HATE THE SIN, LOVE THE SINNER May 30, 2007
Posted by speakkindness in Interesting topics.1 comment so far
The Lord has laid it upon my heart to write in my blog each week about a topic of interest. I will also be posting weekly articles and such that focus on Christianity and pro-family values. Please feel free to comment. I welcome dialogue.
This week’s topic is the following:
HATE THE SIN, LOVE THE SINNER
I have been asked by many people what hating the sin and loving the sinner means. In court, I was accused of hating the sinner because I hate the sin. In my daily life, I have been asked by women who identify themselves as homosexuals how I can “hate the sin yet love the sinner”. Please as you are reading this post keep in mind that I am not a Bible scholar nor am I attempting “to teach” you. Rather, I am sharing the thoughts that God has laid on my heart.
I encourage you to learn more about this topic by reading your Bible and by talking with your Pastor. If you do not own a Bible or even would like to delve more into this topic by reading more passages and learning more verses etc I encourage you download for FREE a copy of www.e-sword.net. This resource is FREE and offers Bible commentaries, Christian books, Bible dictionaries, and more- all, which can be downloaded instantly.
First, I feel that I must define the words “sin” and “sinner,” “hate” and “love”- this way we will both “be on the same page.” Many times, I discover that we as humans misunderstand one another because we both have a different interpretation of the same word, situation, and or topic being discussed. A sin is any act, thought, or deed that is in direct violation of God’s word (law). In other words, a sin can be anything that separates us from God and keeps us from living with Him in eternity. A sin is a sin is a sin. Jesus tells many people to “sin not” or “to go and sin no more.” By looking at these peoples lives, we can determine what sin is. In addition, Jesus tells us outright what sin is. For example, He speaks through Peter in 2 Peter 2:14 and says “having eyes full of adultery that never cease from sin, enticing unstable souls, having a heart trained in greed, accursed children;” It is clear from this verse what Jesus considers sin- adultery, greed, and people who influence others for evil and not for good.
Jesus goes on to say in I Timothy 1:9-10 the following:
”realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers, and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching”
From this passage, you can also surmise who is a sinner. A sinner is a person who commits the sin- breaks the law. Therefore, a sin and a sinner are not the same. A sinner is the “murderer”, the “immoral men and homosexuals”, “the kidnappers”, and “the liars and perjurers” Whereas the sin is the killing (murdering), the act of homosexuality which is the giving “over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural functions for that which is unnatural, and in the same way the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts…” (Romans 1:26-27), and the actual taking of another person and the list goes on.
Again, it is very clear to see what Jesus considers sin… In this passage, one can also see the types of sin and how Jesus views them all the same- that is a sin is a sin is a sin. We must also remember that there is “no, not one who is righteous.”(Romans 3:10). Thus, God’s law is for everyone.
Let us take one last look at what the words “sin” and the “sinner” are. Jesus speaks numerous times on what will keep us out of heaven- living with Him. Two such passages which the Lord directed me to when I was deciding to “leave sin and follow Jesus” and which I feel clearly defines the words sin and sinner are I Corinthians 6:9-10 and Psalms 11:1-5. The first passage is I Corinthians 6:9-10:
“Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the
kingdom of
God? Do not be deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the
kingdom of
God”
These particular passage paralyzed me- stopped me in my tracks. I became so fearful that I was going to hell that I turned away from God (at that time, I did not have anyone in my life who was willing to “love the sinner”). I did not read further. Instead, I turned deeper in sin. I encourage you though to continue reading. Read on though this passage and find out what can be done so that you may enter the
kingdom of
God.
Verse 11 tells me “Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.” It is these people- such were some of you – who will enter the kingdom of heaven. All is not lost. Accept Jesus, repent of your sins and begin living a life for Christ and you will see Him in Heaven.
The second passage, which really spoke to me, is Psalms 15: 1-5. Jesus speaks through David and tells us who may abide with Him.
“O lord, who may abide in Your tent? Who may dwell on Your holy hill? He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness, and speaks truth in his heart. He does not slander with his tongue, nor does evil to his neighbor, Nor takes up a reproach against his friend; in whose eyes a reprobate is despised, but who honors those who fear the Lord; he swears to his won hurt and does not change; he does not put out his money at interest, Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken”
WOW! This passage packs a punch! Jesus tells me both how to act and how not to act in these five verses. I read this passage in 11th grade and God used it to convict my heart years later.
I just realized how long this post is becoming. So, I think I will close with a simple definition of “hate” and “love”. The word “hate” denotes a “turning away from”. The word “love” denotes a “turning toward”. With these two definitions in mind, I will summarize my answer to how I can “hate the sin and love the sinner.”
