tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5252039483571282772024-02-19T09:16:30.949-08:00Written in RedAllie Liconahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11240445922023682156noreply@blogger.comBlogger239125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-525203948357128277.post-23293780253692361352021-08-01T20:40:00.001-07:002021-08-01T20:40:10.928-07:00What You Meant for Evil God Meant for Good <p> Genesis 50:20 “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.” (ESV)</p><p><br /></p><p>Story time! If you don’t know the story here, Joseph when he was a teenager was one of twelve sons of Jacob, and one of two from his favorite wife (he had two and some concubines) Rachel. With this being said, he was his father’s favorite son, which means while his other brothers were out working hard in blood, sweat, and tears, Joseph was being educated and spoiled. His mother even made him his famous beautiful coat of many colors. The more favored he became by his father, the more arrogant he became, and the more his other brothers hated him. Joseph also started having strange, prophetic dreams, and he would tell his family these dreams. His brothers would hate him more as some of these dreams foretold of his leadership. One day he went to go check on his brothers; when they saw him from a distance, they plotted to kill him. His oldest brother Reuben refused to do such, so they decided they would sell him into slavery instead. So they mocked him and pushed him around, took his coat, tore it, and threw him in a pit and left him there. They sold him to some slave traders, where he was taken to Egypt. They took his coat, killed an animal and dipped his coat in its blood and gave it to their father saying his son was killed by an animal. Jacob was beyond devastated as his favorite wife was already dead as well. Joseph got to Egypt and one of the Pharaoh’s officials, Potiphar, took Joseph as his slave. He took quite a liking to Joseph and really admired and respected his hard working attitude and wanting to please his God. However, Potiphar’s wife took a liking to him for other reasons as well. Joseph was very handsome. One day while Joseph was working, Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce him. “Come sleep with me!” Joseph refused, “you are my master’s wife, I cannot do such!” She persisted and then grabbed his clothes, in which he fled - literally fled. She knew this did not look good for her, so she framed him. She screamed and cried crocodile tears and accused him of trying to rape her. Potiphar was furious and believed her instantly and threw Joseph in prison unjustly. Joseph was stuck in prison for a long time. Then he met two other prisoner, the pharaoh’s cup holder and his baker. He overheard them talking about their dreams and he mentioned God could help him interpret their dreams. So first the cup holder tells of his dream, and Joseph reveals the pharaoh will pardon him and put him back in his position and favor in three days. The baker excitedly from hearing his positive interpretation asks for his, and Joseph sadly gives him his; in three days the pharaoh will have him executed. Just as Joseph interpreted the dreams correctly, they happened exactly. When the cup holder was leaving, Joseph told him to tell the pharaoh his gift and his story how he’s innocent. However, the cup holder forgot, and Joseph was left behind again for more years. Things seemed hopeless, like he would rot in prison unjustly. Then the pharaoh was plagued with dreams, and the cup holder remembered Joseph. The pharaoh called for Joseph to interpret his dreams, and with humility, Joseph gave God the credit and interpreted them. There would be several good years of harvest, then several years of terrible famine. Then he advised pharaoh how to handle this. The pharaoh was so impressed, he released Joseph from prison and put him not just in any leadership position, but second only to him. He was in charge of taking care of things so Egypt would survive the several years of famine. In that time Joseph got married and had a couple sons. When the famines came, it not only affected Egypt, it affected Canaan as well, Joseph’s home country. His brothers went to Egypt to get food. When he saw his brothers, he was overcome with emotions, how could he not be? All of the trauma this poor man experienced, all started because of their jealousy of him. They did not recognize him, and he did some tests with them, and then framed his younger brother Benjamin by sneaking one of his cups in the bag with food. Benjamin was caught and accused of stealing. Joseph said as punishment he would keep him and make him a slave. The brothers begged him to let Benjamin go and make them his slaves because if their father lost the last son of his favorite wife, it would kill him. They also said they felt remorse for what they did to their brother Joseph. Joseph once again was overcome with emotions and eventually revealed he was their brother whom they had sold into slavery. He told them what they had meant for evil towards him, God meant for good, and was going to use that to save many people - including them and their families, which he did! </p><p>This is truly a beautiful picture of how God uses even our worst circumstances in our lives, where odds are stacked against us and people turn their backs on us and betray us. They may even try to kill us. God uses all of those circumstances. Those circumstances not only will help build us in character and holiness, but also help others who are watching. You have an important story to tell, and people need to hear it, no matter how difficult out it may be. Even if people attack you for your story, the Lord will use it all for His glory, for your good, and for the good of others. Do not lose heart in how dark your circumstances appear in the current moment, or how dim the future seems or how grim the past was. As Jesus also said “take heart for I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) in the midst of the darkness in the shadows, trust the Lord and allow Him to give you strength. Keep fighting the good fight! Your story is worth listening to! Allow God the grace to use it for good!</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8cZ1bHhOy8F3svS9Z6Os664q8FeGu5MySb9aimsEdrr-25gV_DCrSohxLYkPCLwwCt-I3e1lpPM09QBtRUVCeE3tGw2v-SHvSc6_IvsS_x0eOn-P5eL1in-oAIvuBT8kOgYpk54phcN61/s1024/B34888E5-61DE-463D-A867-A2476B1BA37A.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8cZ1bHhOy8F3svS9Z6Os664q8FeGu5MySb9aimsEdrr-25gV_DCrSohxLYkPCLwwCt-I3e1lpPM09QBtRUVCeE3tGw2v-SHvSc6_IvsS_x0eOn-P5eL1in-oAIvuBT8kOgYpk54phcN61/s320/B34888E5-61DE-463D-A867-A2476B1BA37A.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Allie Liconahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11240445922023682156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-525203948357128277.post-58492678496929531542021-04-23T09:15:00.000-07:002021-04-23T09:15:46.139-07:00A Letter To My Future Husband<p> To my future husband,</p><p><br /></p><p>Life is not always easy, as I have learned many times the hard way. I have had to learn many difficult lessons in life, and though they were painful to go through, I don’t regret them because they gave me the gift of wisdom. Right now I am going through a period of a lot of growth in my life. For the first time, I am on my own. I have been enjoying my alone time, though, it does get lonely at times. There are times it would be nice to have a companion with me. I know right now, I am not ready for any intimate relationships. I still have more growth needed done, as well as healing. I want to make sure that whenever you and I are together, I am my best self - for you and me. I don’t know if we know each other yet or not, but I do know you’re out there. I don’t even know if you’re reading this. I have come a long ways, but I still have a ways to go before I’m ready. I know when the time comes though, we both will be ready. It won’t be rushed, it won’t be forced, and it will definitely be something that God has guided us in. I know He is preparing both of us. So many guys see me as just as a body - either just to get off on or they’re repulsed by me. I know you will be different though. I mean, it’s not like you’re not going to notice my body at all, you are human after all (and a guy for that matter). However, the thing you’ll be attracted to the most with me, is my heart. You’ll see my heart for God first. You’ll see that Jesus is my first love, and He is who I serve, who I obey, who I love above anyone and anything else. Next, you’ll see my love for others, my love to help and serve people. My heart especially for those who are broken and hurting. I know looking at me, I’m not the “prettiest” girl out there. I don’t look like these fake models out there. I have scars and stretch marks and other imperfections. However, I know when you look at me, you will see me through God’s eyes. You’ll see my heart, and my inner beauty will make the rest of me radiate in your eyes. What was other men’s trash will be your treasure. What other men rejected, you’ll practically crave. Things won’t be picture perfect though with us, because no relationship is. Every relationship takes work, especially the ones that are worth it. Yes, we will have great times together. We’ll pull pranks on each other, go to the gym together, travel together, go to the park together, go to concerts together, watch movies together, go to the beach or the lake together, read together, go for walks together, maybe other things like write music together, or maybe do martial arts together, maybe you’re a total nerd like me and we’ll go to anime conventions and cosplay together! We’ll do Bible studies together, maybe we’ll even cook together. I’d like to one day conquer my fear of cage diving with great white sharks and we could do that together! There are many great things we’ll do together, and we’ll have a lifetime to do them together. I’ll cook your favorite meals for you every day, keep our home clean, make you lunch for work, I’ll be your biggest ally and support. I’ll take care of you when you don’t feel well. We’ll have lots of cuddle time, hehe. I’ll be there to comfort you when you’re down, and to celebrate with you in your accomplishments. We’ll go to church together, go shopping together, play games together (if you’re into that). It’ll be nice to go to bed with you next to me every night. You’ll be the last thing I see every night, and maybe I’ll hear your cute little snores at night, lol. Then in the morning you’ll be the first thing I see, messy bed head and morning breath and everything lol. I’ll try to get up before you though, so I can make sure your coffee and breakfast is ready when you’re up, because I get feeling like the dead first thing lol! We’ll have kids, and we’ll raise our kids to love the Lord and want to serve Him too. This world is a scary place to live in right now, but we’ll raise our children in truth, reading the Bible to them and praying with them every night before they go to bed and every morning before school, so they will start their day and end their day hearing God’s truth. If you’re a nerd like me, we’ll probably raise our kids like nerds too, like into anime and Lord of the Rings and stuff. Maybe we’ll teach them martial arts too, that way if they get bullied they can defend themselves or any other kids being bullied. Maybe you and I will even do ministry together, that would be awesome! However, we’ll go through difficulties too. We’ll go through times where we argue over stuff, some small, stupid things we’ll easily makeup over later, other things that are bigger and will take time to recover. Sometimes we’ll need to give each other space, though I hope never the silent treatment. Sometimes, no matter how much we may love each other, sparks will fly and our tempers will be let loose, and we’ll feel bad afterwards. As long as we come to each other though and ask for forgiveness and forgive though, then I know we’ll be okay. No matter what, we must ALWAYS put Christ first. It’s that cheesy triangle example. If Christ is the top corner, as long as we keep moving towards Him, we’ll move towards each other. One of the lessons I had to learn from my previous marriage is that when you and I are married, for me to remain holy and to honor you and most of all God, I will have to be more careful with who I’m friends with. I can’t leave room for anyone who could compete with you for my affection or my attention. Only two people can have my heart, you and Jesus. If anyone else has my heart, I will have to remove them from my life. Even if it hurts for a time, I know in the end it’s best, because I want to honor you and God, and my love for you and the Lord triumphs over any joy I may get from other relationships. I’ve learned many lessons and am learning still. I look forward to the day when I will be ready for you, and you will be ready for me. We will share our goals and dreams together, and as scary as it is, we’ll be completely vulnerable with each other. I look forward to sharing our lives together one day and growing together. Know that I am waiting for you and preparing myself for you. I love you, forever and ever!