Born To Live (Guest Post by Brooke Lynn)
For the rest of this month I’m going to be running a few guest posts, whilst I work some other projects (more on those soon). This will include a new blog series, which begins Wednesday.
Today however I’m honoured to host the awesome Brooke Lynn, with a powerful guest post I know you’re going to love. So, it’s over to Brooke…
Have you ever wondered who you really are, or what your purpose is in life?
I asked myself these questions for many years, comparing myself to people and measuring my worth against them. I chased after identity, success, love, value and good looks. I assumed beauty was in the outward appearance and I became obsessed with my body trying to achieve the air-brushed model look in magazines.
This only led me onto a road of self-destruction with eating disorders and disappointment while striving to meet unreachable expectations.
As a child, we have a tendency to believe what we are told. This is when I began to believe the words spoken deep into my soul; I was worthless, ugly, fat, unwanted, and never good enough.
Because of these lies about who I was, I was driven into darkness, despair and years of emotional turmoil, grief and pain. This was the work of the Enemy. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10)
God saved my life. He reached out His hand, pulled me up from the miry clay, cleaned me off, and set my feet upon a path of truth and freedom.
One day at a time I’ve been learning who God is, who He has made me to be, and accepting the truth concerning what He says about me. This hasn’t been easy by any means. I’ve had to learn to trust when I never knew what trust was. I’ve had to throw up my hands and surrender, pray long and hard waiting upon God through the tragedies He helped me survive.
I’ve cried countless tears, prayed many prayers, and surrendered my entire life to God who loves me, approves of me, accepts me and looks at the inner heart and not the outward appearance. “The LORD doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)
There is something inside us battling for position, fame, attention and a place in this world.
We want to be needed, respected, loved and appreciated. We crave belonging to someone or even a community who accepts us.
God has given me the courage to face fear head on and know who I am in His eyes. He has taught me I was created with a purpose and a plan predestined before I was born.
My days are numbered as the hair is on my head. I am confident, courageous, bold, held in the palm of my Father’s hand and greatly accepted by the One who loves me more than I can fathom.
And guess what? So are you!
My purpose; our purpose, is to live our lives to the fullest in a relationship with our Saviour Jesus Christ; growing and waking in love here on this Earth and in eternity.
I encourage you to read my newly released book called, “Raised by Strangers”.
There is hope, freedom, love, courage and healing waiting for you. (you can tweet that)
“Therefore, as the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the LORD.” (1 Corinthians 1:31)
Here is my story:
We were born to live.
We either fight for something bigger and better than our current circumstances, or we cower in fear and let the world and evil overcome us.
When I was just five years old, I was kidnapped and forced to live a life burdened with cruel and bizarre physical and emotional abuse. My will to survive, inspired by an invisible hope, helped me fight the demons and stay alive as I endured haunting experiences. This book chronicles my true life story full of forbidden secrets driven by darkness and deception.
First birthed into a marriage of teenage parents and their destructive relationship, I was later kidnapped, given away, and ultimately raised by strangers who tortured me. In a desperate attempt to escape my abuse and evil caretaker, I tried to murder her. Through this gripping story, I share ways I have learned to overcome my horrendous past and rise above the ugliness of humanity with faith and forgiveness.
Learn the power of hope. Find the courage and strength for healing, how to face your fears, forgive offences, and live a life of freedom. You will learn your past doesn’t have to define you or forecast your future.
There are no empty words and it’s not just a hand full of paper, there is a powerful message waiting for you.
Brooke Lynn is a writer, blogger & author of Raised by Strangers, which is available in all digital formats and in paperback on Amazon.com and at Barnes and Nobles.
Visit her website and subscribe to her blog at: www.BrookeLynnBooks.com .
You can also find her on Facebook & Twitter.
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(Picture Sources: WordPress / Brooke Lynn)
Praise God for his love, mercy and grace! Your testimony will encourage others and God will bless your faithfulness!
