Battle Scars: A New Teaching Series with Jennifer Coomes CN, E-RYT

Updated: Oct 17, 2022

Hi All,

It's been a little bit since I've been back at the spiritual and health teaching side of what I do, and I'm looking forward to sharing this series with you. The name of the series came to me awhile back and I wanted to make sure I was going in the right direction with it, so I began listening awhile to my needs and what was going on in the world and what it needed. One of the things I noticed that was needed was a deeper connection to God and the God's power of breakthrough.

As we watch war trudge on without any solid movement toward resolution, it can make you wonder, "Where is God in this?" and "Why is it taking so long to stop evil?" I'm sure anyone who feels oppressed and in battle during your daily life knows this feeling all too well. I can deeply relate to this feeling in my own life. The battle scars are present, and we may not be talking about them enough in order to heal, and thus the war continues. How can we get the war to stop? By reaching deeper into what will heal and what we must do to heal.

We're craving God's Grace with the fight to move forward, and yet God is calling us into the listening to ensure we get there in the right way. This song inspired me today as I was putting this series together and it will be some of the music that inspires this series. It is called "I'm Listening" by Chris McClarney. Please give it a listen. Whether you are Christian or not, it speaks to a higher place of breakthrough and deep essence of getting there the right way.

This series will talk about some of the battles women face on the way to and through womanhood, and why women can be their own worst enemy to themselves and to each other. I realized that, after coming out of breast biopsies for the second time in the last year in the effort to remove high risk pre-cancerous areas, I was left with physical scars along with emotional and mental scars that I was working through for weeks and months. The scars I will have mark a battle scar, and we all have them in some way, whether seen or not seen. Yet, sometimes, our culture rushes us to get to next steps without fully processing what happened, why, and what to really do next.

I knew I had arrived to womanhood a long time ago and the journey through these biopsies had reinforced that fact, but our culture can be damaging to women if they have not arrived to marriage or children. Suddenly, there's a society that is telling you that you are not a woman or not worthy of being a whole woman because of what you have or have not accomplished or become. Then, you're overwhelmed with healing at the same time, and it can be a complicated mess to unravel and find yourself again.

There are women facing and surviving all types of battles, along with their battle scars, and I see them in my nutrition and yoga practice all the time. It's time to do womanhood in the right way and give permission to embrace all the different ways in which women arrive to womanhood and progress through it while becoming, achieving, and hopefully giving back. Becoming whole is a process, and it requires commitment just like it does to heal from physical injury that produces a battle scar.

I believe we are yearning for something greater right now, and that we are craving the deeper essence of God's Grace that comes when we can connect honestly and move in life in touch and present. Many of us need deeper breakthroughs and I have found that anchoring to God at this time in my life has helped me through changes and pivots to help me live more alive. I hope to inspire that essence through this series. Here is more music to help us along this journey from war to peace. It's an album called Hymns of Heaven (Acoustic Sessions) by Phil Wickham.

Let's give a voice to the Battle Scars so we can heal. Let's stop the war.

It's time.

God's Grace is here.

See you soon,

Jennifer

Session #1: Personal & Financial Breakthrough

Scripture:

Ephesians 6:12

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

Hebrews 4:12

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Session #2: Cleaning Out the Evil

Scripture:

Ephesians 6:10-18

Finally, be strong in [God] and in the strength of [God's] might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

James 4:7

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

1 Peter 5:8

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Mark 9:29

And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.”

1 John 4:1-3

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God.

Session #3: While You're Waiting, Get Things Done

Scripture:

1 Corinthians 13

If I speak in tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.

If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind.

It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

It is not rude. It is is not self seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no records of wrongs.

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails.

But where there are prophecies, they will cease;

Where there are tongues, they will be settled;

Where there is knowledge, it will pass away.

For we know in part and we prophesy in part,

but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.

When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child.

When I become [an adult], I put childish ways behind me.

Now we see but poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face.

Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love.

But the greatest of these is love.

Psalm 86:11

"Teach me your way, O [God], that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart"

Proverbs 4:25-26

"Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you.

Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure."

Psalm 107:9

"For [God] satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul [God] fills with good things."

Session #4: Getting Results, Practicing What You Preach (after you figure out the correct foundation)

Scripture:

Matthew 23:1-3

“The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach”

Romans 2:21-23

"You, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law?"