</p><p><br /></p><p>Love always,</p><p>Your future bride</p>Allie Liconahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11240445922023682156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-525203948357128277.post-18008639734533340182021-04-21T14:56:00.003-07:002021-04-21T14:58:44.009-07:00Unrealistic Standards of Beauty<p> I’m gonna go on a bit of a tangent. I’m so tired of society’s unrealistic standards of beauty - and EVERYONE in some way has been effected by it. I’ve seen how guys ogle at girls who are teeny tiny (like the model in the second pic) and say “that’s the ideal woman!” But most women don’t look like that - nor CAN they even look like that! We are all built differently. Some girls are curvier than others. There is no “ideal” body. We were all created exactly as we were supposed to be. It is a flaw in OUR character and to think otherwise. A curvy girl is just as beautiful as a thin girl. It’s the same with men though. Women will look at men with abs and think “I’ve gotta have that!” If the guy is super thin though, she won’t even look at him. Although, it seems “dad bod” is in for a lot of women these days. Anyway, my point is, the standard of beauty all around has become ridiculously unrealistic. We judge everyone based on whether they LOOK a certain way. Whether she’s got a tiny waist or he’s got a six pack. She’s got at least a D-Cup size bra or he’s got nice pecs. Whether they’ve got a nice trunk in the back or whatever. Some even go as far to say “no one above this weight/height!” People don’t take in consideration of health. For an example, I’m 5’6”. A healthy weight for my height is around 150. At one point, I was considered underweight, I was 139 lbs, yet I was still called by other kids around me fat because I didn’t have this tiny waist or flat stomach like other girls. What’s worse I have body dysmorphic disorder so already every time I looked in the mirror I felt like I was looking at a monster. Even when you take my views of myself out though, kids thought I was fat, even though I was underweight because from an early age we are brought up to think of what the “ideal” person looks like. We are trained to think this way. Instead of considering every individual is created differently, just as every person’s fingerprint is different, no person’s body is built the same. We are not like animals where you take a dog to a dog show and they say “the perfect height, weight, fur length, fur texture, fur color, eye color, eye shape, body shape, tail shape, tail length, ear shape, ear length will make the perfect dog for this breed!” We are human beings! We are ALL created in the very image of God! We should treat each other as such. What arrogance do we have to say “this image-bearer of God is not the ideal image of beauty to me!” Shame on all of us who have done that, because we have all done it at some point. True beauty comes from within, and then it radiates like the sun! We should promote health for all bodies. That doesn’t mean if you personally want to work for that six pack you shouldn’t, or any other kind of fitness. Make sure however to set REALISTIC goals for yourself though. As for others, look at their hearts, that’s where their true beauty lies.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjyIP71tAzvMvrXzwqECJ6PXyDN4LTppY-w5dIlmr_373ZQ9Y2ZfcfPOBvL-K9E4I2kUXxxkrmheXhimgyXnaRAx4L-_r0c9mr1EauuU5vvhSnzplTml4hu1w0su6h_QfkcDGWCGPu2N3Z/s618/504617F4-9817-4717-A049-92E5536C247E.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="463" data-original-width="618" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjyIP71tAzvMvrXzwqECJ6PXyDN4LTppY-w5dIlmr_373ZQ9Y2ZfcfPOBvL-K9E4I2kUXxxkrmheXhimgyXnaRAx4L-_r0c9mr1EauuU5vvhSnzplTml4hu1w0su6h_QfkcDGWCGPu2N3Z/s320/504617F4-9817-4717-A049-92E5536C247E.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg3MOl672Up71ZvXTCjODOwTrbugAuTgae9zGvZ1hi06kEGoeIXgjBpTfLhDsZdzWLLepmgBvqjudOjMXht-XyGtTJQOmG0c3Lqo5YV_aXyCx5m_ZNpbLISBABh6VvehDhODQt18aJwrg5/s799/BC767637-A843-49DB-9C2A-2AF93EF5F92C.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="599" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg3MOl672Up71ZvXTCjODOwTrbugAuTgae9zGvZ1hi06kEGoeIXgjBpTfLhDsZdzWLLepmgBvqjudOjMXht-XyGtTJQOmG0c3Lqo5YV_aXyCx5m_ZNpbLISBABh6VvehDhODQt18aJwrg5/s320/BC767637-A843-49DB-9C2A-2AF93EF5F92C.webp" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6x4qp9EdVIncrbtaabLBc0dWB8XXsjLPKH8adkpYDsfJA62KteZa4o79u037kfoWR_CmsbDC8HLYRj7Nq7GvmDjME3RO1QXtUSWTZsSJeTfE0K4gJBfklJ8dyWIxoZAZcAjryofALaMlM/s348/4C7B9CE2-2E5B-4320-A5EA-85779E266405.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="348" data-original-width="236" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6x4qp9EdVIncrbtaabLBc0dWB8XXsjLPKH8adkpYDsfJA62KteZa4o79u037kfoWR_CmsbDC8HLYRj7Nq7GvmDjME3RO1QXtUSWTZsSJeTfE0K4gJBfklJ8dyWIxoZAZcAjryofALaMlM/s320/4C7B9CE2-2E5B-4320-A5EA-85779E266405.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGJwQ1LE2Xmfi2_oYGVDd9ao07nRjoG8Dk_5GulfAD89r0a38UQwbp6pn8wRAKfcILRyEesTimVpQzlpYOnAhZd-0Zw7PIRw-3XyTBq7zOiJrD5C0WDMl8ns77BpUPOkGTEKodyubtUSUR/s360/5A306B6A-4232-4EEB-BD1D-AF38E3EB625B.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="227" data-original-width="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGJwQ1LE2Xmfi2_oYGVDd9ao07nRjoG8Dk_5GulfAD89r0a38UQwbp6pn8wRAKfcILRyEesTimVpQzlpYOnAhZd-0Zw7PIRw-3XyTBq7zOiJrD5C0WDMl8ns77BpUPOkGTEKodyubtUSUR/s320/5A306B6A-4232-4EEB-BD1D-AF38E3EB625B.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Allie Liconahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11240445922023682156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-525203948357128277.post-16900810094375937472021-03-16T11:26:00.003-07:002021-03-16T11:26:48.776-07:00The Day I Died<p> The day I died</p><p><br /></p><p>The day I died my heart bled oceans.</p><p>I took a bottle of pills and thought “never again will I feel this pain again!”</p><p>Feeling alone and forgotten by everyone I held dear to me, feeling as if God Himself forgot me too.</p><p>The day I died I laid in bed with my pillow drenched in my tears.</p><p>All I had consumed that day were white, chalky pills, which I had vomited some on the floor next to my bed.</p><p>I just wanted the pain to end....I just wanted to go home to where I really belonged...</p><p>The day I died I said goodbye and decided enough was enough.</p><p>Before I could have the chance to fall asleep, I was taken to the hospital.</p><p>I started choking on my vomit, so I was intubated.</p><p>The day I died, there was no one there to comfort me, no one there to hold my hand and tell me everything was going to be okay or that I was even loved.</p><p>I had no one but the doctor, nurses, and sitters to keep me company. All had abandoned me.</p><p>Hooked up to tubes and wires, no way a person is supposed to live like that....</p><p>The day I died I started wishing I had never said goodbye to anyone.</p><p>If I hadn’t said goodbye to anyone, I would’ve fallen into eternal sleep, never to feel that deep pain ever again.</p><p>How I hated once again I could not go into that eternal sleep!</p><p>I left the hospital, but my mind was gone and my heart was cold like ice.</p><p>Life was meaningless, life was worthless, and there is no more good or light in this world.</p><p>God was dead, and so was I.</p><p>The light in my eyes was gone, nothing but an empty shell of a person was left.</p><p>“Where are you God? If you’re there where the hell are you? You promised to always be there! You promised to never crush a bruised reed! You promised to defend the innocent! Where the hell are you?! Do you even hear my cries?! Do you even see my tears?! Where are you when the shadows of the night torment me?! Where are you when I fall out of bed at night from the terrors of night?! Where are you when flashes of my traumatic life come back in my wake and sleep?! Where are you when people falsely accuse me of wicked things?! Where the hell are you?! Because damn it if you’re there it feels like I’m all alone!”</p><p>The next morning someone sends me a long list of verses to read.</p><p>I’m hesitant, but I proceed.</p><p>I drop my phone.</p><p>Every verse is how God comes to our rescue.</p><p>God heard me. He heard my cries. He saw my tears. He saw my deep anguish and suffering. I knew then I was not alone, and never will be.</p><p>Little by little, life started returning to my dead bones, my rotting carcass.</p><p>Light began returning to my eyes.</p><p>My icy heart melted, with one made of soft flesh and warmth underneath. Though this heart is scarred, it still keeps beating a song for Christ.</p><p>God was not dead after all, and neither was I.</p><p>The day I came back to life, I was a new person.</p><p>Filled with love for God, determined to serve Him until everything in me was spent.</p><p>Determined to help others confused and suffering to find His light.</p><p>The day I came back to life, I realized He is the sun, and I am but a small moon that reflects his light in a dark world.</p><p>Life has meaning, life has purpose, and that is to bring glory to Him!</p><p>My life, which was filled with so much darkness, is filled with His light to share with the world!</p><p>The day I came back to life, joy returned to me.</p><p>A fire was lit inside me like never before.</p><p>Never again will I turn to the darkness again, I will be consumed by His light!</p><p>The day I died, I drowned in the ocean of my bleeding heart.</p><p>The day I lived, I drowned in the ocean of His blood and great mercy.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_U46OYxAdzEs5j7C36I_64gt_0qCXSL4x3S0eWx6OEvvpe9OEjdSVdRne6Mx0i-kc95kAV1ryYS4ryWJ8RwUObd2bTRZzW1VpM0mXaKIpp3tFoYnJmOL0TA-0ukPoz-NwkoAq8rHdN0Dz/s225/B9D76857-A10A-45BE-B58D-696F65F154EF.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_U46OYxAdzEs5j7C36I_64gt_0qCXSL4x3S0eWx6OEvvpe9OEjdSVdRne6Mx0i-kc95kAV1ryYS4ryWJ8RwUObd2bTRZzW1VpM0mXaKIpp3tFoYnJmOL0TA-0ukPoz-NwkoAq8rHdN0Dz/s0/B9D76857-A10A-45BE-B58D-696F65F154EF.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Allie Liconahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11240445922023682156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-525203948357128277.post-61441211287244706922021-03-03T06:44:00.001-08:002021-03-03T06:44:23.842-08:00Codependency <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilMG7b2vRNkll6P8LgoI8GB0Mu2rrDr09IS7l9VBqR01zwN7Sk1bPilDoQwebSwJijqriwd68q-q5bMhlClFH-gwlV8ey_EQ449xTgT0Pym5ojcYzwnxzhJux0EarekbdimeNtDFME2GOs/s640/90DAEE99-30A1-4586-95CE-52F26DA35A57.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilMG7b2vRNkll6P8LgoI8GB0Mu2rrDr09IS7l9VBqR01zwN7Sk1bPilDoQwebSwJijqriwd68q-q5bMhlClFH-gwlV8ey_EQ449xTgT0Pym5ojcYzwnxzhJux0EarekbdimeNtDFME2GOs/s320/90DAEE99-30A1-4586-95CE-52F26DA35A57.