Fight: Your Way Your Truth Your Life

By Clodine Owens

You have in your hands an easy-to-read non-fiction book thats easy to pick up and put down at your convenience.
A total of seventy plus stories are shared in this book.
The stories are about unsuitable ministers, underhanded sins, and evil thats waiting to violate innocent victim. One chapter reintegrates a surprising list of terror attacks that have haunted this country for decades.
These stories are true and hurtful. All are handled with victory, for God has a purpose and a plan for each hardship.
Theres not one story in this book that does not have a lesson to learn about how we can handle lifes trials.

This is not a book on theology, but life as it is.

It is all about Jesus our teacher.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Oct 31, 2011
• ISBN: 9781449725679

Clodine Owens

Satan has attacked Mary Meeker personally for thirty-five years. The patrons in her beauty salon have been attacked. Satan is evil and out to destroy us. Mary has held Bible studies in her home twice a year for twelve years. She has two children and two grandchildren.  

Book preview

Copyright © 2011 Clodine Owens

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

ISBN: 978-1-4497-2568-6 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4497-2569-3 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4497-2567-9 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2011915191

WestBow Press books may be ordered through booksellers or by contacting:

WestBow Press

A Division of Thomas Nelson

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.westbowpress.com

1-[phone]

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

The cover image created by Halie Kastl was designed and produced solely for Fight by Clodine Owens

Printed in the United States of America

WestBow Press rev. date: 11/04/2011

Contents

More about the Author

Introduction

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Author’s Journal

I dedicated this book to my mother who fought in the Fight and won

More about the Author

Every story I’ve written about is this book is true and honest. I have experienced life and seen the results of sin. I have been a born-again Christian for thirty nine years.

We’ve all got our own FIGHT. Writing my own experiences down was healing. It was while I was writing the Lord brought the song I can only imagine by MercyMe to my mind. It was then I had to forgive my husband. I begin to think of others how writing might help them to resolve some ugly issues in their life.

I was an owner of a hair salon for thirty four years; I produced herbal bedding plants for other plant producers for three years. I taught others how to grow herbs and use herbs successfully. I helped organize fundraisers and worked with gift baskets sales. Then I became a paraplegic.

I have been a paraplegic for fourteen years now. God has provided me with caretakers that love Him and are willing to serve Him with all their hearts. They have taught me that God provides, and He will never leave me in a bind.

I have two godly friends that taught me the servant hood of Christ. Jay and Dee are my closest friends. I thank them for loving me and I especially thank my brothers and sisters for their support and love, it would be a hard road without them.

I could never repay all the blessing of my Bible study group provided me in the last fourteen years. They have been faithful and true to God throughout all these years. They helped me more than I can ever repay. I truly love and pray for them continually

I thank the Lord Jesus Christ for saving me and leading me to this challenge. He has given me the most precious family, who loves Jesus as passionately as I do.

They have endured my agony as my body quickly died off from use. I have been extremely blessed to have the most loving family in the world. He’s given me a daughter and son-in-law that have taught me the love of Christ, for they are here and assists me when I need them. He’s given me a son that has stepped up to fill his dad’s shoes and helps me any way he can even though he lives so far away. He’s given me a grandson that has encouraged me and supported me any way he can in producing this book, and he takes time for me no matter how busy he is with his life. He’s given me a granddaughter that also comes to my aid when needed. She has a way that makes me laugh; she’ll stop whatever she’s doing to check on me, She is growing up to be a gracious, beautiful lady of God. Her nickname is Ash potato, an interesting nickname her dad gave her.

My talented niece. Halie produced the cover of this book. She did this as a last project to be done before going to work for Disney Land.

I thank Him for providing me with friends and neighbors that help me at the drop of a hat. Jim in particular has rescued me out of some difficult situations. He deserves a big hug and thank you. As well as Georgia and Carolyn. Their fruit they’ll have to lay at Jesus feet will be abundant.

My birth mother went through horrible trials. She was not saved until late in life. Praise the Lord she’s in heaven now. I loved her, but I did not do her right.

She had six children, and not one of us took her in when she needed us most. I know God is giving her the love and attention now that she needed when she was here on earth. We will glorify God in heaven for the joy she gave us while she was here.

She did her best with what she had. This is what God allowed her, as it is with us. This is why I am dedicating this book to her. It’s the only honor that I can give her since the time has passed to do it in person.

