Saturday, January 5, 2013

Rapha's Touch - An Introduction

Announcing . . .

Rapha's Touch: Healing from Sexual Abuse, now available at amazon.com, nook, kindle, and directly from me. It can also be ordered directly from https://www.createspace.com/4085694

Here's what you'll find within its pages:

Sexual abuse has long-lasting, life-altering consequences, but these consequences do not have to be life-destroying. The pages of Rapha's Touch: Healing from Sexual Abuse, extend an invitation to enter the presence of Jehovah-Rapha, the God who heals, the One who mends that which is torn. The story line of Tamar, daughter of King David, whose sexual abuse at the hands of her brother is recounted in the Old Testament is interwoven with snapshots of personal memory around the themes of unstained fabric, damaged remnants, a rag rug, the patchwork quilt, and an exquisite tapestry...
 
From the introduction:
These pages are offered to those who have been wounded through the abuse of others, as well as to those who walk beside them and love them. They come with the prayer that the healing touch of Jehovah-Rapha will be received in its fullness. These words provide a framework for thinking about the redeeming nature of God through the metaphor of needlework, the sewing together of that which has been torn apart.
Each chapter begins with a glimpse from my own memory that may help you name the feelings present in the aftermath of sexual abuse. As you hear bits of my life story, take time to remember a part of your story that fits into the theme of the chapter. The details of your story may differ from mine, but the journey of healing begins at the same place – in the presence of Jehovah-Rapha, the One who heals. Remember, too, that as much as the abuse may have colored your life story, you are so much more than the abuse, so much more than a victim.   
The snapshots of memory will be interwoven with the story line of Tamar, daughter of King David, whose sexual abuse at the hands of her brother has been recorded in the Old Testament. Each chapter will also include sections of information about sexual abuse, questions to spur your thinking and remembering, prayers for your use to direct your conversation with God, and a series of action verbs that invite you to put your thoughts and feelings into tangible expressions of art and movement. Finally, you will also find resources for further exploration, as well as words of comfort and challenge from the Scriptures and from the voices of those who understand the healing power of God.

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