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> What is codependency? Well, if you’re an addict, you most likely struggle with some form of codependency. If you grew up in a home where a parent was an addict or neglectful, you probably struggle with some codependency. If you’ve had to be a caretaker to a spouse, you’re probably codependent (notice I said caretaker and not caregiver). When the term originally came out in the 80s, it was attached to those who care for addicts. Now it is attached to a number of people. It is a very common, but deadly disease. That’s right, I called it deadly and a disease. Why? It destroys.<p></p><p><br /></p><p>I struggle with codependency for a number of reasons. Codependency usually is something females struggle with because males usually learn independence from an earlier age. It often arises in children who depend on their parents, but for whatever reason, their parents were not their to provide the need. In some way that child was neglected. With that being said, the child learns to depend more on others for validation and becomes a people pleaser. The child was invalidated growing up by those they should’ve been validated by the most, so the child looks elsewhere. Codependent behavior is a learned behavior to help cope. Since it is learned, it can also be unlearned. It doesn’t become unlearned overnight though (wouldn’t that be nice if it were?). I’m going through a book on Audible right now called “Codependency No More.” It’s really good so far. I have struggled with codependency most of my life, only to worsen as I get older; with self fulfilling prophecies. “This person is going to leave me!” So I cling to them tighter until they suffocate and leave. “See? I knew they’d leave!” Codependency kills all types of relationships, as well as the self identity. You lose sight of your identity, what makes you, YOU; only to become who you perceive is what the other person wants you to be.</p><p>How do we beat codependency? I’m not sure it ever fully goes away, but like physical diseases, I believe it can be managed. I’m still learning, it’s still a struggle, however I think I’m getting better. For an example, I got married at 19 based on codependency. Now that I’m in the process of getting divorced, I’m enjoying single life for now. Sure it gets lonely, and sometimes that codependency creeps back in. I miss companionship, especially when I’m struggling with ptsd episodes alone. I hate I have to use my vape to cope, but it’s temporary until I can get some kind of animal to help me or go through trauma therapy (which I found out my current therapist possibly does so I will ask her about that this week). I figure I can’t be happy with another person if I’m not happy with myself first. I want to be my best self before I’m with someone else. So before I even think about getting in a relationship, I want to get better control of this codependency first. When I can be my true self around people, and accept myself for who I am - flaws and everything, I’ll be ready!</p><p>I’ve met people who are more codependent than I am, which to be honest I didn’t know was possible. Some people with codependency will physically get sick if particular people don’t talk to them for even one day! Luckily I haven’t gotten that bad yet. I may feel a bit sad, but I don’t physically get sick at least!</p><p>I think to get better control of codependency one of the key things is to see your value in Christ. You have to realize your identity and value doesn’t come from other people, it comes from Christ! Who He sees you as, who He made you to be, that is who you are! Not what man thinks of you! Jesus values you so much that He died the most painful death for you. When people jeered and mocked Him, saying “if you’re the Son of God, come down from the cross!” You know why He didn’t get down from the cross? You were on His mind. “I’m doing this for (insert name).” He could have gotten down, but He chose not to for you. Do you realize how powerful that is? You are so precious to Him that he was tortured and died for you! When I think about that, I think “who cares what people think of me! The God of the universe sees me as something so valuable and precious that He’d do that for me? Forget man!” That’s why even though I’d like to be with someone one day, I’m okay if I’m single. My value doesn’t come from being with someone, it comes from God! If God can see me as so valuable (more valuable than rubies), I must be something precious!</p><p>I notice the more I start to become comfortable with myself, the more confident (healthy confidence not arrogance) I become and I even want to take better care of myself for the right reasons. I don’t want to lose weight so a guy will like me, I want to lose weight so my body will be healthy and I live a longer life! Your value is in Christ and luckily, He sees you as very valuable. He doesn’t care how expensive the clothes you wear are, what your body looks like, what your hair looks like, if you talk more mature or how smart you are or how much money you make. None of that matters to Him. The heart is what matters to Him. Remember, despite how anyone else sees you, the King of Kings sees you as precious in His eyes! So who cares what man thinks of you? God bless!</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Allie Liconahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11240445922023682156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-525203948357128277.post-79462688408477478062021-03-01T06:57:00.003-08:002021-03-01T07:01:25.312-08:00Goals for 2021<p>Here’s a goal I have: after I’ve been a pretty good driver for a few years (and have a decent job), I’m thinking about getting a motorcycle 🏍 I’ve always really liked them so while I’m still somewhat young, why the heck not 😛 besides, I’m a leather jacket, leather pants type of girl anyway, so it’ll just give me an excuse to wear that stuff lol 😂 I’m not sure what kind of car I’ll drive, I guess whatever is affordable. I do like trucks though so maybe a pickup truck 🛻 or maybe a jeep eventually, I’ve always really liked Jeep Wranglers since I was a kid! It’s gonna be difficult to find a truck that’s got decent gas mileage on it though I think because I think often times they’re gas guzzlers (Hummers anyone?). I do like Hummers, but maybe if I were living on a ranch (which is a dream of mine, I want to rescue farm animals :) ) or something. I’ve got so many dreams I want to accomplish. Like I want to conquer some of my fears (cage diving with great white sharks, mountain climbing, etc - no skydiving for me though lol). I’m trying to train for running but it’s taking a toll on my body already. My arthritis and fasciitis has been really painful lately which has limited my working out. I’ve been walking about 18,000-21,000 steps a day so that’s good. I’m still working on coping with ptsd, I honestly probably need some trauma-based therapy which scares the hell outa me. My insurance doesn’t usually cover that though so until I’ve got a decent paying job I’m kinda stuck :/ for now I cope with a CBD vape (I use strawberry watermelon flavor which tastes like candy lol, next I’m gonna try mint mango). I find when I use it early enough during a ptsd episode, it helps a lot. So here’s my plan so far:</p><p><br /></p><p>1) get a job</p><p>2) start drivers ed online (I’m signed up for this)</p><p>3) get two Guinea Pigs for emotional support animals so I don’t have to use my vape quite as often</p><p>4) work on paying for divorce</p><p>5) start paying for WiFi</p><p>6) save up for a new iPhone (I’m using a used 6s and the battery is terrible and eventually I’m gonna need a new phone), I’m thinking maybe getting an iPhone X</p><p>7) start paying for Amazon Prime again</p><p>8) start paying for Boxy Charm (makeup) monthly</p><p>9) continue getting healthier and losing weight (another 60 pounds for the next year!)</p><p>10) find a one bedroom apartment because it’s difficult to afford a two bedroom on my own (unless I find a roommate)</p><p>11) study Kierkegaard and some of the mystics in the Catholic Church</p><p>12) find an organization that does service dogs for non-military PTSD and start that process</p><p>13) go back to school (I haven’t decided what school yet, I had thought I wanted to go to cosmetology school, but I’ve changed my mind lol. I want to eventually go to seminary because I want to eventually work on helping people get out of the occult or prevent Christians from getting involved in it. It is infiltrating the Church and the Church does not address this enough!)</p><p>14) practice my bass guitar more</p><p><br /></p><p>Once I start driving, I think my parents will probably help me with getting a car, if not:</p><p><br /></p><p>1) get a car</p><p>2) find a church to call home</p><p>3) find a spiritual advisor</p><p>3) start taking salsa dance classes</p><p>4) start taking martial arts classes (always wanted to learn plus self defense is good for a woman in the Atlanta area)</p><p>5) start looking at property in Texas, I haven’t decided what part yet (except I’ve been told not Austin because there’s a lot of liberals there lol)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC9a7BCBjpIfrfnEGktrAmhQEZjyU1y83yBhoPaIBp6I_U09A9AciFpZ63Sn8wbo9qTOpl_T0ngKc2Zy9wOeVWHiq8zaw5O4BzfHpLRT-LvYXcL0q1ggpjuSyhpLA3T6UTh59x6t3WwOLd/s1334/0CB6E85E-E58C-44CA-9B57-CDD93ED958E0.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="750" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC9a7BCBjpIfrfnEGktrAmhQEZjyU1y83yBhoPaIBp6I_U09A9AciFpZ63Sn8wbo9qTOpl_T0ngKc2Zy9wOeVWHiq8zaw5O4BzfHpLRT-LvYXcL0q1ggpjuSyhpLA3T6UTh59x6t3WwOLd/s320/0CB6E85E-E58C-44CA-9B57-CDD93ED958E0.jpeg" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>Allie Liconahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11240445922023682156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-525203948357128277.post-46396849866819067002021-02-26T05:33:00.002-08:002021-02-26T05:33:35.044-08:00Things Aren’t As They Appear<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFbaYvjGjTEIMDY4MDN9T7oaBQ5EYrTY3W0bQmkqcNIbVY6yHAWIer2QgNlrtn9gJXs4EVvlC6ew7o0IB0PSfk3qZ7ZgSG25I0XPFY701XE0Lbua0IcpZVzQsSmDqUdqA2i-69i9scmH_t/s1024/9880A0B1-C944-4A18-B1D5-4DF5759369F1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFbaYvjGjTEIMDY4MDN9T7oaBQ5EYrTY3W0bQmkqcNIbVY6yHAWIer2QgNlrtn9gJXs4EVvlC6ew7o0IB0PSfk3qZ7ZgSG25I0XPFY701XE0Lbua0IcpZVzQsSmDqUdqA2i-69i9scmH_t/s320/9880A0B1-C944-4A18-B1D5-4DF5759369F1.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> This is a different topic than I would normally write. Things are not always as they appear. I got on the scale this morning after not having weighed myself in a week and I gained a few pounds! I was quite upset about this at first because I’m trying to get healthier and lose weight. Then I looked in the mirror and I thought, “that’s odd, I look thinner, I feel thinner, even my calves are getting slimmer!” I remembered that muscle weighs more than fat does. I’ve been exercising a lot, and having a lot of protein. My eating for the most part has gotten much healthier and like yesterday I walked more than 21,000 steps! Surely I should’ve lost weight instead of gained! However, muscle weighs more than fat (if you’re working on losing weight, remember that the scale lies). I started to think how true this is in other aspects of life too. Things appear one way, when they’re really another way. As the saying goes “you can’t judge a book by its cover.” There’s always two sides of each coin. Often times people are lazy and will only get one perception on something. They get one point of view and then make a judgement on the situation from there. This is foolish, dare I even say wrong? If there is an argument between two parties and you only hear one side, you are going to judge the other party harshly and most likely incorrectly. This has happened so many times with me. People want to judge me based on what they’ve heard than what they know; they would prefer to assume the worst about me. If you’re going through that, don’t be afraid, you’re in good company! Look at the Saints! Look at the prophets! Look at the Apostles! Look at Jesus Himself! People were quick to judge them not based on things they knew, but based on things they heard or thought. If you are being persecuted, don’t fret, you’re not alone! Stay pure and continue to follow our great God! He will guide you and He knows what’s true even if others do not. I know it hurts, believe me, I’m in the same boat. But we can take great comfort that even if the world villainizes us, Christ knows the truth and one day, even if we have to wait until the next life, the truth will come out; and everyone who judged you wrongly will be weeping and ashamed of how they treated you, asking you for forgiveness. Then you can look them in the eyes, smile, and tell them you forgive them and embrace them. Lean on Christ to give you the strength and courage you need right now, He understands!