday Contact

 #   New Traditions

   My Holiday Deliverance

 #  Enriching Your Holidays While Including Your Birth-Family

CLAIMING THE VICTORY:

   Victorious Lives- Our Birthright as GOD'S Children

   A Poem To  My Family Of Origin....By Sister Pavitra

  My Name Is Renee...But It Used To Be Linda

  # Getting Over A Lost Relationship

 # Honour Thy Father And Thy Mother

     Is God Really Telling Us To Honor Abusive Parents?

    Obituary For An Abuser

GOD'S WORD:

   Selected Scriptures From God's Holy Word

THE WISDOM OF PROVERBS:

   Selections From The Book Of Proverbs

READING SPOTLIGHT (Book Reviews):

     Our Book Reviews

     The 3:16S Bible Study

     Boundaries- When To Say Yes, When To Say No, To Take Control Of Your Life

     The Sociopath Next Door- 1 in 25 Ordinary Americans Secretly Has No Conscience And Can Do Anything At All Without Feeling Guilty- Who Is The Devil You Know?

     Toxic Parents- Overcoming Their Hurtful Legacy And Reclaiming Your Life

     Heal & Forgive- Forgiveness In The Face Of Abuse

     Heal & Forgive II- The Journey From Abuse And Estrangement To Reconciliation

     The Holy Bible- Book Of Luke

    Divorcing A Parent-A Sympathetic And Practical Guide For Adult Children Who Need To Free Themselves From An Abusive Relationship With A Parent

    The Power Of Apology-Healing Steps To Transform All Your Relationships

    When You And Your Mother Can't Be Friends - Resolving The Most Complicated Relationship Of Your Life

    Children Of The Self-Absorbed - A Grown-Up's Guide To Getting Over Narcissistic Parents

    The Control Freak - Coping With Those Around You, Taming The One Within

    The Holy Bible, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John

    The Mom Factor

    Safe People- How To Find Relationships That Are Good For You And Avoid Those That Aren't

 OUR REAL FATHER:

       The Biblical Duties Of A Proper Parent

       Who's Your Daddy?

JOY IN JESUS:

      WWJRD? What Would Jesus REALLY Do?

 THE FREEDOM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

RECEIVING A WORD FROM THE LORD:

     Receiving A Word From The Lord

      Recognizing A Word From The Lord

FINDING PEACE:

       Finding Peace In Your Life

HELPFUL DEFINITIONS OF SOME OF THE TERMS WE USE

SUPPORT LUKE 17:3 MINISTRIES

THE LORD'S LINKS- SOME GREAT RESOURCES

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Copyright 2003-2010.-All articles on this site are copyrighted. Permission to copy is granted for non-profit use only.Please help yourself to anything we write if you can use it to help others. A link back to this site is our only requirement. Please contact us for any commercial or other use. All e-mails, letters, and other correspondence become the property of Luke 17:3 Ministries, Inc. Due to the large volume of e-mails, we're sorry that we are unable to personally answer every one, but we do lift everyone who writes to us in prayer to the Lord. Please understand that we cannot give you personal advice concerning your particular family relationships.  We are not therapists or lawyers, we usually do not have enough information to form an opinion, and time does not permit us to give enough thought to each person's individual situation to do it justice. If you need personal advice, we urge you to contact the appropriate professional, depending on the problem you have- your minister, therapist, attorney, police department, local domestic violence hotline, etc. In reading this site, you acknowledge that nothing you might read here qualifies as or substitutes for professional advice. Our articles are strictly our personal opinions and testimonies and are not intended to give or offer any advice. All who access this site do so with the understanding that we are NOT professional counselors and we strongly recommend that you discuss your individual situation with your pastor or therapist and pray for the Lord's guidance before acting on anything we write on this site. Unfortunately, the abuse we discuss is all too common, inflicted on countless victims by countless perpetrators. All names and identifying details in our articles have been changed to protect the innocent as well as the guilty. Any resemblance to a real person or persons whom you might know is strictly coincidental.