This is my life and the people I know; it was simple, but it was complex to me while growing old. My biggest achievement was getting saved and learning to hear God’s still, small voice and leading me to be a prayer warrior for my friends and family. I’m not bragging but this is what I do; God’s grace is available to everyone, and I just want to share how merciful He is.

In this book, I’ve tried to drive the point in with these stories about how Satan likes to enter into a person’s life and ruin it. My number one objective is for you to fight the fight of a good soldier of God. As a parent, I hurt for other mothers and fathers that are going through the hell on earth, which Satan is putting them through right now with their children.

Satan knows His time is growing shorter before Christ returns. Christ has given me a sense of compassion, concern, and love for others who go through hurt within their families. I have felt the hurt within my own children’s’ lives, which I have had no control in. I can pray though the pain; there’s power in prayer and a release of anxiety that’s unexplainable. I want to share how you too can release your hurt, pain, and anxiety.

God Bless you

Clodine

Introduction

All my trials, as well as yours, are ordered by the Lord. I want to share Satan’s tactics and his purpose for us. He wants to make our lives difficult for us to live for Christ. Christ has allowed Satan to attack us so that we would rely on Him. Christ our Overcomer has given us weapons to fight Satan with, His Word, to make us worthy to be called Christians, or the struggles in life would all be in vain.

I’ll share the degrees of hate that are in this world that amplify the personal grief that invades our lives. There’s national hate, local hate, personal hate, and then racial hate. Then we have to deal with all the immoral sex attacks that affect all of us. I’ve shared several true stories about how Satan has torn our lives apart. Then there’s a sin that I haven’t even attempted to address. We all have our own stories to tell. They mean more to you than my stories. I hope my stories will inspire you to write yours down. To share with others, to bless others and show how you have surrendered your life to the Lord. Your story will encourage and educate others. Maybe it will be your own private haven. A shelter in the storm.

In the back of this book I’ve provided pages to write your own memories whether good or bad. If you purchased this book by ebook find a blank book or tablet to write your story in. Releasing your life on paper frees you to have a clearer picture what God’s purpose in your life is for. I hope to jog your memory on things you have forgotten as a born again believer. That will get you thinking on what to write.

I’m praying this book will be a blessing to you. There have been a lot of prayers and tears in developing this book. If one person will change their lifestyle because of the experiences that are in this book, it will be worth it all. All the trials and heartaches will melt away when you see that God has a purpose and a special work He needs to do in our lives, for I know that everything He does is worthwhile.

Satan has entered my family as well as my friends. He has literally torn us apart. Sin scars the personal security that families once had. We were once tied together by a close connection, but Satan destroys the trust, the humor, the closeness, and the joy that once was entwined in the family unit.

I’ve tried to stress that God’s Word comes first; that you can overcome any circumstance if you trust in Him and have faith in Him. The Enemy does not want you to know this. Salvation can be yours. You can be a new creation. You do not have to be in bondage to drugs, pornography, or alcohol. You can have victory whether you’re committing adultery, fornication, or addicted to drugs. It’s not too late.

You can say no to the Devil. If you don’t, it’s because you don’t want too. God gave us a free mind, so we get to decide how we want to live our lives. It might be you’ve done nothing bad in your life, but you’ve rejected Jesus; that is enough to keep you from heaven. Just say; please come into my heart and live in me. Heal me from my sins and forgive me, Lord. If you really repented in your heart, He now lives in you and will bless you. He will direct your steps toward what to do next. Just ask Him to show you how to live. Go to another Christian who can help you. If you don’t know one, call a church to talk to the pastor or contact me at [e-mail] so we can pray together for a solution to the problem

Fifteen years ago God began to do miraculous work in me. I became paralyzed as a result of multiple sclerosis after six months of diagnoses. I have been through some horrific trials since then, and you can’t tell me that Satan wasn’t behind every one of them.

Later I developed leukemia and I spent two months of my life in the hospital taking chemotherapy. Then, my MS became more active after my leukemia treatments. This might seem strange to call it a miracle but I’ve seen God working miracles because of my sickness that I would not have otherwise. You might ask what this statement has to do with this book. Journaling has a healing effect on a person’s life which I hope becomes contagious.

I started home Bible studies that have lasted through all my ordeals. Only through God’s Word did I find comfort. I want to share what Satan has put me through and what other friends have gone through, because Satan needs to be put down.

We have all come out of our trials stronger and wiser. God has made us ready for the next fight. Like the song says, we’re marching to Zion, the beautiful city of God. Onward Christian soldiers.