<p></p>Allie Liconahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11240445922023682156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-525203948357128277.post-30492893841899250442021-02-23T07:23:00.001-08:002021-02-23T07:23:09.971-08:00Valley of Slaughter<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLAZd7j3R68ViTS-5XTN8zJt6x8r1ueoRxgIVQZXiZgt_HidCKiwgHLcyrIc_oYX7rnUOSbSSWzEv3vdUv2PnDJSryI26fhF2OjGmhkaJDHYeHDG9zM2f36Q6IyaycDmydZQqlimUnVV7I/s450/681AFFB6-E7CF-4186-964A-804FAD3B8B11.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLAZd7j3R68ViTS-5XTN8zJt6x8r1ueoRxgIVQZXiZgt_HidCKiwgHLcyrIc_oYX7rnUOSbSSWzEv3vdUv2PnDJSryI26fhF2OjGmhkaJDHYeHDG9zM2f36Q6IyaycDmydZQqlimUnVV7I/s320/681AFFB6-E7CF-4186-964A-804FAD3B8B11.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> “And they have filled this place with the blood of innocent children. They have built pagan shrines to Baal, and there they burn their sons as sacrifices to Baal. I have never commanded such a horrible deed; it never even crossed my mind to command such a thing! So beware, for the time coming, says the LORD, when this garbage dump will no longer be called Topheth or the valley of Ben-Hinnin, but the Vallet of Slaughter.”<p></p><p>- Jeremiah 19:4-6 (NLT)</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>What can we learn from this passage? Child sacrifices were being performed to the pagan god Baal in Israel. God was absolutely against this from the very start!</p><p>Today, we still perform child sacrifices, right here in the great USA. It’s not underground necessarily. It’s in shrines labeled “Planned Parenthood Women’s Centers” disguised as healthcare that actually cares about planning for families. Children are sacrificed to the god named Convenience. It’s not convenient to have kids right? We have the freaking American dream to fulfill first! We have our want to be irresponsible first with zero consequences! Why should we have consequences for our reckless behaviors? As soon as you take the pants off willingly you are saying at that moment “I’m ready if the time comes to be a parent!” But no, you’d rather sacrifice to the god of convenience - sacrificing not only your child, but your very soul! These “Christians” who say “God isn’t against abortion” speak blasphemy and are false teachers and unless they repent of this will burn in the lake of fire along with other false teachers and false prophets for teaching disgusting doctrine! If the US doesn’t repent of this horrible slaughtering we’ve done to innocent children we will pay dearly for it. No doubt about that. God is gracious yes, but He is also just and we can’t use ignorance as an excuse! There is no excuse and no saving us - a Valley of Slaughter unless we repent of this!</p><p>Now if you have had an abortion or taught this disgusting doctrine and are repentant of it, then do not fear, we serve a God who is gracious and forgiving! Turn from your sin and sin no more! That is what Jesus said to the woman caught in adultery. If you repent Christ Himself will wrap His arms around you and one day those children you sent to be slaughtered like lambs will hold you in paradise. You will never have to feel the painful shame every time you hear a child’s laugh or a baby’s cry. If we continue to sacrifice our children and teach false doctrine though, then God have mercy on us all!</p>Allie Liconahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11240445922023682156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-525203948357128277.post-16765099073533919102021-02-21T14:50:00.001-08:002021-02-21T14:50:23.503-08:00What Does it Mean to be a Demisexual?<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL9j0xpPewep-iqmdZbeXxQY2_Q-bBSrrEyV9zG6MH2AsfHtB6zio3aatatKx3bGxT33ANKNthKXaNxtQxfp12Bf4xBIsBwlIT3ldLiXy7O6eat1PeNjEEPMrmcCDiap-Kze6xuIW46gn6/s662/F29F06FC-30F0-4F47-A86E-F9B973E7AA97.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="416" data-original-width="662" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL9j0xpPewep-iqmdZbeXxQY2_Q-bBSrrEyV9zG6MH2AsfHtB6zio3aatatKx3bGxT33ANKNthKXaNxtQxfp12Bf4xBIsBwlIT3ldLiXy7O6eat1PeNjEEPMrmcCDiap-Kze6xuIW46gn6/s320/F29F06FC-30F0-4F47-A86E-F9B973E7AA97.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> Funny you should ask! Let me give a little backstory on my end first.<p></p><p><br /></p><p>I started struggling with porn at ten years old, and most of the porn I watched was lesbian porn. I became a Christian at 14 and turned away from porn. I grew up thinking I was “straight” even though I would fantasize about being with guys and girls. I would find other people attractive, I had crushes like other people (Hugh Jackman and Jason Momoa anyone?). Though when it came to dating relationships, they were unsatisfying. The guys I wanted to be with either didn’t want me or were taken already. So I mostly dated just for the sake of not being alone. The guys I really wanted to be with, we’re guys I was already close friends with at the time. I remember even as a kid when I’d imagine marrying someone, I always hoped he would be my best friend first. Other than my porn issues, most of my fantasies were not sexual in nature, but cheesy romantic stuff. I would imagine cuddling on the couch watching a movie with a blanket on us. Or one of my cheesiest ones is facing my fears of cage diving with great white sharks (I love sharks but it doesn’t mean I wanna swim with them!). We’re in the cage together and we see these beautiful creatures swimming around us, and I say “wow, God sure is amazing!” And he says looking towards me, “Yea, He sure is!” I’m a total cheese ball! Anyway, I always thought my general disinterest in sex was because of childhood sexual trauma, and the rare times my sex drive is painfully high is due to my previous porn addiction (11 years clean). In high school, I started to realize I was interested in some of my female friends. So I thought, maybe I was bisexual (again, I blamed the porn for that). I never dated any girls though because I knew God was against me doing so. It was tempting though. My sexuality seemed to be fluid, sometimes I was more heterosexual and other times I leaned more towards homosexual. This really concerned me after I got married. There was one girl I was close friends with and she was one of the most gorgeous girls I’ve ever known! We went to church together at the time. We were very close friends. She looked like she could be a Playboy Bunny honestly. Things got intense though. I remember we were getting ready one time for her bachelorette party. Her and two other girls started changing in her room while the guys were downstairs. I started freaking out. There was this primal beast in me that wanted to just let my flesh take over. I wanted to get out of there as quickly as possible, but I couldn’t because if I opened the door the guys would see them changing. So I just faced the door and was praying, begging God to help me, to get me out of there before I did something I’d regret. It happened another time with just her and me in her room. I begged God to get me out of there. God was faithful and helped me. It got so bad though, that I started to avoid her at church. I would be friendly if she approached me, but I tried to avoid her for a while and went to special therapy for it. It seems every time I’ve had a real sexual attraction to someone or was even “in love with someone,” they were always people I had a strong emotional connection with. If I didn’t have that strong emotional bond with them already, I wasn’t really interested.</p><p>So what does this mean? Think of sexuality as a door (this is how it was described to me). Heterosexuality would be a push door, you are pushing away the same sex to open up for the opposite sex. Homosexuality is a pull door, you are pulling towards you the same sex. Bisexuality is a double door, you can go either way. Pan sexuality is a revolving door, you can go ANY way. A sexuality is a wall, you’re generally not interested period. So what is demisexuality? Demisexuality is a subcategory of asexuality, it’s kinda a gray area. If you use the door example, demisexuals are a locked door. We’ve basically locked the door and thrown the key into the abyss of the sea. Someone has to find the key! It takes a really special kind of person to unlock that door. Even if someone finds the key, it doesn’t mean they’ll be able to open the door, but once someone is able to open the door, that love is really powerful. You know you are loved for beyond your looks, your brains, your personality, whatever. You are loved for YOU. As you are. Not who you once were. Not who you could be. Who you are now.</p><p>This explains why I’ve always wanted to be with close friends. Even if initially I wasn’t attracted to them, the closer I got to them I wanted to be with them. This also explains why I struggled to be with my husband sexually. I never felt connected with him emotionally. That’s not to say neither of us tried, it just wasn’t there sadly. This will make dating very difficult for me in the future. Today, most people would rather go on Tinder and hookup or date random strangers than best friends. That’s okay though, I’m in no rush to date again right now. I’m enjoying single life and taking care of myself. Getting to know myself better. After all, how can I be comfortable with another person if I’m not comfortable with myself first? For now, it’s just Jesus and me, and if it’s like that for the rest of my life, that’s okay too. He’s gonna love me better than anyone else ever will. Of course, this makes it difficult for me to have close friends too. I suppose when I do find someone some day, I will need to be more careful, and limit my interactions with close friends, and place really good boundaries with them to limit temptations. Realizing I’m a demisexual answered a lot of questions for me about myself....why I am the way I am with certain things. For now, my focus is on Christ, my first love. I suppose in time, He will bring the right person in my life, who knows. I used to think it was cheesy and stupid to say “I’m dating Jesus” and kinda irreverent. That’s what nuns and monks do though no? Date Jesus? I could be wrong. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with being demisexual necessarily, it’s just be attracted to the emotional bond after all. However I suppose depending who that bond is with it could be challenging or even “wrong.” For example, after I get divorced, it’s not wrong for me to date a man I have strong emotional bond with. However, if I were to date a woman I have a strong emotional bond with, it would be wrong. Or if the man was married, that would be wrong. If we’re both single though, I don’t think there’s a problem there. It could be really nice! We already have established boundaries, already know each others strengths and weaknesses, yet love each other anyway! Have similar goals in life, similar dreams in life, similar passions in life, and both have a fire burning in our souls and hearts for Christ!Could be pretty amazing 😉. Anyway, that’s what I’ve got for you on demisexuality. I hope this helps! God bless!