"It was a Fragile Facade"

How the LORD must grieve over how we tend to twist God's Word to suit our own desires. 

LORD, have mercy on us...

Over on Recovering Grace, November 21, 2011, "Keeping up With Appearances" sounds like an all too familiar a story of control and manipulation of people~~~ mainly children - children in homes of Christian parents using the LORD's name to spiritually abuse their children of any age as a way of controlling their "holiness".  One poignant statement of the writer, Kristiana, concerning the all consuming "job" of making their lives appear to be perfect was:  "It was a fragile facade." 

Personally knowing people who sound very much like Kristiana's family, I can totally understand this statement.  Appearances are everything to people who live by law and not by God's grace, so the facade is always on the edge of falling apart when a least one person is balking at the "rules".  It is not an easy life when you are always "in trouble" with the leader.

Bill Gothard's teachings are not the only ones twisting God's Words to suit the leader; all it takes is one person who wants to control and manipulate others who follow them.

The LORD is our God of recovery!  We can overcome the pain we have endured or are enduring.  Run to Him if you are in pain of any kind.  He will be your hiding place of recovery in Him, and you will be able to sing songs of deliverance!

Psalm 32:7
"You are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble; You surround me with songs of deliverance."