The Best Mistake I Ever Made

By Nina Haliburton

This book is about getting up after the Fall. It’s about steadfast trust and truth in God and His Word. Even in our weakest moments, God remains the same. He doesn’t change because we encounter situations. This book is about the flesh, feelings, and faith. It’s about God’s faithfulness even when aren’t. It’s about the effects of sin, shame, remorse, regrets, and The Redeeming Power of God's Faithfulness. It’s about the "Get Up" because the fall ain’t final.
It’s about the Blessed assurance of conviction, repentance, confession, correction, and counsel. I will forever proclaim God is faithful and can be trusted. In life, we will be tested, tried, and tempted. Those are facts! But the Truth is when we trust the truth of God’s Word, He causes us to triumph in Christ Jesus every time. God can be trusted with our ups, downs, ins, and outs, yes’s, and help me’s.
So with great honor and appreciation, I expose my lesson, because faithful is He who has called us He will also do it. He will perfect and perform those things that concern us. Scripture says in Revelations 12:11 KJV “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony, and they loved not their lives unto the death”.
I pray as you find yourself in life’s twists and turns, you will always know that God cares, He can and He will. He’s no respecter of persons…HE SO LOVED! His love covers a multitude of sins and He can be trusted! He’s not like us, He never gives up on us! So as you read this memoir, know there’s always a Come up and Come out in God. God is the Answer and His Answer is Jesus.

Period!

Sincerely shared,
Love Sister Nina Haliburton (Daughter of the King)

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Apr 30, 2024
• ISBN: 9781669841784

Book preview

Copyright © 2024 by Nina Haliburton.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the Holy Bible, King James Version (Authorized Version). First published in 1611. Quoted from the KJV Classic Reference Bible, Copyright © 1983 by The Zondervan Corporation.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

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Rev. date: 04/29/2024

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To the Reader

This memoir is written in the fashion of Selah moments. The Bible’s usage of this word indicates that you should take a moment to ponder and muse on its full meanings. Selah is a word that reminds us all to pause and reflect on the relevance of it and how it may apply to our lives.

This memoir is written from a perspective of moments, occasions, feelings, thoughts, quotes, and ideals. It’s not your traditional literary reading. It’s a time span written in a form of thoughts, feelings, and ideals. Furthermore, it’s not chapters and stories, but a recalling of issues during a difficult and challenging time span in my life. Not only that, but it really is just a chapter of my life, not the whole story.

Every time I think about this situation, I say I wish I had never met him. But the reality is I wouldn’t know what I now know. I am the better because of it. That’s a hard pill to swallow, as my grandmother would say. I learned so much during and after that relationship, than I’ve learned in a long while. It was a life lesson I sort of regret, but the benefits outweigh the shame, hurt, and the pain. So can I say I’m glad, no I wouldn’t use that word. But I will say it was profitable that I went through it.

I encourage all readers to read the introduction, preface, forwards(s), and the notes to the reader. The introduction, forwards, and preface allow you to see into the mind and heart of the writer. They will give you a synopsis of what is contained in the pages that follow. These small pockets of information will let you know what you are about to spend your valuable time reading. So, please take the time to read these sections first. They will enable you to have a great understanding of the format and presentation.

This is the type of book that you will pull out your highlighter, you will underline, you will circle, you will dog-ear pages, you’ll use bookmarks, exclamation marks, asterisk, and ask yourself questions. I’ve provided blank pages for you to write your thoughts, feelings, and questions. This book will have questions for your soul.

You will see *** which indicates different thoughts and feelings.

You will notice phrases from Twitter.

You will need a Bible handy because I purposely left some scripture readings for you to look up and read. That’s how faith comes.

You will have to revisit those feelings through re-reading, to help you remember. It wasn’t good for you then, and it won’t be good for you if you re-engage with that NOUN (person, place, or thing).

Thank you, I am sincerely humbled by it all.

I have a God. I have a savior. I have a life and I’m excited.

Love, Sis. Nina Haliburton.

Foreword

I have been preaching the gospel message of Jesus for over two decades. Each time God uses me to share a message with His people, He reminds me to be compassionate. The society in which we navigate within today often seems to lack compassion, forgiveness, and truthfulness on many fronts. Today, you hold in your hands a book written from the heart. A book that is both poetry and prose, each sentence filled with words of compassion.