Thank you Tara, please keep this book and all who read it in prayer. It is my heart for this book to make a difference in this world and draw others into the arms of our Father God! He is love like no other. He is truth, life and the way. He is all we need. Though at times I questioned Him, didn’t understand or even became angry, I kept on praying and believing that everything was going to be okay. The truth is that we all have days that are “ok” and some that are not. We take the good with the bad and trust God! Thank you Tara
Wow! After all you’ve been through I know the only way you could have survived it was with the Lord by your side. Bless you!
Nichole, That is one absolute truth, I would not have survived without Jesus. I tried to go astray many times and almost ended up a run-away and homeless. God constantly led me back to Him and showed me His heart and ways through MANY people in my life. It goes without saying that life has challenges, trials, different kinds of pain and days we don’t feel we want to go on. But God will never leave us nor forsake us and He loves us more than we can fathom! Thank you mnicholeh
It’s inspiring how you found the strength to build a good life.
Scott, thankfully I am persistent, stubborn and a rebel. (That is true but funny!) With those being my natural characteristics, God provided me hope, strength, faith and a vision for my future that somehow felt like something bigger and better I chased after. I don’t give up or quit and we have to live that way or life’s trials will conquer us. But we know the truth; As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered. No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” (Romans 8:36-37)
Thank you Scott!
By Jesus, all things are possible. You raised yourself above those who “raised” you. You are a testimony of His love.
Bob, Wow! That is one impressive and encouraging truth! I really love that and I appreciate your words. Thank you for expressing your heart and sharing. I hope you are able to get a copy of the book to read and get back to me with your thoughts! Thank you!
This is an inspirational post Brooke. You have shown such courage & determination in your journey, it’s an honour to host you & share a piece of this story here.
James, I am thankful for the divine connections God places in our lives. You are encouraging and generous with your time and resources. You love to give to others with asking for nothing in return. But remember that we reap what we sow. Get ready for your harvest because it is coming sooner than you think! Thank you for your friendship and I appreciate you!!
Sounds like a powerful book, Brooke!
Hi Tamie, it’s a book that God will absolutely speak to you through in intimate ways. It took four years of prayer and writing to publish it and my heart is poured into it. I am thankful that God allowed me to write “Raised by Strangers” so a world in need can know more about our Heavenly Father’s love. Make sure to get back to me after you read my story and tell me what you think! Thank you!
Sounds just like the wheel I am so busy reinventing Brooke!
I became a serious Christian at 32 at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa, and began what appeared to be a really promising journey.
I got involved with some really sick legalistic Christians though and was torn from my happy moorings in the twenty year battle which included my new Christian wife who fought my moderate Christian principles the whole way, and through a 16 year long divorce whereas I tried to reconcile the marriage constantly while she and her legalistic friends did all they could externally to destroy the marriage.
I am now bitter against legalism to a fault, and woe be the fool who takes me on spiritually, scripturally and psychologically.
What this has done is warp my walk, and I keep trying to get back in the groove, albeit 500 miles from my home church at Calvary CM, and the dinky satellite near me is less than sufficient in many areas…I cannot afford to commute…so here I be, clapping for success stories as your own and crying for my failure. Oh well, I still get to go to Heaven!!
Eugene, your future can be better than your past. Your today can be better than yesterday. You have to choose to forgive, draw close to God, not rely on your own strength and submit, surrender yourself and your will to God. He will heal your heart, mind, every hurt and pain. The memories will never go away. They will fade but God will replace all your sorrow with joy. Joy that only comes from Him. Peace that only comes from Him. Everything you need is from God. Stop focusing on your past and pain and allow God to heal you from the inside out! He loves you more than you know! More than you can fathom. The next time you get a glimpse of the warm sun shinning so brightly as it reflects with such beauty, Yes, that is Him in a tender and sweet way, saying through His creation; “I love you.”
I can’t imagine what you lived through. You have powerful words to share.
Onisha, Thank you. But now is what matters and God has brought me through to a better place. I know that in and through it all, “All is well with my soul.” I am grateful for a God who loves us enough to hear our every cry and plea for help. He rescues us from the depths of hell in a world where people are evil, corrupt and sin runs rampant. I’m thankful for our faithful and amazing God! You have a super blessed day and keep pressing into Jesus! Thank you!