We are serving a God who folded his napkin in an empty tomb. By Jewish customs, this means He’s coming back. Friend, He’s coming back soon. The signs have all been fulfilled. Our battle needs to be a fierce fight against evil.

Everyone I know hopes their story would lead to someone’s salvation. I’ve tried to put myself in your place as a parent, who would cry, scream, and literally tear her hair out if it would help my child overcome their problems. Whether, it would be from fornication, adultery, homosexuality, drugs, money problems, pornography etc.

I hope this book enlightens you to the power we have in Christ. Only Christ can restore honor, dignity, and make you worthy of a new life. I can only say go for it! Take one minute at a time, one prayer at a time. Jesus is our first and last hope. FIGHT!

E-mail [e-mail]

Chapter One

Love Wins

As a seasoned Christian, it’s a difficult thing for me to sit in a pew observing a pastor or youth pastor abusing their authority. I’m old enough to have seen fundamental churches go down the drain and I don’t like it. I have enough fight left in me to voice a legitimate concern when I see Christ decrees being broken. I now know to go before the church in a business meeting. I will not keep silent any longer every deacon will know what is going on in the church if I know it. I hope you feel the same way.

God has given us wisdom to specialize in cleaning up storm sewers with the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit has provided us with solutions to investigate where the clog is coming from.

All over our churches are in a storm right now. If there’s any time in history since Jesus our churches are in need of a Roto-Rooter cleaning is now.

We need to pray, serve, evangelize, and love our enemy and sometimes that enemy is the head of the church. Who is behind all the ugliness that goes on behind closed doors? Satan himself is laughing and enjoying all the dirt that’s being thrown on Jesus in the name of love.

One little sin does hurt the whole congregation if it tolerated, there will be another one and another one till the church is destroyed. One hurt feeling of a brother or sister matters.

Do you have a minister who rules his church as an authoritarian? He manipulates his deacons and congregation to his own advantage. You can see the dogmatic, domineering, and self-opinionated persona in his actions; somehow this type of preacher finds a method to go on mission trips anywhere in the world in the name of Jesus Christ without paying for it with his own money.

He convinces the deacons it is for the missionaries because they need him. He does not have to use his vacation time or his money even though he may be gone for two weeks. The church will pay for guest speakers. If any other parishioner goes he pays his own way and uses his vacation time.

He rules his church with absolute authority. The problem that lays here it is not his church. He makes decisions without the approval of the deacons; he had the constitution of the church drawn up in a fashion that gave him the authority.

This church I’m talking about is a Godly church; it belongs to God alone. The pastor is young, educated, good looking, a smooth talker and knows God’s Word. We can thank God he delegates jobs in the church so it will run smoothly. We can thank God for his leadership weather we agree with it or not. We can thank God he preaches the truthful message in how to get saved. We can thank God he teaches us how to live our life with truth and wisdom.

We can thank God he has charisma that draws people into our church. He draws in the young people; we have to appreciate that.

When there’s been a wrong decision made in the church does he share it with his people? No. If a wrong decision has been done he truly try’s to correct it; that is if he’s been made to face the wrong doing he will admit it. Humbleness is a gift of God.

We can thank God even though this pastor has a I can do no wrong attitude, he is a man of God; thankfully God has shown us we cannot judge this man; but we can bring truth to him.

We can thank God He has shown us truth about his leadership. He keeps our church united in mind and passionate for Jesus. There is not a perfect church on earth.

This is an example of a true church of God here on earth. This church is as perfect as it can get. This man that God gave us is as perfect as possible. He is an honorable man with one flaw but I won’t mention it because I don’t want him to see himself in this book.

Of course I also don’t want to reveal my flaws I have to the world either.

I believe Satan can and will slip his foot in the door at any opportune time.

I’m saying this because some of the stories I’m going to share came from our pastor before him. I do not want that to happen to this man or any of his congregation nor any other church.

Our previous pastor started out as a worthy pastor then ended up making some grave mistakes. His mistakes not only affected him but the people he counseled. I’m not his judge thank God for that. I just witnessed the results of ungodly counsel.

We are all are ready for Satan’s attack? We are trained to go to our pastor for Godly counsel. Wrong counsel is what puts a bad reputation on churches. I believe we who have had Godly training all our life should intervene and correct the walk even if it’s our pastor. Christ cares. He’s given you a special work. Maybe it’s your job to point out the wrong your church is involved in. How will you fight? I hope not in fear of defeat or anger.