I try to turn away from any act, thought, or deed, which is contrary to God’s laws, and try not to engage in the act of sinning. I am not saying I am perfect- rather I am turning away from the path the sin may take me- Proverbs 4:13. As I turn away from the sin, I am turning toward God. I am looking to follow Him – His teachings, His laws. I am seeking His will for my life- what does He want me to do rather than what do I want to do. He clearly teaches all throughout His ministry on earth that we are to hate the sin but love the sinner. He tells us this very simply in Matthew 5:43-44 “You have heard that is was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you.” He goes on to say in His same sermon (the Sermon on the Mount) that if we are angry against another then we are also sinning and are just as guiltily as murderers are. He goes on to teach us too what the public school system knows as the Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
All these teachings and more (even Old Testament law handed down from God such as the 10 Commandments and teachings from God to His people as such can be found in Leviticus 19:17 “You shall not hate your fellow man in your heart, you may surely reprove your neighbor, but shall not incur sin because of him. You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the Lord.”) tell me to hate the sin because sin is “an abomination to the Lord” and to love the sinner because we are to display the characteristics that Jesus taught us as He was living on this earth and what God has taught us from the beginning of time.
Heaven May 27, 2007
Posted by speakkindness in Interesting topics.3 comments
My cousin sent me the following this week. I thought you would enjoy reading it also. The picture (that is not showing up) was a beautiful picture of a mansion in the clouds.
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The only way to the Father is through the Son
PRICE:
$0.00 – Calvary – Owner financing
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Friendly angelic neighbors.
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Prayer Letter May 14, 2007
Posted by speakkindness in Prayer Letters.2 comments
Dear Friends, May 11, 2007
Thank you for your continued prayers, encouragement, and words of wisdom. I am comforted by your thoughts and prayers. I enjoy reading your letters of encouragement as well as the Bible verses you send me. Some of you have asked me for an update. Many events have occurred since my last prayer letter to you. The following is an update:
UPDATE
- Janet filed with the court this week an additional document – her proposed order of custody and visitation. In this document, which is seven pages, she claims that she should have sole physical and legal custody of Isabella. She writes that she should have all and final rights over Isabella’s “religion”. Janet goes on to detail a visitation schedule for me including time when I may phone my daughter as she is living in
Vermont with Janet as her “mom.” I may call my daughter only two days per week and it must be at 7:00p.m. Furthermore, if I should have visitation with my daughter then I am to report in to Janet after 24 hours informing Janet where I am – including giving her my land line telephone numbers and the address where I am visiting/staying. This seven-page document is difficult to read. I have posted it in its entirely on my blog (please see below for that update). - The Virginia Supreme Court denied our appeal and cited filing discrepancies. We have another appeal to this court. At this time, it is undecided as to what this court will do with this appeal.
- The U.S. Supreme Court rejected our second appeal stating that it is too premature for them to take that appeal.
- Today: Janet filed sanctions in the Vermont Family Court against me claiming that I cancelled a planned visitation between Janet and Isabella. She claims that I agreed to a visit on May 12, 2007 and that she has had to cancel travel plans. She is asking the court for fines to be levied against me as well as a record that I am not obeying the temporary order of the original Vermont custody order dated 2004. We are in the process of replying to that sanction filing for I did not agree to a visit between Janet and Isabella for May 12, 2007. I had already had plans for the entire weekend. We informed Janet’s attorneys that we did not agree to the visit date and we offered another time for a visit. We offered May 5, 2007. She accepted and I found a “third party” to accompany us. However, on May 2, 2007 I was informed that Janet could not make that visit due to travel arrangements. We then agreed to another visit which is scheduled for May 26, 2007. This visit will also be supervised as the last visit was supervised.
NEW:
I have been lead by the Lord to start a blog. The blog however is not a typical blog. Rather, its sole purpose is to inform the public about my legal case. It will have my testimony (this will be posted in the next several days), the answer to the question which I get asked a lot (How do you continue and how do survive knowing that your daughter can be taken away from you?) and it has information regarding prayer letters and general letters that I share with the public, a section for the briefs that Janet filed and other bits of information regarding the religious persecution that Janet is levying on Isabella and I (part of her 22 page facts and findings will be included in the section “Legalize”) as well as other topic pertinent to my legal case. Janet’s proposed custody order where she is asking for sole custody is already posted. Should you need help in navigating the blog please click on “Navigational Help” which can be found on the top of the page.