</p><p><br /></p><p> </p>Allie Liconahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11240445922023682156noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-525203948357128277.post-74243109248275865832021-02-20T13:12:00.001-08:002021-02-20T13:12:49.729-08:00Return to My First Love<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq0Ma2OlS3B9d1zsff7KMx6o4KzGhD6ljzHttr-8rAC3lDHicRS5PHPAOSC_TUS8svbIth1WVoNPNj7R9QUhx_-qtujPCYLyWmpRxAjUhA6mnM163Ncizy7xw_bN081JeIuPN5PgKsFD-p/s415/51E7C1A8-3709-43B8-A9CF-FA31EBAC9593.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="415" data-original-width="302" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq0Ma2OlS3B9d1zsff7KMx6o4KzGhD6ljzHttr-8rAC3lDHicRS5PHPAOSC_TUS8svbIth1WVoNPNj7R9QUhx_-qtujPCYLyWmpRxAjUhA6mnM163Ncizy7xw_bN081JeIuPN5PgKsFD-p/s320/51E7C1A8-3709-43B8-A9CF-FA31EBAC9593.jpeg" /></a></div><br /> Hi, I’m sorta single....or in the process of it again. I’m 30 years old and married at 19. I married for all the wrong reasons.....things have not worked out and I have been separated since August and am in the process of getting divorced. I’ve learned a lot about myself in all this. For one thing, I found out I’m demisexual, which means I’m sexually attracted to those I have a strong emotional bond with. My husband and I did not have this. I never felt connected to him. I honestly felt forced into the marriage, however that’s another story.<p></p><p>I became a Christian at 14, and over the years I’ve dealt with a lot of traumas. I had a fire for God before I started college, after I started college and I started dating this manipulative and abusive guy (the guy before my husband), my fire started to dwindle. Over time that fire dwindled more and more....and I kept wanting it to come back.....but it was fading more.....I’ve struggled with my faith for many years.....with the trials of life tossing me in the sea back and forth violently. Life has not been kind to me. However, I’m grateful for my trials. They shape me into a stronger person, and I know somewhere out there, there is someone who will love me. Someone who will respect me. Someone we can serve the kingdom of God together. Now that I’m single again, that fire has returned and I’m so happy about it! I want to serve God with my life until everything in me is spent. Some day I will find someone who will want to do that with me.....we will fight the forces of darkness together, we’ll be Bonnie and Clyde but for the kingdom of Light! I still have my struggles, however God continues to bless me and strengthen me. My confidence doesn’t come from who I’m with, but in Christ. He values me more than anyone ever could, and He is my first love. My loneliness caused me to lose sight of my first love.....but I’ve returned to Him :) that’s my story anyway ^_^</p>Allie Liconahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11240445922023682156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-525203948357128277.post-89779269556302553862020-10-06T18:38:00.000-07:002020-10-06T18:38:03.340-07:00PTSD the Monster<p> PTSD.....the monster not in your closet or under the bed</p><p>PTSD......it's the monster that dwells in your head</p><p><br /></p><p>I can't remember what it's like to not have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. I've had it for so long, I don't remember what a life without trauma is like. I was diagnosed with it a decade ago, but I've definitely had it longer than that. With a history of childhood bullying, sexual abuse, and then some, it takes a toll on a person. When that continues as an adult, with people gaslighting you, abusing you, neglecting you, manipulating you, abandoning you, it effects you in ways you can't imagine.</p><p>I thought I was finally starting to heal....slowly healing.....all the heavy baggage I had been carrying alone for so many years was finally starting to unload.....then....it happens.....the rug is pulled beneath me......I'm swallowed by the darkness and devoured by loneliness, depression, and trauma. Like you're on a plane flying high in the sky only to have that plane explode in midair and you're free falling in the sky just waiting to crash into the ground flat like a pancake....then when you crash every bone has been pulverized....yet your heart is still beating.....you haven't physically died somehow....but everything inside you has died.....everything in you has been destroyed...... You can't get up on your own because your bones are dust. Yet even though you're back on the ground, you still hear the explosion, you still feel yourself free falling in the sky. Even when you're taken to the hospital and fixed up, you can still see the explosion like its happening. You can't escape it. You relive it awake and in your sleep. There's no escape......and no one can help you because they weren't there with you when it happened. People may say you're overreacting or it's even your fault when it's not. It's an internal fight you have to fight alone. So how do you heal? You don't. Instead, you learn to cope and you learn to survive. Your life will never be the same as before the plane explosion. You will never be that person again. That person died. A new person was born from the ashes. As hard as it is though, you keep going, you keep living. It's okay to have your weak moments. It's okay to cry or freak out. What isn't okay is to end your life or someone else's. No, you must live! Live! Show those who destroyed you or don't understand that you're better than them and keep moving forward! Yet at the same time, do your best to not harden your heart in it. I know it's tempting to.....how I've wanted to harden my heart and have come close to it, yet even now I still can't. That's the best revenge. To not let them win! Not let them harden your heart! Not let them kill your very soul, even if they killed your spirit! No matter what, don't let them win, keep going! You can do this! You will never be who you once were, no, you will be stronger, like the phoenix that died in the ashes, rise above it!</p>Allie Liconahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11240445922023682156noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-525203948357128277.post-15354883578782393062020-10-01T15:01:00.004-07:002020-10-01T15:01:47.379-07:00Human beings<p> Human beings, they're disgusting, pitiful creatures. Willing to destroy others with no regards to what their actions do to them. Killing the very spirit that drives them to live, and will do it with a smile on their faces. Stabbing people they claim to care about behind their backs. Animals will kill for survival, but humans, will kill for pleasure or the sake of self righteousness. Humans will kill worse because they don't just destroy peoples bodies, they kill their very spirits. Its disgusting....</p><p><br /></p><p>However, human beings are also resilient. Able to rise from the ashes like no other creature. Rise from the very depths of hell and come out stronger than ever, and even after such betrayal, has the capacity to not return evil for evil, but give love to those who previously destroyed them. There is a strength in human beings, and I dont mean physical strength, that seems almost supernatural....</p><p><br /></p><p>Human beings, pitiful and disgusting creatures, while at the same time are strong and beautiful creatures....</p>Allie Liconahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11240445922023682156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-525203948357128277.post-77259199890788638852020-08-14T10:50:00.000-07:002020-08-14T10:50:07.164-07:00Consider It Joy<p> Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.</p><p><br /></p><p>James 1:2</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>What does it mean to have joy during trials?</p><p><br /></p><p>My life has been full of suffering, and stress has been so bad lately that in two weeks I've lost about 10 lbs. My health is declining. I've had severe heart palpitations for nearly the past week. I had to go to the ER a couple nights ago because of severe pain that they couldn't figure out what the cause of it was. I spend many days having crying spells. So how do I count it all as joy? How do we count our suffering as joy?</p><p>You look at the lives of the saints, and many of them went through intense suffering, even tortured and killed for Christ. You look at the life of St Paul and he went through severe suffering. When he wrote the book of Philippians, he was in a filthy prison. Yet he wrote:</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Always be full of joy in the Lord, I say it again - rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. Don't worry about anything; instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.</p><p>Philippians 4:4-7</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>My dear brother or sister, I don't know what you may be going through who's reading this. I would never undermine whatever suffering you may be going through. Yet, through suffering, we learn, we grow, and we become strengthened. We can get through this! With bleeding hearts and broken spirits, let's lift them up to the One who can repair them! The enemy seeks to destroy us, but Christ came to give us life (John 10:10). You want to really annoy the enemy who's trying to destroy you? Count your suffering as joy. Give praises to the Lord and Thanksgiving. You don't have to ignore the suffering, no, that would be no good either. Ignoring it as if it doesn't exist will further agitate it and let it build. Yet, focusing and wallowing in it will cause it to build as well. So acknowledge it's there, but fix your eyes on Jesus. I'm preaching to myself too. It's much easier said than done, believe me, I know.</p><p><br /></p><p>Today, right now, let's fix our eyes on Jesus, pray about things, and be thankful to Him.</p><p><br /></p><p><img alt="Count It All Joy. “My brethren, count it all joy when you… | by ..." class="n3VNCb" data-noaft="1" jsaction="load:XAeZkd,gvK6lb;" jsname="HiaYvf" src="https://miro.medium.com/max/750/1*V5s8my4-JZB2ge5ucecCzw@2x.jpeg" style="height: 521.3786666666666px; margin: 0px; width: 527px;" /></p>Allie Liconahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11240445922023682156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-525203948357128277.post-41239785545811159892020-08-08T12:58:00.001-07:002020-08-08T14:06:04.866-07:00Take Up Your Cross and Follow Me<p> Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me."</p><p><br /></p><p>Matthew 16:24</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>I've been meditating on this verse today. What does it mean?</p><p>We often want things our way or the highway. We look at how things in our lives we think are supposed to be; and as soon as things don't seem to go our way we question God. We ask Him, "It's supposed to go this way! My life is supposed to go this way! What the heck are you doing up there?!" Our ways are not His ways though. Things don't always go our way, nor should they; because the world would be much more chaotic than it already is - if not destroyed ultimately. In those times it's time to swallow our pride and give up our ways and follow Jesus. To lay down our desires, our hopes, our dreams, and what we think should be, and say, "God, I'm going to trust You in all this. I'm giving it all up and I'm going to follow you!" It won't be easy though. Crosses are heavy and meant for execution. They are meant to kill. But to follow Christ and die for Him is a reward we cannot even imagine.