I’m not condemning all pastors or youth leaders. I have to praise the majority of pastors or leaders of churches. One bad apple spoils the whole basket. I’m asking you to be on the outlook for that one leader that could ruin your church. I’m not only talking to parents; but to every congregation member.

I hope you recognize the warning signs of an incompetent leader. If you witness a child in any unfair situations, I hope you’ll put a change to it even if it’s not your child.

Your church and your relationship to Christ is your most valuable asset you have. God has given us fruit; it is our young people in our church they keep the word alive; they are our fruit.

As I share different problems keep in mind that Christ is our overcomer with His love we become winners. There are Godly churches as well as ungodly.

God just led me to be in both types of churches. The church above is my church now. Praise God for men of God. He is a man of prayer and Godly wisdom.

Revelation 2:6, 14-15 6 But this you have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. ¹⁴But I have a few things against you, because you have their those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. ¹⁵Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.

Did you catch it? It was the deeds, not the Nicolaitans that God hated. Apparently this group of people claimed some kind of status that permitted idolatry and immorality, but it was the deeds that God hated, not the people. They put a stumbling block in their path the way a lot of people with titles have today.

Similarly, there are egotistical preachers with good intentions that judge the people instead of the sin. You can recognize their tone of superiority immediately. Everything is I and more I. How can you preachers preach against the sinner but not the sin? Do you love anyone outside yourself, preacher? You make my skin crawl. I just tune them out, and I imagine anyone else dealing with a problem does the same thing.

I know there has to be more laypersons like me that know what I’m talking about. All I’m asking is that preachers take stock.

We must show ourselves worthy of God. How are you at home? Are your children afraid of you? Do they avoid you? Parents, observe your preacher. If these preachers are not talking about their accomplishments they are asking for money.

Preachers, there are questions to ask yourself. How many sexually immoral people has God allowed you to deliver out of their bondage?

How many souls have you brought to the Lord? What kind of servant are you? How many drug abusers or alcoholics have you counseled with success?

Do you lead a person to the Lord, but have no connection in disciplining them afterwards? Most evangelists fit into this category. This is the reason you were ordained, to teach others how to be servants of God. That is why I ask you to examine yourselves. Do you add works to your salvation message?

I know of a special friend whose dad was a prominent Baptist preacher who had several children, and they were all scared of him. The oldest one took the brunt of his dad’s unjust anger often. His father beat him so badly so often that the child left to go fishing or hunting every time his father came home.

My friend’s father took the love and the joy of Jesus Christ from him. He’s the most giving and loving person I know toward other people, yet six decades later he is still unable to forgive his father for the way that he treated him.

My heart still hurts for him, because his dad idolized himself. No one mattered except for him.

Well, sin always catches up with any preacher, any person. One day, this same man knocked his wife across the room, and she said no more. She divorced him, he lost his church, and his life was in shambles. He never made things right with his son. I beg you, for you and your family’s sake, if you are involved in ministry and are struggling with any sin, humble yourself and repent; search your heart for any harm you’ve you caused your family..

This idolatry, of making the self the idol, is just an example of sin. It doesn’t have to be idolatry or anger. It could be gossip, bitterness, foul-mouthed speech, and so much more. There are also sexual sins that have invaded this world, along with all types of hate. All of it is quenching the Holy Spirit.

The inability to forgive, however, is the most damaging to your self-esteem for God has said:

Matthew 18:35 My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart.

You forgive just because God says so. It’s as simple as that. Obedience to God is what is required from us.

This is just one sin that’s invading our world. It affects everyone, and Satan loves it.

There will be a day when we’ll meet Christ face to face, and we will bow on our knees before him. He is coming soon, and we must be ready; we must not let the influence of Satan hinder us by letting Him plant seeds in our heads that we will keep repeating the offense in our mind.

I have heard a person who dwells on themselves is selfish people. They are so trapped by their own hurt that they are unfruitful for the Kingdom of God.

I have had an experience with an ungodly preacher I would like to share with you. I’m sure I’m not the only proud and somewhat controlling mother.

I had expected a different outcome for my son. He had plans of his own. My son is an extremely handsome young man with all the qualities needed for Christian service. He graduated from a well-known Christian University, and I thought I was training him up to be a strong, active Christian all his life. This was my only son. He, however, has chosen not to follow the church and live a different lifestyle than what he was raised in. I had put my whole life into my children,

He got into the business of making money and getting ahead in the corporate world. He has developed friends that do not serve God. I heard his friends take God’s name in vain in the background of our telephone calls, and I heard