I have been silent for these 3.5 years with the exception of several interviews that I have granted. I am silent no more. God has been so sovereign and so gracious to me these past years. It is now time to share with the world what He has done: Mark 5:19 “And He did not let him (talking about the healed demon possessed man going with Jesus in the boat), but He said to him, “Go home to your people and report to them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He had mercy on you.” God alone is control and God alone has granted and given the protection that has happened thus far. I know that our Lord wants EVERYONE to know- especially Christians- what is happening in the state of
Virginia. No one is safe from religious persecution. No one will be safe under their state laws should Virginia’s final rule be in Janet’s/
Vermont’s favor. Please take the time to read my blog. Please pray about who you will send the blog address to. Please feel free to send this letter or your own letter with the blog address included to other churches, religious organizations and friends who you think will pray for this case to be in God’s favor. The blog address is OnlyOneMommy.com
Finally, my friends please continue to pray. The
Vermont ruling is still pending. Please pray for total victory for Isabella- sole custody including religion decisions to be placed under my guidance and for no visitation for Janet. Please continue to pray for Judge Cohen. Our God is powerful. Our God has knowledge. I put my trust in Him. Please pray Matthew 7:7-8 and please read Psalms 37. Please keep me in your prayers as I continue to stand for our Lord.
Joyfully Serving Him,
Lisa Miller
Janet’s Prosposed Final Custody Order May 14, 2007
Posted by speakkindness in Legalize.2 comments
To view this document please click on the following link:
janet_s_proposed_final_order1.pdf
This document is difficult to read due to the emotional nature of what Janet is asking for. This document was approved by Janet and sent by her lawyers to the Rutland Family Court in Vermont. In it Janet asks for full legal and physical custody of my daughter, including all religious determinations.
Bits & Pieces: Janet’s Facts and Findings May 13, 2007
Posted by speakkindness in Legalize.add a comment
The following are bits and pieces from the 22 page Facts and Findings that Janet filed with the Rutland Family Court in
Rutland, Vermont. It was filed April 20, 2007. There are 109 facts and findings and the ones that are in this post focus on their reasons as to why Isabella should be removed permanently from my care.
For those of you who do not know who I am and may be reading this for the first time I am the biological mom of the child mentioned in this post and Janet who is referred to as Ms. Jenkins is my former partner. She did not adopt Isabella. Furthermore, she has no genetic connection to my daughter. Rather, the Vermont Family Court in 2005 deemed Janet a parent by virtue of the civil union. I am a born-again Christian who no longer practices homosexuality and I do not agree that Janet is a parent.
Please be aware that if Janet is granted sole custody or even joint custody of Isabella, my daughter, then no Christian will be safe to raise his/her child as they see fit. If she is granted visitation then Isabella will be put in danger because Janet feels that she can offer Isabella a broad- world view, whereas I am only able to offer a narrow conservative, Christian view. I am being persecuted for raising my daughter to love Christ, to follow Him and teaching her to pray for others.
The numbers in front of the fact/finding is the number as it appears in the fact and finding document.
- ….”When one parent is unable to foster a positive relationship with the other parent because of religious differences, it is proper to award custody to the parent who will best serve the interests of the children…”
10. “…This finding is supported by extensive trail testimony and other evidence,
including but not limited to: c) Ms. Miller’s determination to raise Isabella according to God’s rules as Ms. Miller understands them, one which is that “homosexuality is a sin, yes. And, yes, I hate the sin.” D) Ms. Miller’s intention to raise Isabella “for Christ, and her identification of Isabella’s learning God’s rules, including hating sin, as the “most important part of Isabella’s development;…g)Ms. Miller’s identification of “walking with God as the most important thing in her life… Ms. Miller made it clear that she believes that there is no value to a child in having two parents unless those parents are a mother and a father, not two mothers”.
22…..”with the sole caveat of characterizing Ms. Miller’s estrangement of Isabella from
Ms. Jenkins and her family as emotionally abusive toward Isabella”
85. “…Ms. Miller identified the most important developmental task for Isabella as the
spiritual one, and contented that “She believes in a God, she believes in heaven, she believes in hell, she believes that we should try to please God, that we should do what the Bible says. She believes that the Bible is God’s word and that we learn though that”…. Ms. Miller faults Ms. Jenkins for being prepared to allow Isabella to choose her own religious beliefs—“I just don’t feel that that’s appropriate”.
102. “The court further finds that the stability value to Isabella of remaining in Ms. Miller’s home is outweighed by the negative environment that Ms. Miller has created for Isabella there. This negative environment includes Isabella’s estrangement from her mother, Janet Jenkins, and her grandparents (Defendant’s parents); Ms. Miller’s teaching of hatred to Isabella about Ms. Jenkin’s “lifestyle”…and Ms. Miller’s refusal to place Isabella’s best interests ahead of Ms. Miller’s own emotional need to live by God’s rules….”
103. …”This willingness evidences Ms. Miller’s placement of her own needs, including her need to please God, ahead of Isabella’s best interests”
107. “… It is not healthy “where the child is encouraged to take sides in a particular situation” which causes “Stress and distress” for a child.” This is precisely what Ms. Miller demands of Isabella at present and in the future in praying that Ms. Jenkins will be saved from her “sin”, which is “hateful”, and about which Isabella will receive further teaching in the future from Ms. Miller”
The facts and findings go on to say that Janet was Isabella’s primary caregiver, that “Isabella’s best interests are served with Ms. Jenkins as custodial parent”, and that I am not a credible witness because I am a Christian and – they claim I contradict myself in several instances but rather I was describing Christian thoughts and practices that I live by now and didn’t live by in the past.
