Family Ark Ministries

April 21, 2010

Young Ladies Be Vigilent

Filed under: Uncategorized — admin @ 10:19 am

This is the time of year when many young teen girls and college-age ladies have a full social calendar. There are school events such as prom, graduation parties, end of the year get-togethers etc… There are also many fun things planned for the warmer months such as trips to the lake, swimming and playing sports. While I do not want any young lady to walk through life fearful, I do exhort you to always be vigilant. Pay attention to what is going on around you. Do not put yourself in potentially dangerous positions. Sometimes, you may not even think about something as being dangerous. It probably won’t be most of the time. However, it only takes once to change your life forever. So be wise as the Bible says. I will go over some protection points at the end of this article.

I Peter 5:8 tells you, “ Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” You are the target of Satan’s hatred because you are a Christian young lady. He would love nothing more than to crush your future before it ever gets started. While the boy you are dating may not be seen by you as a devil; never underestimate the power of Satan to use someone like that in your life to cause you suffering. You are a lamb; as Christ is your Shepherd. The lion, Satan; is walking around seeking which young ladies he can devour.

I am saying all of this to warn you that as many as 66% of all young ladies will suffer from what is commonly called “Date Rape”. You have to set up boundaries of protection to see that this doesn’t happen to you. You need to always be asking yourself, “ Is this a wise thing to do?” Embrace wisdom and let the Holy Spirit guide you. Don’t just say yes, and jump into a car before asking that question. I spent several years establishing rape crisis and abuse centers for women. The problem is so widespread it boggles the mind. You may not think it is so widespread, but that is because people generally don’t admit to everyone they have been abused or misused.

You don’t have to be raped to be abused. All abuse is evil. And there are many forms of abuse. Many girls are psychologically abused by means of verbal abuse. Did you know that you were not made by God to be the recipient of abuse? You deserve better than that. If your boyfriend verbally attacks you, set boundaries with him. Say something along the line of: “ I don’t know who has made you so angry today. I will be happy to calmly discuss it with you and listen to you. However, I am not the target of your anger, and I will not allow you to speak to me that way.” If he doesn’t take heed, end the date.

If you tend to attract boys who are mean to you, take advantage of you or who are jerks; then I need to lovingly suggest you stop all relationships at this time. You need to work on getting yourself healthy and holy first. Then, you will attract guys who are healthy and holy. A lot of who you attract depends upon how you view yourself inside. Work on your self-esteem in Christ so that you operate from a position of being loved, accepted, forgiven and pleasing to God. Because of Christ, you are a daughter of the Most High God Almighty. II Corinthians 6:18. Live out the reality of who you are in Christ.

Potentially Dangerous Things:

1. Hold on to your drink. Rohypnol,(roofies) ketamine, or GHB are known as date rape drugs. For common slang names see the internet on date rape drugs. It is very common today. You can’t see, taste or smell it. A guy can drop it into your drink and it will temporarily paralyze you and then you are at his mercy. Thousands of girls in high school and college are raped every year this way. Don’t take your eyes off your drink. Don’t ask a friend to watch it for you while you go to the bathroom. If you set your drink down, dump it when you come back.

2. Fight to your death at the first sign of trouble. If you are in a parking lot of a mall or store and someone points a gun at you, or tells you to get into a car -don’t. Take your fight right there in the parking lot. Crime scene number two out in the country is always worse than crime scene number one in the parking lot. You have a chance to escape and be seen by others in the parking lot. There will be no escape if you get into the car with them.

3. Don’t be alone with a boy until you have dated him for months. Practice courtship. Do things in groups out in public. You may think you know him, but you really don’t. He can go to church with you, be nice and cute and hurt you so bad. Abusers usually do come across as smooth operators.

4. Don’t go out in the country unless he is taking you to your home. Being with a boy at a lake, or parking on a road is asking for trouble.

5. Don’t go to his home with no one there, nor allow him in yours alone.

6. Don’t get in a position that leaves you vulnerable. Don’t allow the boy to lay on top of you. If you do, you have lost your ability to control the situation. He now can dominate you.

