And not only so, but we glory in tribulation also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
ROMANS 5:3-5
SATAN IS A LIAR
Satan will try to eat you up, steal your joy and "destroy your hope" over your prodigal child. But, our Lord Jesus says: I am the Gate for the sheep. This world is up to no good; this world offers nothing; except to steal the sheep! Don't you listen to the enemy for he is a liar.
Remember: Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. Anyone who goes through him will be taken care of; they will go in and out, and find green pastures. The thief is there only to steal, kill and destroy. Jesus came so they can have real and eternal life, a better life than you can ever dream of, when you
place your HOPE in the Lord.
Read: JOHN 10:6-10
LIKE A FISH OUT OF WATER - THE TOPES' STORY
Our prodigal son had been a challenge from day one, but when he turned seventeen our real journey with a prodigal began.It was his junior year in High School, we had just moved to a new area and that’s when he was introduced into the “drug” scene.
As he will tell you, it only took “one time," and he was hooked. His drug of choice, cocaine. As parents that grew up in the Vietnam era, we had heard of various drugs, but had never experimented with nor really knew too much about all the various kinds. We were like fish out of water and didn’t know what to do or where to go to get help.
WE NEEDED HELP
We tried to get help from the legal system but that was no help. We sent our son to various treatment centers that were recommended but that was no help either.
We finally found a National group called “Tough love” and that was where we first found support and help. By then, we were at our wits end... our home was in complete turmoil.
We had "two other children" at home that were also being caught up in all this. It was a really hard time on all of us... our marriage suffered, our children suffered and our family suffered.
WHERE WAS OUR SON
During this we were transferred to Atlanta, GA with my husband’s work. We moved and the problems went with us. We were fortunate to find a good church to go to and it was through the church, we were invited to attend the very first Prodigal Ministries Bible Study.
At that time, we did not know where our prodigal was and it would be "six years later" that we would finally have any contact from him and that would be from prison. One of my worse fears as a mother, was that my son would end up in jail... well, he not only ended up in jail (many of them in fact), but he was a felon in prison.
YOU CAN'T ALWAYS FIX YOUR CHILD'S PROBLEMS
He was in and out of prison "twice before we ever saw him again," but during that time, we were in the Prodigal Bible study/support group and had developed a really strong bond and support with that group.
We learned from the study how to take care of ourselves and deal with the issues we faced as parents of a prodigal and to let go and allow God to deal with the prodigal. As parents, we think we should always be able to "fix the problems," but we learned through the study, that is not the case.
GOD IS AT WORK
The guilt and frustrations we had going into the study we "learned to release," therefore becoming healthier parents and a healthier family. We learned through "God’s Word" how to release our struggles to Him and even came to realized that His first two children had been "prodigals" too.
Our prodigal is now 38 years old, out of prison and is living near us. He continues to have his struggles, but we know "God is working" on him and will continue to work on him until he is where he should be.
THERE IS ALWAYS "HOPE"
As for us, we have helped to lead several prodigal studies and have met many hurting parents along the way but just to see them realize that there is HOPE out there and there are others in the same or similar situations as they are in, and to see their frowns turn to smiles and their tears turn to laughter, brings such joy to us as prodigal parents ourselves.
We have also been fortunate enough to take the Prodigal Bible study/support group to Poland and share it with the people there. We feel it saved our lives and the life of our family, and for that, we will always be grateful.
-The Topes' Story @ http://www.prodigalchildministries.org/topes
KEYS TO REMEMBER
1. Release your prodigal to Jesus
2. Continue to LOVE and PRAY for your prodigal
3. Don't listen to Satan's lies!
4. If you have siblings of your prodigal child
Talk to them and Pray with and for them!
5. Our HOPE for our prodigal is in Christ Jesus alone.
6. Don't hide in your fear, shame or guilt.
7. Find a good church - One that will support you
and most importantly pray with you.
Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the
power of the Holy Ghost.
ROMANS 15:13
TOMORROW:
Continuing Hope for the Prodigal Son or Daughter.
AND:
Please feel free to contact me if you want prayer for your
child who is a prodigal. You may give me just their first
name or your story - IT WILL BE KEPT BETWEEN YOU, ME And
JESUS! Or we can put it on our prayer list - just a 1st name if you like. You may use my contact page or email me at: [email protected]
BELOW: All My Hope Is In Jesus - By: Crowder
A prodigal once in shackles and prison himself!