Please continue to pray that Judge Cohen will see through the lies and the religious persecution that Janet laid out in her facts and findings. On May 7, 2007 Janet filed her proposed custody order asking for full custody of Isabella including all religious determinations. I will be posting that document soon.
Janet’s Conclusion from her Facts & Findings- Vt court May 12, 2007
Posted by speakkindness in Legalize.add a comment
The following is the conclusion of Janet’s facts and findings as she submitted it to the Rutland Family Court in Vermont. Her facts and findings are 22 pages but for this post I am only including the conclusion (minus the foot notes because they won’t cut and paste). Her conclusion will give you a flavor of the religious persecution that I spoke about in one of my May prayer letters. I am also planning on posting bits and pieces of her 22 page facts and findings- specifically posting those comments which point to their religious persecution of me because I choose to “put God first” in my life.
As you read keep in mind and look for the subtle brainwashing that Janet does in trying to convince the reader that homosexuality is not harmful to children (there are numerous studies that state otherwise) and that Janet is a parent (even though she has not been a part of Isabella’s life nor was she an integral part of her life when we were together). Her conclusion is obvious in that she has a hidden agenda- and that agenda is to further the gay and lesbian rights agenda which is in direct violation of God’s word.
“Conclusion:
Ms. Miller’s belief that homosexuality is sinful-one of her proffered justifications for estranging Isabella and Janet- can be traced back to the middle ages. Medieval canonical law viewed homosexuality as a sin. By the late 19th century, societal perceptual of homosexuality had evolved from a religious-condemned sin to a pathological condition, either physical or mental in both. (135)
The modern evolution of societal attitudes toward homosexuality is surprisingly recent. It was only in 1994, when the current edition of the DSM was published (DSM-IV) that homosexuality was omitted from the list of mental illnesses, through the American Psychiatric Association had ben protesting its use as a diagnosis for decades and urging its members not to use it. (136)
I seems safe to conclude, in retrospect, that the attribution of this sexual preference to abnormal psychological conditions reflected influential socio-political forces arrayed against any variations form the prevailing homosexual norm, as well as the continuing vitality of conservative religion institutions. (137)
Current research findings on homosexuality illustrate the harm in branding as pathological what is actually a social judgement based on dominant conservative political and religious attitudes. (138) The recent research findings on gay parenting constitute compelling evidence that gay parents are in no way inferior to heterosexual parents. (139) Indeed, in a move reminiscent of the American Psychiatric’s Resolution of 1987 pointing out that homosexuality should not be considered pathological, the American Academy of Pediatrics- the nation’s preeminent pediatric authority with some 57,000 members- in 2002 adopted a formal policy declaring that :
Children who grow up with 1 or 2 gay and/or lesbian parents fare as well in emotional, cognitive, social, and sexual functioning as do children whose parents are heterosexual. …No data have pointed to any risk to children as a result of growing up in a family with 1 or more gay parents. (140)
Nonetheless, the psychology profession in Virginia follows the Miller-Jenkins case, suggesting a continued perception of homosexuality as a professional issue. (141)
On the legal front, it was only four years ago that the U.S. supreme Court acknowledged the constitutional right of gay persons to the individual autonomy that others have long taken for granted:
“Our laws and traditions afford constitutional protection to personal decisions relating to marriage, procreation, contraception, family relationships, child rearing, and education” [Citation omitted] Persons in a homosexual relationship may seek autonomy for these purposes just as heterosexual persons do. (142)
This case forces us to examine what constitues a “family” in our society.
Research demonstrates that a biological link is not the key to a genuine and substantial parent-child relationship is not the key to a genuine and substantial parent-child relationship. Indeed, scientific studies demonstrate that when a biological and nonbiological mother raise a child together, the nature of the parent-child bonds are comparable and the child perceives both individuals as parents. (143)
Children of a lesbian couple, like children of other couples, can suffer “extreme distres” from estrangment from a co-parent. (144)
This is a risk to which Ms. Miller exposed Isabella.
Vermont’s pioneering stance on civil unions in 2001 spawned a passionate national debate that continues to the present, in which more than half the states in this country have modified their laws to defy the legal protections afforded by Vermont. In fact, within the last two years twenty-seven states have voted to modify their constitutions to define marriage as a union of one man and one woman. The latest were Colorado, Idaho, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia and Wisconsin, all of which acted on November 7, 2006.
If Ms. Miller is awarded custody, in which of those states will she next seek to deprive Isabella of Janet’s parental devotion? There is no way to know. The only method this court can devise to assure Isabella a two-parent future, is to award sole custody to Ms. Jenkins, with supervised visitation liberally awarded to Ms. Miller.
