As we read 2 Sam 13, the story never goes on to tell us what happened to Tamar or how she felt after being raped. But we can guess. There were probably feelings of hurt, anger, hate, betrayal, low self-worth and guilt. Know this; God has seen your tears and felt your pain. You have to learn how to trust God. Tell Him you can't carry the pain anymore. You're weary of keeping it a secret for so long and living with the repercussions it has had on your life. Believe me, He's waiting on you to give it up to Him.

Has your giant kept you from living a life that is productive, peaceful, happy or on http://www.netministry.com/controlpanel/sm_archives.asp?ministryid=73274&columnid=5703&pageno=1purpose? Has it kept you from enjoying the embraces of your husband or wife because of bad memories? Has it kept you from growing in the Word of God because of secret doubt?

If we are vessels for God then we are "holders" or "receivers" of His Spirit within us. Depending on the vessel and its worth - its cleanliness, its condition; its wholeness - then the more God can use that vessel (person). Remember, "The vision is only as good as the vessel." Sometimes the scrubbing and stripping and cleaning hurts but it's necessary. It's like the bark on a tree. On the outside it's old, rough and ugly. But once it's peeled away the core of the tree is smooth, clean and beautiful. You'll wonder and say to yourself "all this beauty was under that mess?"

I thought I would write you a letter; A letter from one Christian woman to another. Life can be full of choices can't it? You choose to follow your dreams except you really don't know what they are. You have a general idea but nothing concrete that says, "Yep, this is IT!" I can see you now! Yeah, I know, you've probably wondered why you're here on earth. Asked yourself, "what is my purpose?" "Is what I think my purpose is really my purpose?" "Is it what I want or what God wants?" "Yep, you've cried, many nights in fact, and persevered many days with determination sitting on your shoulders and a mirage of doubts nipping at your heels.

What has God told you to do but you haven't? Has God made you a promise you can't forsee? Every day we walk by faith. When you walk by sight you walk by flesh and the flesh doesn't always understands God's plan. When God makes a promise we must learn to stand our ground and believe it. Because sometimes all you will have IS the promise from God!

What happens when you have prayed? Prayed some more, trusted and believe God to answer a particular need for you. When you have knelt before him on bended knees with a burdened heart and pools of tears in your eyes. What happens when you've went to that place, the space between what we pray for and what we really believe God for - the unbelief area of the mind - and stretched your mind to see God doing the impossible? What happens when your faith is so tested your tempted to "help him along?" What happens when God doesn't answer your prayer? When it seems like all hope is gone?

There are going to be times in our lives when we feel like giving up. But if we continue to follow through and be encouraged, we will receive the blessing at the end of the trial.

Do you need a title to define who you are? Do you find yourself trying to explain to others what God has called you to do? Are you trying to fit into a round hole but you're a square peg? Are you trying to find a "title" for your uniqueness? Then know this; God didn't compromise and neither did he puff himself up. When someone asks you who you are or what do you do, take God's description and make it your own. Say, "I am who I am. Everything more. Nothing less. A vessel."

As time would have it you're in a waiting room right now. The waiting room called Life. Going through the motions, waiting. Watching your life tick away, day by day, year by year. You've made your request known. Said a prayer. Tingled some hope. You believed it could happen. But now you're not so sure. Several months have passed. Years have flown away. The dream is still alive, the desire still pulsing, but reality, your reality, seems to have snuck in.

Sunday after Sunday, week after week individuals go through the doors of churches. For some to worship. For some a mask, a ritual, a religious covering. "As long as I go to church, I'm okay. I am safe." But God knows He's "been watching!" The Israelite's warning can be your blessing. Blessings of God's assurance. His grace; His mercy and His Love