</p><p>I will continue to nail my ways to the cross I bear, and will carry it until the day I fall asleep in this life and wake up into the next. It's a daily thing to do for all of us. We often want to take them off the cross and nurse them back to health, but we continually have to nail them to the cross. While they are our crosses to bear, we are not meant to bear them alone. Even Jesus had to have help carrying His cross up to Golgotha. Helping is not doing though. We have our crosses to bear, and we help others carry theirs, and others help us carry ours. Ultimately however, we are to bear and carry our own crosses. It's like recovery from addiction. You cannot recover from any addiction alone. I was at a Celebrate Recovery meeting this week and it was described as this: your accountability partners are your teammates, and your sponsor is your coach. You're all on the same team with the guidance of your sponsor. I see it also like a race. Your accountability partners run with you, offer you water when you're throat is parched, or help bind up your wounds when you're injured. If they're a little ahead of you, they can warn you of upcoming obstacles for you to dodge or be prepared for. Your accountability partners help cheer you on as well. Your sponsor is your coach guiding you. With both analogies, the sponsor and accountability partners all have a role, but they cannot do YOUR role. If you're a quarterback, a linebacker or a kicker isn't going to do your role. If you're running a race, someone else can't run it for you. You have to do the work yourself, but others can help you and support you. However, if you try to go through recovery from addiction by yourself, you're more likely to relapse (unless God miraculously takes that addiction from you, which does happen to some people). I have been clean from addiction to pornography for nearly a decade. I'm still working on self-harm and other struggles. The self harm unfortunately seems to be more difficult at the moment. I've started going to a couple different Celebrate Recovery meetings however and one of them may be starting a Step Study so I hope to get more involved in that again.</p><p>We have our crosses to bear, it is our job to nail our ways to them, and carry them.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><img alt="Sations of the cross man carrying cross - Piety Stall" class="n3VNCb" data-noaft="1" jsaction="load:XAeZkd,gvK6lb;" jsname="HiaYvf" src="https://www.pietystall.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Sations-of-the-cross-man-carrying-cross.jpg" style="height: 330.1875px; margin: 0px; width: 587px;" /></p>Allie Liconahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11240445922023682156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-525203948357128277.post-46218731809505093112020-06-19T04:20:00.001-07:002020-06-19T04:20:09.208-07:00To Live For ChristI feel so empty and alone. I feel a pain so intense it’s sucking the life right out of me. They say “you’re attention seeking” when I’m crying out for help. They call me a child when they have no idea the pain I’ve been going through is literally killing me. Try having no emotional skin, that feels like having 90% of your body covered in 3rd degree burns. At this point, I feel like I’ve self-combusted and somehow my body survived. Everything is so painful for me, to where I go back and forth from my traumas telling me “don’t let anyone touch you or get near you” and I just want someone to hold me and tell me “it won’t always be like this; you’re worth fighting for.” Constantly I think about my death, I’m dying inside so why not finish the job off? I just cause pain for the people I care about, surely they’d be better off without me. I keep fighting though, I’m not giving up, not for myself, not for friends or family, but to honor Christ with my life. I place everything in His hands. I will continue to empty myself until I have nothing left to give, and I find that even during the times when I feel exhausted and like I have nothing left to give, I always still have more I can give of myself. I will empty myself of pride and selfishness and though I won’t be perfect, I will do my best to live my life in service to Christ and others. In serving others, I am serving Christ as well. I’m wounded, deeply wounded, but I’m dying to myself I will live in Christ. I won’t hold others mistakes over their heads, but will pray for them, asking God to forgive them, because they don’t know what they’re doing. I won’t close off my heart to others even though I know I will get hurt again. I tried to turn my tender heart into stone, but I couldn’t do it. I suppose God had other plans. I will put my hope in seeing Christ one day face to face, and He smiles at me and tells me I fought the good fight, and won. That I served my God and He is pleased with me. I know I’m not a strong person, but in my weaknesses Christ is strong. While there are those out there who will use my weaknesses and my heart against me, Christ turns them into spiritual muscles. I know I won’t live forever in this world, but I am going to live like a soldier for Christ and fight until I breathe my last breath.<br />
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<br />Allie Liconahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11240445922023682156noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-525203948357128277.post-51065531574258487402020-05-15T09:48:00.001-07:002020-05-15T09:52:17.373-07:00The Monster in the MirrorI’ve never really addressed this in my blog before. I have many mental illnesses/disorders. One of them is BDD (Body Dysmorphic Disorder). Everyone goes through times in their lives where they think something about them is ugly. That’s pretty normal. How is BDD different? It’s a disorder where we obsess excessively on real or imagined imperfections on particular parts of our bodies.<br />
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When I was around five years old, I was in a ballet class. I remember being in the class one day and there was a wall that had mirrors all across it. I saw myself in the mirror and felt an overwhelming amount of disgust with what I saw. It was as if I were looking at a monster or demon in the mirror. I was not a fat kid, but at five years old I thought I was fat and when I saw my face I wanted to break the mirror because it looked disgusting to me. I was horrified with what I saw. It has stuck with me ever since. Over time it has gotten worse. I got bullied really badly growing up. Every time I look in the mirror, I want to punch it and shatter it in a million pieces. I nearly break down in tears every day. I spend a lot of time usually doing my hair and makeup and I obsess over it. Constantly having to fix it when I notice some of it is coming off. Even then though, I still don’t feel beautiful. When I take pictures of myself, I often have to put a filter on because I feel I look too ugly without it. Even when I was at a healthy weight in high school, I still saw myself as fat. To be fair I was called a heifer but still. I would get on the scale every day and workout (played Dance Dance Revolution) for hours every day. Guys would whistle at me at times when I’d be walking down the street, but I still felt hideous. Many times I haven’t wanted to leave my house because I feel too ugly to be seen by anyone. I even bought a mask once online because I was too embarrassed to be seen; but my mom said if I wore it people would lose respect for me. So I didn’t wear it. I have scars all over my body from accidents and self harming. My arms are covered in them. I have stretch marks on my body and not from the joys pregnancy. They are tell stories of traumas and pains that I’ve had to endure all my life. Dealing with the stresses of life alone. So I coped the best way I could. I ate. I cut. Now I try to get healthier, knowing even if I get healthy, I will probably never be happy with how I look. I will always see my face as disfigured or my body as fat, even though I’ll know in my head those things aren’t true. I take a lot of pics of myself with makeup for practice, but I’m also trying to boost my self esteem. Some may think I have ulterior motives, but I’m trying to work on feeling better about myself. My hope is one day when I look in the mirror, and I see the sad monster looking back at me, I can tell it that it’s beautiful.</div>
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Allie Liconahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11240445922023682156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-525203948357128277.post-3315956079285902222020-05-08T18:08:00.002-07:002020-05-08T18:08:43.006-07:00Make it StopEverything in me is slowly dying....<br />
My body is shutting down......<br />
My heart pains me with every beat.....<br />
I just want it to stop.....I just want the pain to stop!<br />
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I look at my arms and think “one more slice could end all the pain....”<br />
I’m just an empty shell that exists......while my insides are dying......<br />
I just want it to stop......I just want the pain to stop!<br />
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Why keep fighting a losing battle? I have nothing to fight for.....<br />
The universe has been cruel to me all my life.......<br />
Why God.....why must my life be filled with so much suffering since childhood?<br />
I just want it to stop......I just want the pain to stop!<br />
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Please make my pain stop God! I can’t take it anymore!<br />
Everything hurts! I’m so tired of hurting all the time!<br />
I know I’m not innocent....I’ve screwed up innocent lives......<br />
Have I not suffered enough in my life? All the blood, sweat, and tears I’ve shed?<br />
I just want it to stop......I just want the pain to stop!<br />
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I just want the pain to fucking stop! Is death the only way it’ll end?<br />
I have no hope for things to get better.....so why do I keep fighting?<br />
Why do I keep fighting when I have nothing to fight for left?<br />
My tears burn like acid.....my chest hurts with every breath......<br />
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Every night when I go to bed I hope I don’t wake up......<br />
Every morning I wake up disappointed......<br />
Please God......make the pain stop!<br />
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<br /><br />Allie Liconahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11240445922023682156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-525203948357128277.post-71442701001614296782020-04-29T18:01:00.001-07:002020-04-29T18:13:39.260-07:00They May Be One<span style="background-color: black; color: red;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 17.6px;">that they all may be one, as You, Father, </span><i style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17.6px;">are</i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 17.6px;"> in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: #001320; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 17.6px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 17.6px;">John 17:21</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: #001320; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;"><br /></span><span style="color: #001320; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: white;">I've been seeing a lot of memes today on Facebook on Protestantism vs Catholicism (and some would attack Orthodoxy as well). I get it’s out of humor, but I hate it when Christians attack or make fun of other Christians. This is NOT Christ-like! With all the stuff going on in the world we should be uniting together, not being more divided! Before Jesus was betrayed and was praying in the Garden, he prayed for the Church. That they would be one just as he and the Father are one. Y’all, we have done a REALLY terrible job at that. We should honestly be ashamed of ourselves for failing in this department. We were all one church once, then we were divided by the schism in 1054. This became the split between the East (Orthodox) and the West (Roman Catholics). Then the Reformation happened in the Roman Catholic Church in 1517 by Martin Luther. This is when Protestantism was born. In the Protestant Church there are so many different denominations that it’s honestly ridiculous. There is so much division in the Church even over the most stupid stuff! On top of that, we tend to shoot our own people worse than those who don’t claim to follow Christ! How pathetic are we! I have seen this personally on all sides. Orthodox, Catholics, and Protestants. Many claiming to be holier than the other; claiming they know God better than the other or are better Christians than the other. This. Is. Bull crap. Stop attacking each other! Stop it! People on the outside look in and think, “I’m glad I’m not one of them when they attack their own people!” You want to show the world you’re in Christ? Love one another. Respect one another. You don’t have to agree with each other. But this making fun of each other does not help the cause, it hurts it. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;">“</span><span style="color: red;">May they be one, as we are one.</span><span style="color: white;">”</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Let’s unite together, be kind to one another. No more mocking each other. No more attacking each other. I’m not saying universalism either. Let’s be one body in Christ.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">P.S: I get I'm not your typical Orthodox Christian. I'm still learning, but even so, I believe there are true followers of Christ who are Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant, just as there are those who claim to follow Christ in all three branches but really don't. It is not my place to judge where someone's heart is when I have enough wickedness in my own heart. We can disagree on different doctrines, but please, stop attacking and mocking each other!</span></span><br />
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Allie Liconahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11240445922023682156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-525203948357128277.post-24119529836487097132020-04-04T20:13:00.001-07:002020-04-04T20:13:32.941-07:00To My Dear Friend<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(0, 19, 32); color: #001320; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;"><i>Now when he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.</i></span><div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(0, 19, 32); color: #001320; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(0, 19, 32); color: #001320; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17.600000381469727px;"><i>- 1Samuel 18:1</i></span></div>
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You point me to the Light when I’m surrounded by darkness</div>
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When I’m drowning in depression, you reach out your hand and pull me up</div>
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When I’m afraid you give me boldness</div>
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If Christ is the hero, you’re backup</div>
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You teach me what it’s like to be selfless</div>
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You teach me what it’s like to be self-sacrificial</div>
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You’re there when I feel helpless</div>
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You show me what it’s like to have true friendship, not something superficial</div>
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How can I express to you how much your friendship means to me?</div>
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How can I thank you enough for the kindness you have shown me?</div>
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I don’t understand why you care for me so much, I’m no one special</div>
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I tend to cause so much pain for people, can you still really see me as someone special?</div>
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Whenever I’ve allowed myself to be vulnerable with someone, I’ve always regretted it</div>
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How could I not? My trust and love has often been betrayed and spat on</div>
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When I’ve opened my heart to you, I have been afraid, I’ll admit</div>
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So afraid that everything I’ve thought of you was wrong and you’ll turn out to be a con</div>
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But I do not regret sharing my heart with you, even when I have been hurt</div>
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To me, you’re worth any pain I may go through, the joy you give me outweighs the pain</div>
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There is a special place for you in my heart</div>
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Amidst the chaos, you help bring clarity in my brain</div>
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You bring me healing when I have open wounds, you bring calmness to me in my anxiety</div>
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When I shake my fists to the heavens you calm the rage in my heart</div>
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You help me seek out sobriety</div>
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I pray our friendship never parts</div>
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When I am weak and can’t fight anymore, your prayers give me strength to keep going</div>
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When the demons attack me, your prayers protect me</div>
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You help me continue growing</div>
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You give me so much, can’t you see?</div>
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There’s so much I could say</div>
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Everything I’m grateful to you for, every affection I have for you </div>
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You’re a diamond that shines brightly, a star glimmering bright rays</div>
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You’re a true friend, through and through</div>
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May God bless our bond, may God bless our friendship</div>
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You’ve been such a blessing to me, may we always be friends in this life and the next</div>
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I couldn’t ask for a better friend</div>
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Thank you for being one of my greatest gifts in this life</div>
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Allie Liconahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11240445922023682156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-525203948357128277.post-47828080267137402882020-03-08T10:42:00.001-07:002020-03-08T10:42:51.238-07:00AloneI feel so alone......it feels unbearable......every time I bear my heart to someone, bad things happen......terrible things happen that break me into millions of pieces and kills me. No one can handle my heavy heart......not one person can carry it with me.......I fight for people......I fight for them in their struggles......I go into battle for them when the enemy attacks them.......but who will go into battle for me when my demons attack me? Who will fight for me on my behalf? I have to fight the enemy alone......I have to face the world alone......<br />
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No......I don’t fight alone. The saints fight for me on my behalf. The angels fight for me on my behalf. The Theotokos fights for me on my behalf. Christ fights for me on my behalf. Even though I can’t bear my heart to anyone in this world in this life, even though my heavy, fragile, glass heart is too much for everyone here, it’s not too much for those in heaven.<br />
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I often feel I’m cursed for having this bleeding heart of mine. Perhaps it’s not a curse though. I have a big, tender heart. Though it’s fragile, it also endures. It desires to help those who often cannot help themselves. Those who the enemy targets to try to steal, kill, and destroy. I cannot rescue people the same way God can, but I do take on others burdens. I go into prayer and I fight for them on their behalf, never expecting anything in return. That’s just how I am. I won’t rely on other people to help me carry my heavy, fragile heart anymore though. I will rely on those in heaven to help me carry it. I will rely on Christ to help me continue to endure my endless pains.Allie Liconahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11240445922023682156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-525203948357128277.post-65790361296564852772020-03-04T06:35:00.001-08:002020-03-04T18:01:59.042-08:00Little GirlEvery time it seems my heart starts to heal, it gets crushed again. My heart breaks so much, I have not felt such intense pain in a couple months. I have never cried so intensely. Life is cruel to me, giving me hope one moment then taking it away the next. Giving me a reason to keep going then destroying me. That scared little girl who is always with me, just wanting to be loved and feel safe. She doesn’t know how to grow up because she’s stuck from the ghosts that abused her. That little girl wanted to grow up and help people. She wanted to save the world. Yet she cannot even save herself. Arms scarred up, body bruised, matted hair, tears rolling down her face. She beats her head and her breasts, Rocking back and forth on the bathroom floor, wailing like a banshee in pain, and wondering what happened to her life? What happened to her dreams? Voices telling her to off herself, she’s begging God, “please God just put me out of misery!” She lays on the floor breathing heavily and spastically. She can’t catch her breath. Her heart beats so fast, as if it’s about to jump out of her body. Her chest hurts like something broke, something she held dear. She lays there unsure if she can even get up to vomit or if she’s going to end up laying in her vomit. Continues to beg God, “please make it stop!” Her heart bleeds, and she wonders, “why did God give me this cursed heart?” All she wanted was to feel loved and safe, was that so much to ask for? Then a voice tells her, “love is a lie, a fantasy, a delusion. There’s no such thing!” That scared little girl, out of breath, feeling defeated, empty, alone, and dying, turns to the voice and says, “away from me Satan!” That little girl tries to pick herself up from the floor, and in her tears and battered body cries out, “God, even if no one in this world can love me, even if I can never feel safe with anyone again, I know you love me and will protect me; even when I cannot protect myself.” For a moment, that little girl became a brave woman. Though the brave woman doesn’t come out often, buried, she is in there somewhere.......<br />
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<br />Allie Liconahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11240445922023682156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-525203948357128277.post-64596643177780913862020-02-25T08:38:00.001-08:002020-02-25T08:38:41.605-08:00Fighting TogetherI’ve spent much of my life fighting alone. Growing up I got bullied a lot and no one defended me. I had some friends, but they typically didn’t last very long for me. It’s also really difficult for me to trust people because of abuse and abandonment. When I start to trust and get close to someone, I push them away or I test them. I crave intimacy and closeness with people, but I often fear it. It terrifies me because I’ve been hurt so many times. I’m so used to being alone though, even when I’m surrounded by a lot of people, that I don’t really know how to do life with people. The battles life throws at us, I’m so used to fighting them by myself that I don’t know how to let people in. How do I let people in? I’m trying really hard to allow people (well, some people, I’m trying to be very selective with who I let in my bubble) to be there for me. I honestly hate being alone. I’m trying to trust a select few. While I need to trust more, I need to make sure I’m trustworthy too. I need to not let my fears overtake me. Life is full of hurt. Sure I can keep everyone at a distance and stay safe, but is that really living? Is trusting no one really living? Let me answer that for you:<br />