Dated this 20th day of April 2007
Lisa Chalidze, Esq.
Prayer Letter May 12, 2007
Posted by speakkindness in Prayer Letters.add a comment
Dear Friends, May 7, 2007 Our Lord has laid it upon my heart to ask you to pray for Judge Cohen and any and all who are helping him make the final decision regarding my legal case. This morning during my prayer and devotion time the Lord laid it upon my heart to earnestly pray for Judge Cohen (for he holds the earthly key to our nations future in regard to parental rights and to the future of Isabella) and to pray that he reads our entire “facts and findings” (61 pages) as well as that he sees through Janet’s “facts and findings” which are false and are based on transferring custody of Isabella to her because I “put God first in my life”. Of course, God is all powerful and can convict his heart to rule in our favor. However, God reminded me that it is up to me to “”Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you,. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened” (Matthew 7:7-8). He promises me that “those who are called by My name, humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land” (II Chronicles 7:8). Once at work however I became involved in my teaching and stopped “praying without ceasing” (Oh if I could only be as Nehemiah was and pray even while he was talking with others!) However, I was keenly reminded during my noon time prayer (I am a teacher and I pray when the children are napping- eyes open of course
) that Paul was released from prison even while his friends, family and believers were praying for his release! Please friends share this email to all who will pray with us today and throughout the remainder of the week. Please get down on your knees and pray to God that Judge Cohen will make the “right decisions” according to God’s laws; will read and ingest all of our 61 pages of our facts and findings; for our nation of moral decline; and for a complete victory in my legal case- no transfer of custody and no visitation. Please also pray for Janet’s salvation and for a softening of her heart to hear God’s word. Thank you for your prayers. Joyfully serving Christ, Lisa MillerMatthew 7:11
Prayer Letter May 12, 2007
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Dear Friends, April 26, 2007 Update-Urgent: Yesterday, I got word that Janet’s attorneys filed part of their brief. So far, it is a 22 page brief asking for full custody for Janet based on the fact that I am raising Isabella to be a Christian. Her attorneys write that I am not thinking of Isabella’s best interests based on the fact that I am raising her to follow God’s laws; that she attends church and that I am teaching her that homosexuality is a sin. They cite laws which state that since I don’t recognize Janet as a parent and do not wish any visitation to occur then I am in direct violation of their laws. As a result of being in violation of their laws Janet needs custody and I am the one who needs supervised visits. The brief goes on to state that Christianity is hindering Isabella’s overall growth and development and that Janet, who she takes a broad view on religion, is acting in the best interest of Isabella. As soon as I get a hard copy of the brief I plan on emailing excerpts to you. Friends, Janet has now embarked on religious persecution. Her accusations against our faith and the way we raise our children in the fear and abomination of the Lord is in direct violation of our Constitutional laws. Any one, any where disliking our faith and the way we raise our children for Christ could use Janet’s brief in their favor. Imagine the law suits that may arise if Janet wins based on her current facts and findings (brief). Her accusations are far reaching. Families everywhere will be persecuted if the courts transfer custody of Isabella to Janet. Several years ago a pro-family group raised a concern that parental rights are the next constitutional rights to be overturned. MY FRIENDS, the day IS here where this is happening. I ask for your continued prayers and for a complete victory in my legal case. God is a faithful God and he promised us “And my people, who are called by My name, humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin, and will heal their land”. 2 Chronicles 7:8 Thank you for your prayers. I plan on sending experts -later this weekend -from the brief that Janet has filed . I will also send you a list of pro family groups and other sources that need to hear about what is happening and how it will effect our nation. Joyfully Serving Christ, Lisa Miller
Prayer Letter May 12, 2007
Posted by speakkindness in Prayer Letters.add a comment
Please send this prayer letter to all who you feel will pray and fight for the Sanctity of Marriage between one man and one woman. Please send this to all you feel will pray for God to be glorified through my legal case.
Dear Friends, April 25, 2007
Thank you for your prayers, phone calls, and emails. You are an encouragement to me. I know that each one of you is busy; yet, you seek God and pray to Him for our nation and for what is happening to it. You are a testimony to me and others around you as you continue to seek Him. Much has happened since I last wrote you. The following is an update:
Update:
April 14, 2007 Visitation: Janet, Elizabeth (the third party), Isabella, and I participated in a 2-hour visitation at the mall. Isabella was her usual self- sweet, bold, and energetic. Many of you had been praying for Isabella to be bold. Your prayers were answered. Isabella asked Janet if she was a “Christian” and if she “Believed Jesus died on the cross for your sins.” Janet ignored these questions at first. So, Isabella asked them again. Praise God for Isabella’s boldness. The visit went without immediate concern for Isabella. She thought that it was a play date. Isabella has not asked about Janet or asked to see her again since that visit other than to clarify Janet’s answers or lack thereof about being a Christian.