7. Use your phone and call for help. I don’t care what others may think, better safe than sorry. Allow the Holy Spirit to prompt you. If it feels wrong, it may be wrong. Don’t go. Suggest an alternative.

Take care of yourself. You deserve respect.

The Dangers of Whipped Cream

Filed under: Children, Family — admin @ 9:24 am

If it surprises you that whipped cream can be dangerous; you may also be surprised to learn that there are many other common products that are potentially deadly to your family. Such things as PAM cooking spray, nail polish remover, hair spray, deodorant, some candy and Advil are just a few. These are common household products that our young children and young teenagers are abusing. These products are used by Inhalant Abusers. The process is commonly referred to as Huffing.

Just so you will know, it is not whipped cream in a tub in your freezer. The whipped cream high is the type of whipped cream in an aerosol can. The kids spray it out and breathe in the nitrous oxide which is the gas used to push the whip cream out of the can. Kids have died from it. It is commonly referred to as a “whippit”. They love to breath the fumes of felt pins, air duster cleaners for computer key boards, and anything in the bathroom or kitchen that is in an aerosol can. They also continue to use the old standbys of gasoline, glue, cement, Freon etc… They use household cleaning products like Pine-Sol and Febreeze. They also crush up Advil and Smarties (candy) and snort those.

Why do children and very young teenagers abuse these products? Because they are in the home. An 11-year-old does not readily have the means to drive somewhere and buy some pot . So, when they look to get a high, they just have to look around the house. While you may think this is a small minority of young people, it is sadly not. According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse, 66% of 8th graders do not think it is harmful to occasionally huff. While kids are fearful to report such things, most professionals think that the majority of middle school kids have used inhalants at some point. Many have gone on to become addicted. Many of these have gone on to the cemetery.

It is truly a sad state that our nation finds itself in. In years past, the leading causes of death in children were diseases like scarlet fever, malaria and simple infections. Now, our children are dying from alcohol/drugs, homicide and suicide. We are a nation in desperate need of a healing from Jesus Christ. It is incumbent upon all parents to be aware of this problem. It may affect your children. And even if it doesn’t, it effects someone’s kids you know. It is that widespread. The highest percentage of inhalant abusers in America are in the 8th grade. Inhalants however, are widely used in the 5th,6th and 7th grades as well. It is not uncommon to have children in elementary already inhaling. You must educate your children that this is a dangerous and potentially deadly thing to do. There are many drugs that most likely would not kill you the first time. Inhalants can. Inhalants are carried in the blood stream to the brain. It cuts off oxygen to the brain. This is called brain hypoxia. How much, and how long can you breathe in some fumes before you shut off too much oxygen to the brain and die or receive brain damage? It varies, but how does a 12 year old know? They don’t, and the consequences are severe. Major problems can also occur when the chemicals are stored and not disposed of by the body. They can store themselves in fatty tissues in the brain. The chief one of theses is the myelin. It stops nerve messages from the body to the brain. It is the same thing that occurs with multiple sclerosis patients. So, you can slowly hurt yourself, or you can die the first time you use. Inhalants don’t just effect the brain, but can cause profound damage to the liver, kidneys and even bone marrow. Inhalants are 3 times more addictive than other drugs, and 3 times more deadly. Because the high doesn’t last long, they have to use it over and over to get high. Kids don’t realize how easy it is to become addicted.

Parents must educate their children of this growing national problem. You must also help your kids learn to minister to other kids they know who are trying this. They must tell an authority figure because they may be saving this kid’s life. You can find out a great deal of information by visiting the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) section on Inhalants on the web.

I had a 12 year old in public school tell me after one of my drug talks: “ Please keep warning us about inhalants. He said my friend and I used to do it. We found some “fix a flat” in my dad’s car. We inhaled it and it sealed our lungs shut. My friend died and I have irreversible brain damage.” This young man was only 12. How sad. I don’t think that the terrorist will probably be the ones to destroy America. I think the enemy is already here and it is drugs and alcohol. There are so many hurting kids, and they are using a very destructive means to deal with their problems. Please don’t act like it isn’t in “my house”, “our schools” or “our churches”. It is tragically all around you. Pray!

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