Nancy Missler

These are two studies I did recently by Nancy Missler that were AMAZING!!!

     The first is "The Way of Agape." Nancy explains the difference between God's love and Human love. She also explains how we are to demonstrate this love towards others. She goes through each part of loving the Lord with all of your: strength, soul, mind and heart. Although originally designed for a women's marriage seminar, this is in NO WAY limited to only women or only the married. This is an amazing study with brilliant principles for EVERYONE.

     The second is "Be Ye Transformed." Now that a firm understanding of God's love has been established, Nancy explains how that love is to transform our lives. She systematically explains the truths of God in order to set the believer free "from ourselves, our circumstances, other peoples' responses and Satan" in order to truly be vessels of the Holy Spirit in the world.

     Nancy Missler does a brilliant job backing up every statement with scripture, personal experience and the experiences of others. Each statement is systematic and easily understood. Her ministry is The King's Highway and is dedicated to helping believers grow stronger in their Christian walk. She is also married to theologian and scholar Chuck Missler, founder of Koinonia House Ministries, whose specializes in Current Events and End Time Prophesy.

My Testimony, My Saga, My Legacy... Pt. 9

Chapter 9: In which a Heart is Freed...

I went over 5 months without seeing or hearing from Sedric. As more time passed the more "whole" I felt. I didn't need Sedric to feel like having a good time nor did I waist endless hours doing nothing but thinking about him. I wasn't perfect, though, I still missed him a lot! But I was becoming more and more willing (and able) to do whatever I felt God calling me to do (or even just hanging around for fun with my friends.)

Now I was getting ready for college orientation. I planned on going to a Christian college, and I knew I was going to meet a lot of SUPER Godly, Christian guys. But still in the back of my mind I had difficulty accepting the fact that one of those other guys might be my husband. I prayed and prayed that God would do something to take away the bindingness of my promises to Sedric. As orientation drew nearer and nearer I felt that I might have to do the forbidden... I thought I might have to call up Sedric and ask him to release me from the promises. I knew if he did that, I'd be fine. But, we hadn't spoken in months, what if he said no?

One day I decided to do a blog post called "Memory Lane: Strawberry Jam." (I'm sure you know of it ;) ) I mentioned that a friend taught me how to make strawberry jam, and morphed it into a sermon on fellowship. Something I left out was that Sedric was "my friend's" son. I didn't feel it necessary nor fitting that I mention that little piece of trivia.

The next morning I found a comment... from Sedric, berating me for being a cold hearted person, erasing any piece of him from my life and memory (simply because I didn't mention him in the post.)

My brain nearly exploded. *Mental Rant* "Excuse me? Um, everything I've been doing is for BOTH our goods. The fact I shouldn't be obsessed over you applies just as much in that you shouldn't be obsessed over me. Not to mention that I've been going through living torture nearly EVERYDAY because of YOU. How many nights did I say up and cry because I was praying over you? How many times did I let God pass me by because of you? And you want to call me a cold hearted person?!?"

My rage quickly turned into pity. God was showing me something I needed to see. The answer to my prayers. Sedric was not selfless anymore. He was upset because I decided not to mention his name in a situation. I felt sorry for him because I realized that in the time of my absence he'd changed. I knew I'd changed from the little love-sick maid I used to be. Then it dawned on me. The people that made the promises to each other did not exist anymore. They'd changed. I'd grown into a girl that truly did want God as her all -- not as pretence or requirement. But, in my eyes, Sedric had changed from a strong Godly young man into a selfish, self-righteous person. My promises were now invalid (in my mind at least) and at last I could completely, 100% focus on being open to EVERYONE.

Sedric hardly ever crosses my mind anymore (even as I'm writing this). But whenever he does, I pray for him. Whatever he's doing, whatever he's going through, I pray that God be his light. I pray that Sedric allows God to 100% lead and control his life. I don't have any bitterness towards Sedric, and I hope he doesn't towards me, but I know that I'm chasing God, and that's all I care about.

This concludes my Saga for the moment, but God is always throwing surprises at me :).

Parts: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

My Testimony, My Saga, My Legacy... Pt. 8

Chapter 8: In which Promises are Remembered...

I went back and forth between these two states. One day I'd be chasing the Lord with everything that was in my being; the next I'd be wasting away because I missed Sedric so much. My main problem was that I couldn't let go of the promises I made him. I wanted to be able to consider other guys as possible husbands because I wanted to pick the one GOD had planned for me, not the one I wanted to pick out for myself.