God has worked mightily through this visit pertaining to Isabella. Since Isabella asked for clarification about Janet’s lack of response to the question and at one point Janet’s response, I have been able to explain to Isabella about what we as adults call “walking the walk and talking the talk.” I feel God is leading me to tell Isabella about Janet’s lifestyle in terms of loving the sinner but hating the sin. God prepared me for that a little bit when I was able to share this concept with the
Vermont court during my two day of testimony. Please keep Isabella in your prayers as another 2-hour visitation is tentatively scheduled for May 5, 2007.
April 16, 2007: Isabella turned 5!!!!
April 18, 2007: The Virginia Appellate Court ruled in Janet’s favor. This ruling stems form the March 21, 2007 oral argument regarding their dismissal of the 2004
Virginia court order, which stated that I am the only biological mother as well as that
Virginia has jurisdiction.
Virginia ruled today that
Virginia is to accept the out of state
Vermont court as it is- both parentage and custody/visitation!
April 19, 2007: We filed our second appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. This appeal is asking the court to view and rule on the Virginia Appellate decision/ruling and the Va Supreme Court lack of ruling.
April 20, 2007: An extension was granted for the deadline of turning in facts and facings to the
Vermont court.
April 24, 2007: Deadline for turning facts and findings in to the
Vermont court. We are now waiting on a decision from Judge Cohen regarding custody and visitation. Janet continues to ask for full custody – going as far as say in writing that Isabella recognized her during the April 14 visitation. Isabella has not seen Janet for 2.5 years and Isabella did not recognize Janet because on the way home from the visit I asked Isabella how she was feeling and what she thought of the visit. Isabella replied that she did not know who Janet was. I reminded her of the photo that I showed her- the one from the Washington Post with all of us together- and Isabella replied that Janet did not look like that.
April 27, 2007: The U.S Supreme court will conference on our first appeal that we are asking for that court to take. This appeal is on the
Vermont court order. Last Thursday we filed an appeal to the U.S. Supreme court based on the April 18, 2007 ruling (see above for ruling outcome).
Prayer Requests:
ü Please pray for Isabella. After the visit, even though she did not talk about the visit she experienced fall out. Isabella was very clingy, did not want me to leave the classroom at school, I couldn’t go to another room in our home without her wanting to be with me, was rebellious and wouldn’t go to sleep without me being there with her. Essentially, she regressed for about a week after the April 14 visit. In anger, she brought up that I left her to go to
Vermont and asked me if we had to move. She has still not brought up the April 14, 2007 visit.
Please pray that she is protected spiritually (she was very confused about “walking the walk and talking the talk.” She thinks that if you say you believe that “Jesus died on the cross for our sins” then you are Christian- regardless of how you live, what you say and what you do- as in the case of Janet). Please continue to pray that she is protected from Janet- that Janet does not get full custody or visitation.
ü Please pray for Judge Cohen in
Vermont. Pray for God’s conviction. Pray that Judge Cohen sees Janet for her lies and deceit. Please pray for a favorable outcome and complete victory for Isabella and for children everywhere that will be affected by the outcome of my court case. It would be horrible for women who identify themselves as lesbians to stay in a relationship that they want to leave for Christ because they are afraid of losing their children!
ü Please pray for the U.S. Supreme Court to take this case. Please pray that the U.S. Supreme court gives us complete victory- that they will rule that
Virginia is right according to our state laws of marriage protection and artificial insemination. Please pray that our state laws prevail. If you are reading this and are from out of state-, please pray that
Virginia state law prevails because if it does not then our ruling will affect your state regardless of the fact that you may have strong marriage affirmation laws.
Virginia has the strongest laws and look what the court has ruled thus far.
Virginia has recognized the civil union as well as an out of state custody order that arose out of the civil union dissolution process! Outrage!
ü Please pray for the lawyers in my case. They must be tired. Please pray that they continue to be provided rest, wisdom, and health.
ü Please pray for Janet and her salvation. Please pray for Janet’s partner whom she will be civil unioned shortly. Her name is Kate. Please pray for her salvation. Janet has not changed. It was evident of her lies on the court stand and of the short time, I spent with her April 14, 2007 that Janet is lost spiritually. I also do not see a change in Janet in other areas. To me this is scary because Janet was abusive to me when I was in a relationship to her. Please pray for a revival in her soul, for her to turn to God.
ü Please pray that God will use me to spread His gospel as a direct result of this case. If I must give visitation then I will do so joyfully because I know that I can be a witness for Him. I praise Him for protecting me from having to give visitation for the last 2.5 years. God is allowing visitation to occur now. Please pray that I glorify God in these visitations.