ROMANS 5:3-5
SATAN IS A LIAR
Satan will try to eat you up, steal your joy and "destroy your hope" over your prodigal child. But, our Lord Jesus says: I am the Gate for the sheep. This world is up to no good; this world offers nothing; except to steal the sheep! Don't you listen to the enemy for he is a liar.
Remember: Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. Anyone who goes through him will be taken care of; they will go in and out, and find green pastures. The thief is there only to steal, kill and destroy. Jesus came so they can have real and eternal life, a better life than you can ever dream of, when you
place your HOPE in the Lord.
Read: JOHN 10:6-10
LIKE A FISH OUT OF WATER - THE TOPES' STORY
Our prodigal son had been a challenge from day one, but when he turned seventeen our real journey with a prodigal began.It was his junior year in High School, we had just moved to a new area and that’s when he was introduced into the “drug” scene.
As he will tell you, it only took “one time," and he was hooked. His drug of choice, cocaine. As parents that grew up in the Vietnam era, we had heard of various drugs, but had never experimented with nor really knew too much about all the various kinds. We were like fish out of water and didn’t know what to do or where to go to get help.
WE NEEDED HELP
We tried to get help from the legal system but that was no help. We sent our son to various treatment centers that were recommended but that was no help either.
We finally found a National group called “Tough love” and that was where we first found support and help. By then, we were at our wits end... our home was in complete turmoil.
We had "two other children" at home that were also being caught up in all this. It was a really hard time on all of us... our marriage suffered, our children suffered and our family suffered.
WHERE WAS OUR SON
During this we were transferred to Atlanta, GA with my husband’s work. We moved and the problems went with us. We were fortunate to find a good church to go to and it was through the church, we were invited to attend the very first Prodigal Ministries Bible Study.
At that time, we did not know where our prodigal was and it would be "six years later" that we would finally have any contact from him and that would be from prison. One of my worse fears as a mother, was that my son would end up in jail... well, he not only ended up in jail (many of them in fact), but he was a felon in prison.
YOU CAN'T ALWAYS FIX YOUR CHILD'S PROBLEMS
He was in and out of prison "twice before we ever saw him again," but during that time, we were in the Prodigal Bible study/support group and had developed a really strong bond and support with that group.
We learned from the study how to take care of ourselves and deal with the issues we faced as parents of a prodigal and to let go and allow God to deal with the prodigal. As parents, we think we should always be able to "fix the problems," but we learned through the study, that is not the case.
GOD IS AT WORK
The guilt and frustrations we had going into the study we "learned to release," therefore becoming healthier parents and a healthier family. We learned through "God’s Word" how to release our struggles to Him and even came to realized that His first two children had been "prodigals" too.
Our prodigal is now 38 years old, out of prison and is living near us. He continues to have his struggles, but we know "God is working" on him and will continue to work on him until he is where he should be.
THERE IS ALWAYS "HOPE"
As for us, we have helped to lead several prodigal studies and have met many hurting parents along the way but just to see them realize that there is HOPE out there and there are others in the same or similar situations as they are in, and to see their frowns turn to smiles and their tears turn to laughter, brings such joy to us as prodigal parents ourselves.
We have also been fortunate enough to take the Prodigal Bible study/support group to Poland and share it with the people there. We feel it saved our lives and the life of our family, and for that, we will always be grateful.
-The Topes' Story @ http://www.prodigalchildministries.org/topes
KEYS TO REMEMBER
1. Release your prodigal to Jesus
2. Continue to LOVE and PRAY for your prodigal
3. Don't listen to Satan's lies!
4. If you have siblings of your prodigal child
Talk to them and Pray with and for them!
5. Our HOPE for our prodigal is in Christ Jesus alone.
6. Don't hide in your fear, shame or guilt.
7. Find a good church - One that will support you
and most importantly pray with you.
Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the
power of the Holy Ghost.
ROMANS 15:13
TOMORROW:
Continuing Hope for the Prodigal Son or Daughter.
AND:
Please feel free to contact me if you want prayer for your
child who is a prodigal. You may give me just their first
name or your story - IT WILL BE KEPT BETWEEN YOU, ME And
JESUS! Or we can put it on our prayer list - just a 1st name if you like. You may use my contact page or email me at: [email protected]
BELOW: All My Hope Is In Jesus - By: Crowder
A prodigal once in shackles and prison himself!
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