Compassion is easily expressed from those who have been hurt or have hurt others. Compassion is the ability to relate to the pain, trauma, dysfunction, and sin of another without judgment or condemnation. Compassion does not hold back what is necessary when we encounter person in need. Nina Haliburton is a woman who is compassionate. You are about to read about a season of difficulty in the life of a woman who was on fire for God and for His purpose.

Somehow along her journey, she got temporarily lost in the traffic jam called life. You have been invited to sit on the front row of her spiritual drama and to view with compassion how she navigated on such a perilous journey. This is an opportunity for those of us who have experienced something similar, to see that we are not alone. It is also an opportunity for others who have not had this experience to gain objectivity, compassion, and understanding for those who also have taken the wrong exit on the highway of life.

Nina wants you, the reader, to know that failure is not final. She wants you to experience the same compassion from our Lord that she received during her season. As you read this memoir, read it with a desire to become mature and more understanding with those of us, who have also gotten misdirected on our life’s journey. I believe that most readers will be impacted in some way by what is shares on the pages of this book.

Remember to take moments of Selah when necessary. Let us forgive ourselves and others, as we also have been forgiven. Thank the Almighty God for creating Nina Haliburton and for using her to teach transgressors His ways. Nina’s book is a reminder that we serve a forgiving and compassionate God. May you experience the yoke destroying power of God, as you read this beautifully written memoir, by a captive who has been set free!

Selah,

Rev. Dr. Geraldine Sheets-Howard

Foreword

I have had the pleasure of speaking with Nina Haliburton on many occasions for many reasons, because she is my mother, and a wonderful friend. Through the journey of birthing this book, she has stood strong, and relied on what she knows best, her relationship with God. Through all of the highs and lows, condemnation and disbelief, I know that God has been her safe place, just like He has been for the past 30+ years of my mom being saved. Growing up I would spend time with my mom while she prayed and spent time with God. She modeled this for me and my siblings, and it’s something that she has been consistent with my whole life. Spending time with God was always important to her, and it has been a saving grace for her even now. It’s a safe place, where she can be vulnerable without judgement. She knows that God sees and hears her prayers. A place where she can be built up, renewed, and restored. A place where she can receive a prayer or a word from God. A place that has perfected her gift of prayer. It’s the best place for her, and she encourages others to tap in for their own good.

I’m excited for what these pages hold for us as readers. To understand that there is always something that the devil can use to trip us up, no matter how long we’ve been in the game. It is a reminder that God will ALWAYS get the glory and He will use our tests and trials to work in our favor. Be open to receive, without judgement, or preconceived notions. Revelations 12:11 NLT says And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb, and by their testimony. Enjoy each page, take notes, highlight, whatever you need to do, to make it stick. Change is coming, and the time is now.

I am proud of my mom, and thankful for all that she has done for me, and my siblings. Being a single mother of 4 is never easy, but she handled it like a true boss, and we are all better because of it.

With love,

Siegel Shapiro-Dozier

Author of Confessions of a Single Girl, Owner of The 8:18 Girl LLC.

