Hi All,
Just a little history before I give the praise report. My mom raised my sister Anika, my brother Greg and myself as a single parent. As we were growing up I would say or I thought my sister and I were fairly close. I as we became older I find out that it really was not like that. Well let's flip to the present.

For the past several years I have had a desire to be closer to my sister, but for some reason I never really reached out to her. Several weeks ago I was talking to one of my aunts and she made a statement, that my mom played favoritism toward me. I was somewhat shocked, because I did not notice that. However, as I spend quite time with the Lord, I ask him was this the reason Nika and I were not close. After that I was casually talking to a friend and he suggested I start calling my sister more.

Since that day I have started calling her almost everyday or every other day, and man life has never been the same. I have been sharing God's word with her and emailing scriptures and giving Godly advise to my baby sister. I never thought this day would come. I love my sister and want to continue on this path.

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

~Amazed By His Grace~
~Tanya~

Tanya,

God bless you for the effort you are making to show your sister love. If she has been wounded by favoritism, you can show her that you had no part in it yourself and help bring healing to her heart. I pray your attention will cause a bonding that has not been there before.

Bless you,
Chelki

Exodus 34:6

Then the Lord passed by in front of him and proclaimed, "The Lord, the Lord God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth;"

"Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!" -- Jesus, the Messiah!, our salvation.

Tanya,

There is times in our Lives were we minister to many when God is leading. Lately, I haved prayed about turning the Spirit of God on to all my Family members that don't know Him. It has been a struggle but God's Timing is what of was waiting for.

This message you left about your sister, help me understand How the Holy Spirit is working in different parts of our lives that are very similar.

May Our Lord continue to minister to your heart giving you wisdom, courage and guidance while you seek Him more.

May God's Spirit continue to shine through you!!!

The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, My strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. Psalm 18:2

John Trevino

john
Praise God for your willingness to get close to your sister and share Christ with her. I pray for God's annointing on you and inspiration of what to say to her. I suggest that you buy her a nice study bible and invite her to church if you live close.

Hi Tanya, John and All,

It is amazing the sister and family thing at present. I haven never been close to my family either etc...not that I didn't want to, it is because there has been jealousies, circumstances that kept us apart. Actually I felt so wounded and abandoned by them. When my mother died the whole family did their own thing, Dylan thought we didn't have a family, only us. I was so angry with them that they were so uninvolved in our lives, they didn't want to share their lives with us, we were the ones continually trying to have some sort of relationship with them, it was the last straw when some of the members don't even know my sons name. Anyway I have been praying for them for years. I hid being a Christian from them for so long, they are athiests. Now I am noticing they are starting to see the importance of family. Things are shifting....My brother visited me after not seeing me for 7 years.

Recently my sister persecuted me and sent me this disgusting email, because I told her Dylan and I felt unwelcome in her home. Not only did she attack me, she attacked my son. I spoke to my elder brother about it and he was wonderful. I have been praying for my sister to have a new heart and spirit towards me. I also wrote back to my sister and told her that her Passive agression towards me stops right now, in Christ Jesus name, when she says anything that hurts me or offends me I will speak out in love to her. Now she is being helpful, respectful and whenever I write to her I send scripture verses. It is wonderful to have the courage and share Christianity with my family and not worry what they think or will say. I am starting to put scripture verses on a lot of my emails.

Also I have been avoiding my brother he is an alchoholic and he is an EGR (extra grace required)person. He has insulted me, taunted me when I was growing up etc.. He rung me and I couldn't speak to him weeks ago. Anyway I rang him the other day and told him, I love him, care about him and I don't want him to drink anymore. He is hurting and harming himself. He said "It's my life" and I said yes and you are hurting yourself and it needs to stop. We talked about my being a Christian and I was able to listen to him. Anyway I told him God loves him, he tried to do the your my little sister and I am your big brother thing and I said firmly, No we are brother and sister and there is no more of this big and little thing. We are both adults. I was so happy that I didn't yell or get angry at him and we could have a conversation even though it was 9.30am and he was drunk.

John it is a good thing to turn our prayers onto our immediate family and to share with them our faith. May your family be turned around. Tanya I pray that you keep being there for your sister and that you have a beautiful loving relationship as a result. I also pray that my sister's heart softens as the walls break down. I have told her Dylan and I will not see her until her attitude changes. She has started to write more, however I still need to see and will know within when this can happen. The wonderful thing is forgiveness is happening and I have been released from childhood hurts and the past....however I know until there is a loving attitude, God will continue to keep Dylan and I hidden in Christ.

Love and blessings in the Lord,

Serenity

Amazing Amazing Amazing!!!

My sister and I have talked everyday two and three times a day. My life is changing in so many ways and i thank each and every single one of you all on this message board.

Steve,
Thank you and your family for opening my eyes to reach out to my sister.

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

~Amazed By His Grace~
~Tanya~

Hi Tanya,

What great News Tanya, Thankyou God for doing that. Thankyou Tanya for showing me that the sister relationship can improve and be awesome when attitudes are changed and hearts are right.

love and blessings in the Lord,

Serenity

Tanya,

ALL I CAN SAY IS THE POWER OF GOD IS WORKING!

REJOICE, REJOICE AND REJOICE!

The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, My strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. Psalm 18:2

John Trevino