What can you do?:
Many of you have asked what you can do to help. We as Christians need to get my legal story out in public. We need to let the people of
Virginia know what is happening in their state. We need to let the people of other states with marriage affirmation laws know what is happening in
Virginia and how it affect their state laws. If
Virginia continues to rule and if the U.S. Supreme Court rules in
Vermont’s favor then we have opened our doors wide (they are already opened now because of the latest
Virginia ruling) to homosexual unions!
We as Christians need to flood the media, our state representatives, and church leaders with information about what is happening. I am asking you to pray about the following and if God leads you to please choose at least two activities to do within the following week:
- Write a letter to the editor explaining what is going on and your feelings about it. I believe most letters must be fewer than 300 words. Send your letter to all the area papers both here and surrounding our valley.
- Email, call, and fax Congressman Wolf about what is happening. http://www.wolf.house.gov/contact.html
- Email, call and fax Bob Marshall, the representative who was most helpful in getting the marriage affirmation laws passed: delegatebobmarshall@trincomm.org
- Email, call, and fax your local representatives. You can find who your local representative is at the following website. www.oag.state.va.us
- Email, call and fax our Attorney General at www.oag.state.va.us
- Send a letter or one of the prayer letters I have sent you in the past- which details the case- (if you need another letter please let me know and I will forward it to you) to PRO-FAMILY groups such as Focus on the Family, Family Research Council, Family Federation, Home school Legal Defense Fund (they wrote a brief for my case at one time) and others. Focus on the Family has a media contact also on their website. If you go to this link, they have many pro family groups listed. Otherwise, just Google pro family on the web. Remember, it does not matter if they are not based out of
Virginia. Pro family groups must be alerted because their efforts in both
Virginia and other states to keep and uphold the Sanctity of Marriage are in jeopardy! - Email, fax, and call the media. We have Fox 5 news (www.foxnews.com), Brit Humes, Bill O’Reilly (www.billoreilly and 1-877-9-No-SPIN for his radio program call in from 12-2 daily), NPR, Hannity and Colmes (www.foxnews.com/hannityandcolmes) and other programs. Try calling one of the programs you listen to on a regular basis.
What are you asking for? You are asking them to inform the public about what is happening in our Virginia Court systems. You are informing them that the hard work that they have done in trying to protect the Sanctity of Marriage is not safe. You are sharing with Christians everywhere our responsibility to upholding God’s laws.
Thank you for prayerfully considering getting involved with spreading the word of Christ. God wants to use my legal case to draw others closer to Him. God wants to use my legal case to tell others about Christ. God wants to use my legal case as a warning of what will happen if Christians do not unite as the homosexuals groups have. We as Christians seem to be losing the fight for us to glorify God . I may lose my biological daughter to Janet, a practicing lesbian, because I have glorified God through obeying His commandment to bring up my child for the Lord. We need to allow God to work through us so that He can continue to fight the fight.
Please feel free to email me and ask questions. I will be most happy to talk with you.
Thank you for your continued prayers.
Joyfully Serving Christ,
Lisa Miller
James 1:2-8
Prayer Letter May 11, 2007
Posted by speakkindness in Prayer Letters.add a comment
Dear Friends, March 30, 2007
Thank you all for praying for Isabella and me and for the plight of our nation as directly related to my legal case. Your prayers, emails, and phone calls are an encouragement to me. God is with each and every one of you and I am praying for you.
Many of you have asked me for an update. The following is the latest update:
March 21, 2007: The Virginia Appellate hearing was not in our favor- from the outlook. They have not ruled however in writing. In a nut- shell, the judges asked us what we were doing there. They sought to immediately dismiss my case (which they can do!). Rena however argued that the prior ruling did not rule on biological rights of parents or on
Virginia law regarding children and artificial insemination. I am attaching a letter that I sent to the Virginia Senate and Delegates. Please take time to read this letter. It gives all the details of what has happened and what did happen and what may happen.
March 19, 2007: Janet did not show for her deposition that was scheduled to be taken in
Vermont
March 26, 2007: I was deposed as well as a friend of mine in
Virginia.
March 28, 2007: Judge Cohen, the
Vermont judge, called a status conference and in this conference, he ruled that my deposition from March 26th would not be allowed in court. He ordered me to attend a deposition in
Vermont and that must take place prior to Monday April 2, the first day of our trail. His order forces me to go to
Vermont. If I do not attend on Sunday April 2, 2007 then a warrant for my arrest will be issued. Furthermore, if I do not attend the
Vermont deposition an automatic transfer of custody will occur. In addition, I may possibly loose my parental rights here in
Virginia.
March 30, 2007: My last witness will be deposed today from 1-3p.m.
March 31, 2007: I will travel to
Vermont. I am unsure how long I will have to stay. My deposition is scheduled for Sunday April 1, 2007 in
Vermont. I must attend. The trail begins Monday April 2, 2007. I will attend.