Colossians 3:23

"Whatever you do, work heartily, for [God]..."

Session #5: To the Queen, A Curtsy

Scripture:

Session #6: Stillness, Devotion, Self-care, & Renewal

Scripture:

Psalm 62:1

Truly my soul finds rest in God, my salvation comes from [God].

Psalm 62:5

Yes, my soul, find rest in God, my hope comes from [God]

Exodus 14:14

[God] will fight for you, you only need to be still.

Mark 4:39

[Jesus] got up, rebuked the wined and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

Psalm 27:14

Wait for [God]; be strong and take heart and wait for [God]

Isaiah 40:31

"but those who hope in God will renew their strength; they will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint."

Session #7: Turning Point & Revival

Scripture:

Romans 12:2

"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is, God's good, pleasing, and perfect will.

2 Thessalonians 3:5

May [God] direct your hearts into God's love and perseverance.

Galatians 5:22-23

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things, there is no law.

1 Corinthians 1:10

1 appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of God, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, bu that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.

John 4:14

But whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.

Session #8: Pulling Away from Satan's Fold

Scripture:

Romans 8:28

" And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to God's purpose."

John 10:10

" The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly."

James 3:17

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere

Hebrews 12:11

For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Session #9: Atonement

Scripture:

Romans 12:2

"All of us like sheep have gone astray,

Each of us has turned his own way;

But [God] has caused the inequity of us all

to fall on [God]

Romans 1:18

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of [humans], who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.

1 Timothy 2:4

Who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of truth.

1 John 4:18

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.

Session #10: Spreading the Wealth, Doing the Right Thing

Scripture:

Psalm 145:16

"You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing."

Luke 19:8

"But Zacchaeus stood and said to [God], "Look, [God], Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount."

Hebrews 13:16

"And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased."

Matthew 10:8

..."Freely you have received, freely give."

Session #11: Equilibrium, God's Power in Charge

Scripture:

Exodus 14

Splitting the Red Sea--this passage is about the miracle of creating a breakthrough to get the disadvantaged into a place of safety and life from the oppressor. It represents both atonement and breakthrough.

Philippians 4:13

"I can do all things through God who strengthens me."

Hebrews 11:6

"And without faith it is impossible to please [God], for whoever would draw near to God must believe that [God] exists and that [God] rewards those who seek [God]."

2 Timothy 1:7

"For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self control"

2 Peter 3:17

"You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability,"

1 Peter 5:7

"Cast all your anxieties onto [God], because [God] cares for you."

3 John 1:2

"Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul."

Matthew 6:33

"But seek first God and God's righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."

Session #12: It Is Done.

Scripture

Revelation 21:6

"And he also said, "It is finished! I am the alpha and omega, the beginning and the end. To all who are thirsty [in need of nourishment, love] I will give freely from the springs of the water of life."

This teaching series is given in respect and support to the vulnerable rape and abuse survivors in low income who have been abused again as a result of the Depp/Heard trial along with our society's continued actions from church, government, and community levels against the poor, vulnerable, and abused. This also goes out to all in suffering from the needless and catastrophic Ukraine war.

This is given with the spirit of leading atonement and actions of correction against divisions between the rich and poor, the strong and vulnerable, and the oppressor and abused. God has intended to create better humans in God's image doing God's work with commitment, passion, and love.

While the action of putting the male Christ on the cross was a solid and firm action of finality against crimes of humanity, it is clear that the listening is not solid, and we must continue to engage in God's greatest law, which is to love yourself, to love others, to love God, and to lift up yourself and others into God's purpose. God's greatest call is to help those with less and with need, and we must find better ways to meet these self care mental health and physical health challenges along with helping others.

I hope that working through a series on physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual health scars was helpful to your healing in your steps forward, and may you be blessed in doing good and walking way from the enemy's grasp.

Stay tuned for important resources for those in need and next steps.

In God the Mother, God the Father, the Holy Spirit, and the female and male Christ name,

AMEN.

Jennifer

Resources:

https://www.kcsarc.org/en/

King County Sexual Assault Resource Center

www.rainn.org

Info on laws regarding sexual violence/rape

https://kingcounty.gov/depts/health/chronic-diseases/breast-cervical-colon-health.aspx

Breast, cervical, colon cancer screening in King County for those without insurance or those with minimal insurance

https://www.thehotline.org/resources/what-is-spiritual-abuse/