Standing Strong Quotes

“Each night before you place your head on your pillow, make yourself a cup of tea, sit in a comfortable chair, get your Bible and invite God to come have a little chat with you. Tell him about your day. Tell him about the people you blessed. Tell him about the ones who have blessed you.” Samson sipped his coffee. “That is it?” “No. That is just a start.” Samson put his hand on his chin as if thinking deeply. “Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you with the power of God. Be aware of the special moments that are supernaturally charged.” “Like the God moments?” “I would say so.” Samson clasped her hand. “Just talk to the Lord. You already do that. Just do it more.”
― Summer Lee, Standing Strong: A Christian Novel

“I’ve learned how God takes care of me all the time.” “How did that happen?” “What do you mean?” “What do you attribute it to?” “My growing faith. I had to change from the inside out.” “All of life is that way, you know.” “I know. Even love is like that.” “Love is a decision of the will as much as it is an emotion.” “I agree.” “I have experienced both for you.”
― Summer Lee, Standing Strong: A Christian Novel

“Marriage is hard work. But love is stronger than a flutter of the heart. Make a decision now to love each other forever,” said Bob as he served communion to the new couple. “Love as Christ loves the church, and you will have an amazing marriage.”
― Summer Lee, Standing Strong: A Christian Novel

“This ceremony symbolized that your love for each other will last forever.” “Love has to be transcended by an act of the will. There will be times in your life when you will need nothing more than to be hugged. So stop everything you are doing and embrace each other. Other times, you will want more than an embrace. Such love is only beautiful inside marriage. So, may your love always be fresh and new.”
― Summer Lee, Standing Strong: A Christian Novel

“Compulsive overeating only gives an illusion of comfort. To believe it is true is to believe a lie. What begins as an attempt to cover unmet needs becomes an addiction. It takes on a life of its own, and makes you feel stupid. True joy comes from asking God’s help and trusting the messages he gives you in your heart,”
― Summer Lee, Standing Strong: A Christian Novel

“The lesson on this day would be a practicing a faith journey to a satisfying life. Alisa would learn that spending more time alone with God would meet a need she had deep in her soul. She had been learning how to tap into her internal motivations lately.”
― Summer Lee, Standing Strong: A Christian Novel

“My past was a mess,” said Alisa. “I never experienced genuine love from my father. In fact, he sexually abused me, repeatedly. That caused me to confuse love and sex. I pursued sex in high school, looking for love. Fortunately, I met Jesus before I got too old. He is helping me turn my life around.”
― Summer Lee, Standing Strong: A Christian Novel

“I want to open our meeting today with prayer.” Shelly bowed her head. “Our Father in heaven, we honor your holy name. We want to be children of your kingdom, but we need your help. We give you permission to make necessary changes in our lives, so that we may become whole and happy individuals. Direct our paths and show us where we need to start. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
― Summer Lee, Standing Strong: A Christian Novel

“We are taking this opportunity to share our moral defects today. The world has put impossible standards on us, causing us to be ashamed of who we are. But that is not God’s plan, to deny us happiness.”
― Summer Lee, Standing Strong: A Christian Novel

“he loves me,’ says the Lord, ‘I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life, I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.’” Bob slowly looked around the room and said, “Is that a good deal or not?” “Good deal,” a few people responded. “You bet it is.” Bob preached about ten more minutes on the value of loving God in return for his blessings.”
― Summer Lee, Standing Strong: A Christian Novel

“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” He looked up. “I truly believe this is true.” He read on, “I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.’” He looked up. “Isn’t that encouraging?”
― Summer Lee, Standing Strong: A Christian Novel

“admit that I am powerless over food—that my life had become unmanageable. Since coming to the support group, I have had a chance to look at my life through different glasses. I now observe my lack of control. I see myself as having done just about anything to get a quick weight loss, so I could go back to eating like I used to. Thus, I was always on a roller-coaster diet. My search for unconditional love took me to sugar. But it lied to me and hooked me. I arrived here a mess.” She smiled. “That is all for now.”
― Summer Lee, Standing Strong: A Christian Novel

“You are not fat anymore, by the way.” “But I am still a hurt, sexually abused little girl inside of my head. I have to let go of that before I can help other women overcome the worst experiences of their entire lives. The obesity is just the fallout. Everything that caused it is the problem. I have to let go of all that emotional baggage before I can get married and have a healthy sex life with my husband, one blessed by God’s love.”
― Summer Lee, Standing Strong: A Christian Novel

“I forgive you, but you have to forgive me as well.” “What did you do wrong?” “I felt angry that God let you be the one to tell me to pray. I’ve been a Christian longer than you.” “You have a hard time taking advice. You are headstrong!”
― Summer Lee, Standing Strong: A Christian Novel

“intellectually process the academic studies, so I can work out a really good program that will heal women from their brains outward, with God’s help. When we close that door in the green classroom of the weight-loss classes, we let out our terrible pain and we pray, and we acquire real-life tools to use for losing weight and respecting our bodies with a healthy diet, exercise, and a serious prayer life.”
― Summer Lee, Standing Strong: A Christian Novel