I'm a die hard. Once I've declared or promised something I can never go back on it. I just can't make myself break a promise -- I just can't do it! So I needed God to do something to "nullify" my promises. I'd promised Sedric that I'd wait forever for him. But, I had not prayed about it or sought the council of the wise. Now that those promises had been made, I'd trapped myself. To tell the truth, I didn't mind. I still loved Sedric very much, but I wanted to make sure I was allowing God to work to his fullest -- no restraints.

Months went by like this. I wanted to let God do whatever he wanted to do with me, but because of my promises, I'd tied Him down.


Sedric knew I loved him and sometimes he'd visit me after work. I remember those visits were wonderful and horrible all at the same time. I loved the rare occasions that I'd get to spend time with him (we'd go weeks without seeing each other) but I knew I needed to "fall out of love" with him if I were ever going to truly follow God at this stage of my life. The more I saw Sedric the more in (not out) of love I fell. Sometimes I wanted to go up and kiss him because I'd missed him so much. Other times I just wanted to smack him because he was making things so difficult for me.

My Dad was trying to do everything he could to help me. He never let Sedric and I see each other because he knew I was trying to fall out of love. The times I did see Sedric was when he surprised me with a visit.

It took a very long time, but I slowly became more and more willing to do whatever I needed to do in order to become whole in Jesus Christ, and not need the love a guy to make me feel happy. After I left my first job, I knew that there was only one thing still holding me back from God. The promises.

To Be Continued...
Parts: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

My Testimony, My Saga, My Legacy... Pt. 7

Chapter 7: In which a heart is sanctified...

I remember the days following the return of the necklace were very difficult for me. I would go days with out eating, just so that I could pray longer. I didn't know what else to do, if I was going to chase after God with all that was in my being I couldn't let anything distract me. I stopped reading anything except for the Bible and I would listen to biblical scholars for hours upon hours. I felt so terrible. I had to learn to put God above everything else in my life, and almost everything was distracting me. I shut myself in my room and just prayed. I didn't want to think about the topic of "love, dating, or relationships." It made me sick to my stomach to even think about it because worse -- far worse in my opinion -- not only had I been deterring myself from following God, but... I had also been distracting Sedric. I knew I was distracting Sedric from his relationship with God. Over and over I would cry and morn over my folly. How could I spiritually harm someone I loved so much? How could I be so despicable? I, who had promised to do everything I could to help and aid him cause him one of the greatest tragedies of all? Distancing him from the great God Almighty?

I did everything I could to avoid thinking about that topic. It hurt too much. It was one of the most painful realizations that I'd ever come to in my entire life. I prayed and prayed that God would heal me and take away my guilt, but much more I prayed for Sedric.

I don't want to sound like I'm prideful or anything, but when it comes to how I treat other people, I want to see that their needs are met above my own. Usually I carry it to the extreme -- one day it will probably be my downfall ;) -- but during the whole time I was praying, I prayed very little for me, "Lord let me concentrate on You," "Let me learn more about You." But, I prayed almost unceasingly for Sedric. Normally I go to bed around 9, but whenever I'd pray for Sedric, it was much closer to 11:30 or midnight. Sometimes I'd even wake up in the middle of the night just to pray for him. I believe all that praying taught me how to talk to God more, and who knows what God used all my prayers for, but when something (even praying or reading your Bible) takes over your life so that you can no longer be the best representative of Christ you can me, it's wrong.

After my time of "sanctification" (as I call it) I felt this rush and surge of joy. No, nothing was going the way I wanted it too, but God has everything under control and He was using everything for his greater purpose. Whatever I was going through was going to be used by God to further his kingdom -- who wouldn't want that? I remember I would keep telling myself, "God first, God first," whenever thoughts of Sedric would come blasting through.

Was I completely healed? No. Was I 100% doing what God wanted me to do? No. But I was seeking God, and at the very least, I was beginning to want God's will over my own. Not only that, but I was willing to WORK at putting God's will over my own -- no matter the cost to my personal dreams.

To Be Continued...
Parts: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

My Testimony, My Saga, My Legacy... Pt. 6

Chapter 6: In which more than one heart is torn...

I remember my 17th birthday. I had just gotten my first job as a hostess at a restaurant, and I had decided to take two of my friends shopping. My little sister was coming and we decided to take Sedric's little sister as her companion. When we arrived at the house, I went up and rang the doorbell. Sedric answered and in his hand was a tiny white box.