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It’s not living.<br />
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We need people to do life with. We don’t need a lot of people. If you have only a few people in your corner, you are richer than most people in the world. Cherish those relationships, and never take them for granted. Don’t ever cease thanking them for being there for you. <br />
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To those who have been there for me, who have endured with me, thank you. I will work hard at not only allowing you in and trusting you, but I will also work on being someone you can rely on and trust too. Thank you for everything, you are worth the risk of me being hurt.<br />
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<br />Allie Liconahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11240445922023682156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-525203948357128277.post-10468306078715590852020-02-20T15:04:00.002-08:002020-02-20T15:04:56.934-08:00Rain and RainbowsI’ve been trying to heal from something that’s been really difficult for me (if you haven’t read my last blog entry). I’ve been cutting again, among other things I’d rather not discuss at the moment. I seem to be getting worse and sicker. I keep everyone at a distance - my friends, family, priest, therapist even. I’m having a difficult time trusting everyone. I second guess everyone, including myself. Everything I say to someone I’m afraid I said something wrong and panic; afraid they will leave me high and dry too. When people say they care about me, I question their genuinity (if that’s a word). I spend many days crying, afraid I’ll be alone, even though I push people away. When one person breaks my trust, everyone loses my trust. I know that’s not fair for other people, and I do apologize to the people effected by that, as well as my reckless behavior.<br />
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I was talking to a friend today (a fellow Borderline friend). It’s been raining a lot lately in my area, which I don’t mind because I find rain relaxing. She was talking about how she misses the sun, when I said something kinda profound.<br />
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“You can’t have rainbows without the rain.”<br />
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I know it sounds cheesy and cliche, but think about it. Rainbows come out after a storm. So it is in life. You can’t know the good times in life without knowing the hard times. You can’t know the people who help heal you without knowing shitty people. So if you’re going through a dark time right now, don’t give up hope. No matter how severe the storm seems, there’s a beautiful rainbow around the corner. The clouds will eventually clear up, the winds will eventually calm down, and the rain will eventually stop. Don’t give up.<br />
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Allie Liconahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11240445922023682156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-525203948357128277.post-57623931467311658352019-12-28T14:33:00.003-08:002019-12-28T14:33:47.494-08:00DrowningI’m drowning in my own blood.....<br />
It’s quickly filling my lungs.......<br />
I’m gasping for air.......<br />
I’m trying to reach for your hand........<br />
You watch me drowning with a grin on your face......<br />
You pull your hand away from me.......<br />
You were my angel who rescued me........<br />
Now you’re my angel of death.........<br />
Your wings which once carried me away from my sorrows......<br />
Now your claws slash me into pieces.......<br />
I gave you my heart.......<br />
You threw it on the ground, smashed it, and spit in my face.......<br />
Why have you done this to me?<br />
Why am I so worthless to you now?<br />
What have I done to deserve this?<br />
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I can’t breathe anymore.......Allie Liconahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11240445922023682156noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-525203948357128277.post-4283895408274835882019-05-28T09:09:00.002-07:002019-05-28T09:09:50.444-07:00One YearI know I haven't written in a few months. My dog Nessie passed away February 1st this year. Honestly, it was one of the hardest days for me. There have been a few times since then I almost cut. I wanted to numb the pain of losing her, among other things going on as well. Just last week even my husband had to take a salad slicer blade away from me because I was going to use that to cut. When Nessie died, I told myself that instead of cutting because of her death, she was going to be my inspiration to get my nine month chip. It was difficult, but I made it. When I got that chip, I wrote her name on it so it would always be a reminder that she helped me get that chip. That was in February.<br />
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Last night, May 27, 2019, I got my one year sobriety chip for not cutting! I didn't think I would make it honestly. I self-sabotage so often, especially when I've made any progress in anything, but with the support of friends, family, and Christ's grace, I made it! This is the longest I've gone without cutting in years!<br />
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I started cutting when I was 16 - on Valentine's Day. I cut for three days and then when my mom found out; I was put in the hospital. I didn't really cut after that until after I got married. Shortly after I was diagnosed with PTSD, around Thanksgiving of 2010, I had a close friend who had been like an older brother to me. In high school we talked all the time. I really trusted him. He was the first person I told I had Autism when I was diagnosed with it. After I got married though, he stopped talking to me. I didn't understand why. He didn't even want to come to my wedding. I finally asked him why he wasn't talking to me anymore and he answered, "I don't care about this relationship anymore" and blocked me. I have not spoken to him since. I was so devastated by his abandonment, that I started cutting again. It was off and on after that. Then a little while after moving to Tennessee, I met a minister. He was like a father figure to me. I really trusted him too. Things got really bad between us though. He started to emotionally abuse me. I started cutting more during that. I had two suicide attempts in the same year during that as well. My cutting got more and more frequent. It got to the point where I was cutting at least three to four times a week - some times more. My family and husband got really worried about me and we talked to my psychiatrist at the time about it. He told them to just let me cut and eventually I'd grow out of it. I'd be cutting and there was nothing they could do about it. I wanted to stop, I knew it wasn't good, but I didn't really have good coping skills (I'm still learning).<br />
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The thing about cutting is when my emotions get really intense, cutting numbs me - instantly. The sting from the blade cutting my skin, the blood dripping, somehow it soothed me. Medically-speaking, cutting releases endorphins. After I cut, I emotionally don't feel anything. I feel numb. When your emotions so often get really intense, it can feel good to not feel anything. This isn't healthy though. I remember talking to a therapist about it and she said, "You won't find any healthy coping skills that numb you like that." It's disappointing for sure. There are risks to cutting though. You can get infections, and if you do it a certain way, you can possibly kill yourself (I know how to not kill myself doing it though). <br />
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Anyway, a couple years ago, after we moved to Georgia, we started going to a Celebrate Recovery program at our church at the time. I even got a sponsor. I started going mainly to work on my cutting. While there though, I realized I had other problems too (such as codependency). The longest I've gone without CR was 11 months. Then when I started going to CR, I went 8 months. Then a year ago, we were involved in a major car accident. That was extremely frightening for me. We had been t-boned on my side of the car by an SUV. The fire department had to cut my door off to get me out of the car. I really thought I was going to die. There was glass everywhere and I couldn't breathe. I thought maybe some glass had stabbed me or something. For a little while, I wasn't suicidal after that because I figured if God really wanted me to die, I would've died in that accident. The suicidal feelings did come back though and I've struggled with them daily since.<br />
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When the eight month chip came back around, I was scared because I thought, "I blew it right after I got my eight month chip last time, what if it happens again?" I was determined to not let that happen again though, and I had a lot of support to help me along the way too. The closer I got to my one year mark, the more excited yet more anxious I got. Like I said, I have a tendency to self-sabotage. Then the day finally came. I stopped by at a friend from church's house. She's a professional with hair and makeup and she said she would do my hair and makeup for my one year chip. She asked me what I wanted and for my hair and I showed her a picture online. For my makeup I wanted something similar she had done on herself on Facebook. She did an EXCELLENT job with my hair and makeup. When she showed me when she finished, I nearly cried. I felt like I looked like a model! I even felt like I had that "airbrushed" look! None of my imperfections were showing. For once in a really long time, I felt like I looked beautiful.<br />
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After that, I was on my way to CR and when I got there, I was so relieved because I had finally done it. I made it a year! People couldn't even recognize me! One friend came to CR early from her vacation just so she could be there for me when I got my chip! My dad came too! My mom wanted to be there, but couldn't because she had to travel out of state for a funeral. When I got that chip in my hand, I felt like I had made a huge victory. I got nervous when I went up to get it, but when I went back to my seat, for once, I was really proud of myself. I could tell my dad was proud of me too, and that was a really good feeling too. My next chip will be 18 months sober, and if God could help me get to one year, surely He can help me get to 18 months too! <br />
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I'll be writing two more blogs after this that I know of. Oh yes, another reason why I haven't written in a while is because we recently moved! We're still in the same city, but different apartment complex. We are still in the middle of unpacking. Once everything has been unpacked, it will be easier to work on writing more again. God bless!<br />
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<br />Allie Liconahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11240445922023682156noreply@blogger.com1