The bottom line prayer is – prayer for God to be glorified through whatever happens.. Praise God – He has protected me from any enforcement of any sanctions, including jail time, thus far. I know He can continue. He is sovereign. Walking in Vermont is like Daniel walking in the Lions Den. We are not sure if I will be arrested. There is a possibility I will be. I know that God wants me to go to
Vermont. I also know that He will take care of me whatever the outcome of me being in
Vermont. Please pray as I am that God will shut the mouths of the lions and send an angel to protect me- just as He did for Daniel. Daniel was obeying God. I am obeying God. I am doing what God wants me to do as a Christian mom, as His child and as a servant of Christ. Isabella is learning a verse for her Master’s club, which has been a comfort to me this week: Psalms 56:11 “In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.”
Please keep me in your prayers. I want to glorify God in all my answers, in all my character and at all times in my heart. Please keep Isabella in your prayers. She and I will be apart for the first time since 2004 when I had to travel to
Vermont for a hearing. She understands a little of what is going on. She knows where I am going and she knows why I am going. She knows about Janet and knows that God does not approve of what Janet is attempting to do. Isabella does not want me to go. She is being very brave- after many tears and death grips on me- she is allowing God to comfort her. I have told her that God will be with me in
Vermont and with her where she is staying. As she puts it, “God is the only one with eyes in the back of his head”! She does not know that I may be jailed. She does know that I may be gone for a while. Please keep her safety in your prayers.
Please continue to pray for victory for the following:
Ø God to be glorified in the upcoming legal proceedings
Ø Strength, wisdom and clarity for Steve Crampton (American Family Association) and Dave Correy (Liberty Counsel), my attorneys for this weekend and next week’s trail.
Ø Wisdom and clarity for Matt Staver and Rena L., my attorneys who are working on appeals and such here in
Virginia. They will not be going to
Vermont but are still working on my legal case.
Ø Protection and safety for Isabella as she is staying behind in
Virginia. If I am jailed then her safety and protection is not guaranteed because of the first Virginia Appellate court ruling. She could be extradited to
Vermont to live with Janet while I am in jail.
Ø Protection and travel mercies for me as I travel to and from
Vermont.
Ø Safe passage without jail time while I am in
Vermont.
Ø Wisdom and clarity to speak as I need to while I am on the stand for two straight days for about 7 hours each day. I am scheduled for Monday and of course, my deposition, which is like a trail hearing with cross-examination, is scheduled for all day Sunday.
I apologize for this prayer letter being long. I thank you for reading it. I thank you for keeping us in your prayers. I will attach the letter that I sent to the Virginia Senators. Please prayerfully consider contacting our state senators and representatives in the entire state of
Virginia. Please feel free to use this letter or rewrite a shorter version and send them to each senator and delegate. You can do this via email. Go to http://legis.state.va.us/ Also, please feel free to flood our newspapers and radio stations with letters to the editors.
I know God wants this case to go public. Please continue my work that I am not able to attend to this weekend for I will be in
Vermont. I was planning on asking and encouraging people EVERYWHERE to send letters to the editors of newspapers, send the letter that I sent to our state Senators and delegates via email, send it to senators in each state, send it to the Attorney General’s office (www.oag.state.va.us) , send it to pro-family groups, and send it especially to those states that have a DOMA law. Please feel free to use the letter I wrote as a template to either rewrite your own or to change the greeting and addresses on the actual letter to reflect other state senators, governors (our Va state governor can be contacted via the attorney generals website listed above – just click on commonwealth of Va located at the top of your screen), attorney generals, and delegates names.
For 3.5 years, I have heard that I will win “hands down” in
Virginia. I have not. Thus far, the Virginia Appellate Court ruled for Janet. I feel that by sending these letters everywhere we will be honoring God and glorifying Him. Why? Because Christians everywhere think that “it won’t happen in their state” so why should I get involved. Well, it is happening in our state and it will happen in other states. We, as Christians, need to stand up for God’s laws against homosexuality and we need to get the word out regarding what is going on here in Virginia, the state with the strongest marriage affirmation laws in the entire USA.
I appreciate any help you can give me. I will also attach a friend’s letter to the editor that you can use as an example. She has called several radio stations and several newspapers. She has also sent it out of state to her sister. Her sister will try to get the letter published in her newspaper for she lives in a state with a DOMA law also. However, that is not enough. I was told to flood the media. I need your help in doing just that.
It is my plan to send several lines of email each night I am away to everyone on my prayer list. Thank you for taking the time to read my prayer letter. Thank you in advance for your help in flooding the media all over the
USA.
God will prevail. He is my protector and my strength. “Be exalted above the heavens, O’ God; Let Your glory be above all the earth” Psalm 57:11
Joyfully Serving Christ,
Lisa Miller