A gift? For my birthday?

My hands shook as I opened the precious package and revealed the treasure inside. In the box, was the mother of all fantasy necklaces, the silver-white Evenstar. I stood aghast; frozen in shock. How could someone love me so much? I lept onto him, wrapping my arms around his neck and just wanted to stay like that forever...

That necklace became a rallying point to me. A point to put Sedric above God. Thoughts of Sedric consumed me, and this was my idol of him. I wore the necklace constantly and nearly went through cardiac arrest when I didn't.

My father finally took me aside and explained that I was sinning. I was worshiping a man instead of God. The necklace over the Lord. It took me several days, but I finally agreed. I had to be putting God first. I now had something in my possession that I had turned into something evil. Only one thought came to mind. Return it. Dad went to the trouble of setting up the time and date. I remember the seven days prior to the return date I cried almost non-stop. Would Sedric hate me forever? I knew that returning the necklace would be akin to throwing burning oil on him, and the last thing that I ever -- EVER -- wanted to do was hurt him. But I had tainted the gift. I couldn't have it in my possession any longer.

The day came. We sat down at a table. I had the necklace safely tucked into the white box he had presented it to me in.

"Sedric, I'm sorry, but it's too soon for us," neither of us were close to being out of high-school yet, "but, I cannot keep what isn't mine. A gift like this belongs to your wife. Not me." (I probably didn't say it quite like that, I was so beat up inside I could hardly stand it.) He accepted the box without so much as a complaint and that was the last time I saw it.

As soon as I got home I cried again. Out of plain selfish longing. I had gotten so used to that idol I felt like something was missing when it was gone. This caused me to turn to God. He was all I could run to, and the only one who could comfort me. I read his word, studied his principals and prayed my little torn heart out. God was the only thing that was holding me together.

To Be Continued...
Parts: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

My Testimony, My Saga, My Legacy... Pt. 5

Chapter 5: In which history repeats itself...

As if I didn't learn from my first experience with getting too close to a guy, I started liking one at youth-group, Sedric. We started out as friends. We liked all the same things (to an alarming degree! -- Faerie Princess met a Swordsman!) and we both wanted to further our relationship with God. Our families liked each other -- we even both had younger sisters. We met the spring before my 16th birthday, by the following spring I was almost co-dependent on him.

Sedric was the perfect gentleman -- everyone wanted him. He'd open doors, dish out compliments like candy. He was smart, handsome, "practically perfect in every way." What's more, he liked me -- loved me, and I loved him back. At least we said we did; I now know from my point, I was just trying to grab hold of a premature dream. My love wasn't really "love" but the selfish desire to have my own personal fairy tail, and he happened to be Prince Charming.

We thought we were going the right thing -- or I should say, "I thought," I will take the bulk of the blame as to what happened. Most people wouldn't understand the position we were in; we never kissed each other -- EVER! -- we didn't even hold hands. But, we needed each other like we needed air. We would e-mail each other at least five-ten times a day (and that's when I didn't have my own computer!) and we started spending our time exclusively with each other. I stopped spending time with my friends, their company seemed to pale in comparison to his, and I just couldn't bare to be away from him.


At home I drifted into a shadow life. I slept for nearly 15 hours a day, and the short time that I was awake I'd listen to listless music or sit under a tree outside. I don't believe I did anything for about six moths except wilt and fade into a wraith of what I had been. I only left my secret places to eat, then I'd quickly retreat to sleep. Up to this point I'd maintained an almost perfect grade point average, now I literally flunked one of my Chemistry tests.

My father was no fool as to what was going on. He saw what I was doing to myself and tried to put a stop to it... he pulled me out of youth-group. I thought I'd die when he did that. How could I live not even seening Sedric one day a week? I hated my dad; now I see how much for my good it was.


I'll never forget how, strange it was for me the day I started attending my new youth-group -- the one I still attend now. I'd always been the "prefect girl" nothing had ever been wrong in my family. I'd never had to make any prayer requests because there simply never was anything wrong... This time, my life was in tatters, I couldn't stand being home with my parents, and more than once I'd made plans to leave home.

The way this church was organized was to take groups of five - ten people (of the same gender) and place them in groups with a mentor. One you got in a group, you'd stay with them until you graduated. I remember when I got in my group as the noobie. I had all the head knowledge, but when she asked us for prayer requests, I had to fight to keep from bursting into tears right there in the church (for those of you who don't know, I do NOT cry... like ever!)

To Be Continued...
Parts: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9