Preface

A preface is written by the author and tells readers how and why the book came into being. Why write about a very personal and private part of my life? Why do I have to write this? Because it’s been a real life encounter, a real experience, and a real painful life lesson! This book is a memoir. A memoir is an account of an author’s personal experiences/memories. This is not something made up or something I read from someone else’s life experiences. It’s about Me! It’s about a time when I was shamed. Let’s look up the word shame…A painful feeling of humiliation or distress caused by the consciousness of wrong or foolish behavior. That feeling almost cut me off from everything I hold dear, my relationship with God and people. That spirit strangled, suffocated, smothered, and almost silenced me. So, after you hear of this issue, and you attempt to shame me or look down on me. Let me tell you I’ve been shamed already and God has unashamed me. Therefore, I’m free to tell it all. Like the ole folks used to say…ain’t no shame in my game, because whom the Son makes free is free indeed. INDEED, I SAY! The Game (life) doesn’t change, the players change. If you are a new player in an old game, you must learn from those of us who played the game (lived the life). We either won or lost. The game doesn’t change, the players change. Learn from someone by allowing them to show you their vulnerabilities and transparency. Allow me to show you how to avoid some pitfall, traps, schemes, plots, lies, and strategies of the enemy. Not everyone is new or young, there are some older individuals who are suffering in silence because no one told them their story, which is their story. The game doesn’t change, the enemy has nothing new, it’s just new to you. So listen to my story, it really is just a chapter but listen and learn. Occasionally, the pain and shame can be avoided. Yet, every so often we just have to experience it for ourselves. When it’s all said and done, I can tell you I gained more than I lost. It broke me but benefited me more. I learned valuable lessons about men, relationships, sex, sin, God, forgiveness, confession, repentance, pride, my soul, my spirit, shame, regret, resentment, guilt, disappointment, and the value we hold as God’s children. We do mess up, but there is a message in the mess, and your mess matters.

The first gut punch for me was shame. Ask Adam and Eve in Genesis chapter 3. The Fall Told It All.

If I had to summarize this chapter of my life, I would say: it was painful, but it was worth it. It took from me, but I gained more than I lost. It bruised me, but I survived, and now I’m thriving. Likewise, it worked for my good, even though I was all wrong.

Introduction

We all fall, but it’s the getting up that matters the most.

Proverbs 24:16 says For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief. I begin my book with this prayer because it has been life and strength to me. I pray that it will encourage you to hold on to God’s unchanging hand. God is faithful to bring you through whatever the situation you are facing or will face in the future. Faithful and absolutely trustworthy is He who is calling you [To Himself for your salvation], and He will do it [He will fulfill His call by making you holy, guarding you, watching over you, and protecting you as His own] 1 Thessalonians 5:24 AMP. God is pulling for you! This is the prayer God gave me during this season, taken from the book of Psalms and Proverbs in the TPT translation.

46400.jpg My Prayer from God to God for Me 46403.jpg

You are My Maker, My Mediator, and My Master. You alone are my inheritance. You are my prize. My pleasure, and my portion. You hold my destiny and timing in your hands. Any good thing You find in me comes from You. Depths of purpose and layers of meaning, saturate everything you do for me. Your anointing has made me strong and mighty: You’ve empowered my life to triumph by pouring fresh oil over me. In your presence, I will overflow and be anointed. Even in my old age, I will stay fresh, bearing luscious fruit and abiding faithfully. I will forever proclaim with great pleasure. You are so good. You are my beautiful strength. You never made a mistake with me. So teach me more about You, how You work and how You move so that I can walk in all of Your truth. Until everything in my life brings honor and glory to Your name. Yes, I know that You love me. You rescued me from the deepest place of darkness, and You delivered me from a certain death. You never once refused to show me Your tender love. You never fail to rescue me. I’m overwhelmed by the privileges that come from following You. There is a great reward in loving, living, trusting, and believing in You. The way You counsel and correct me makes me praise you even more. Your counsel and correction has saved my life. I thank You for this prayer, from You to You for me. It has become my life, and it’s a good life. Your faithfulness has been my bodyguard. You held me tight and true. You set me free from being captured and held captive. You are my mountain of hiding and my pathway of escape. You’ve gone into my future to prepare the way, and in kindness You’ve followed me to spare me the harm (shame, guilt, pain, hurt) of my past. Lord, there is gratitude in my heart for this prayer, it’s contents, it’s timing and meaning have caused me to fall in love with You again, some more, always and forever. Thank You for thinking about me like this. I will forever proclaim great is the Lord and greatly to be praised. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so…I say so, Amen.

Now let’s start with some examples of the people in the Bible who God used in spite of their shortcomings.

Adam fell.

Eve was out of order.

Noah was drunk.

Abraham lied.

Sarah laughed at God.

Jacob cheated.

Moses had excuses and was a murderer.

Aaron followed the wrong voices.

Rahab was a prostitute.

David committed adultery and murder.

Solomon’s heart was led astray by women.

Jonah fled.

Samson was seduced.

Thomas doubted.

Elijah was depressed and ran.

Gideon was fearful.

The