“just want to tell you that rape and sexual abuse is starting to be linked to obesity in women. Sexually abused woman have an excess of this hormone in their bodies that causes weight gain and behavioral changes, all kinds of physical and emotional issues that make those women seek food for comfort instead of creating healthy relationships with other people and with God. It also makes the weight harder to lose, supposedly. I am still learning about this part.”
― Summer Lee, Standing Strong: A Christian Novel

“Every day, many women and girls are sexually abused and raped. There have been a few academic studies that report that sexually abused women have about a 42 percent chance of becoming obese. The body makes defense hormones called cortisol and it causes weight gain. Every time a sexually abused woman feels stress in certain situations, it makes that hormone that causes or contributes to weight gain. The studies are still being done, but they have merit.”
― Summer Lee, Standing Strong: A Christian Novel

“being hungry for God makes us think we want food.” “You mean, ‘It’s not what you’re eating, but is what’s eating you.’” He grinned. “I had not heard it said that way before. But yes,” she said. “I have a small textbook to read. It says seeking God is the only answer for someone like me. It is because I seek comfort food.” “I can give you some pointers if you want.” “What do you suggest?” “Let the Holy Spirit comfort you.”
― Summer Lee, Standing Strong: A Christian Novel

“I am learning that we don’t really know ourselves. We want to hide from our sinful thoughts. Food is a good cover.” Alisa walked over to where Annabelle was standing and looked down at the trees and shrubs below. “I think enjoying nature will help.” “How so?” “God made the plants. Look at the leaves on that tree over there. The design is exquisite.” Alisa opened the window and reached out for a leaf on the tree standing outside the window. Tears came to her eyes. “The God who made this leaf loves you and me. That amazes me.”
― Summer Lee, Standing Strong: A Christian Novel

“not sure about the man being over the woman, that sort of stuff. We should look up some verses for guidance, as women.” “We should. Maybe we can find a married Christian woman to help us figure out the roles, Biblically speaking, since nobody like that is connected with the mission. It’s kind of a weak link in our God information chain, I think.” “What, you don’t trust Bob or Samson to give us that information?” Annabelle teased. “Of course I do. But just like in my weight-loss class, I can better relate to someone who has been in my shoes, and I think the same is going to be true when defining roles for ourselves as potential wives. I want that information from someone who is living that role.”
― Summer Lee, Standing Strong: A Christian Novel

“I need to learn what God says about marriage.” Alisa sighed. “I don’t think it means the husband can just arbitrarily order the wife around. She isn’t a slave. She is a partner, as the Bible says, ‘a helpmeet’ which is another word for ‘helpmate,’ you know, like a partner.” “Oh,” Annabelle said. “I think I am getting it now.” “I think marriage is meant to be a mutual respect, but God has to come first for each of you, individually, before you can work together as a couple for Him.” “That makes more sense,” Annabelle”
― Summer Lee, Standing Strong: A Christian Novel

“I’ll go first. ‘Lord, lead me in the way of salvation. Amen.’” Annabelle said, “My turn. ‘Lord, Lead me toward truth. Amen.’” “God heard us.” Alisa said, “I think we just chose a new path to walk on.” “I have a feeling that it won’t be easy.” Annabelle sighed. “Change is always hard.” “I agree.” “But we won’t be discouraged.” “You know what? I read something else that may help.” Alisa wrinkled her forehead. “What?” Annabelle asked slowly. “I read about solitude being a way into God’s presence.” Alisa breathed in and out. “That means being alone.” “I know.”
― Summer Lee, Standing Strong: A Christian Novel

“I’ve been reading about how people grew spiritually in the past. There was a monk about eighteen hundred years ago called Abba Arsenius. His spiritual journey began with this prayer: ‘Lord, lead me in the way of salvation.’” Annabelle nodded. “I like that.” “It is my go-to prayer now.”
― Summer Lee, Standing Strong: A Christian Novel

“I fooled around a lot until a couple of years ago. I was so hungry for attention that I gave every guy that I went out with everything they wanted from me.” “Did it work?” “For a couple of days.” Alisa felt a knot in her throat. “I wanted so badly to be liked, to be loved. It wasn’t even sexual desire. It was more of a stark loneliness and a feeling of not being wanted. It wasn’t long until I felt like a discarded rag doll. Used up and empty. And alone again. Every time.”
― Summer Lee, Standing Strong: A Christian Novel

“Self-talk is good. You say to yourself, ‘Today I give myself the privilege to be worry-free. I believe I am worth enough to give myself the best and healthiest food. Everywhere I go, I will expect beautiful and worthwhile things to come to me as God opens doors for me to explore new areas of life. I will treat myself and others with respect. Caring for myself is the best way I know to be strong enough to care for others.”
― Summer Lee, Standing Strong: A Christian Novel

“Will you be my best friend, Alisa?” he asked, wiping the tears off her face. “Yes. Will you be my moral support while I make the necessary changes in my life?” “I certainly will.”
― Summer Lee, Standing Strong: A Christian Novel

“What do you understand?” “I understand that all women think they are too fat to be loved unconditionally.” “But this is insane and ridiculous. I love looking at her.” “Unconditional love is probably what she wants. Am I right, Alisa?” “It is more complicated than that. I really am fat, and don’t feel good in a relationship. Not at this time.” She scrunched up her face. “I feel icky when Bob puts his arms around me. I know he feels rows of fat.”
― Summer Lee, Standing Strong: A Christian Novel

“The world is going to hell in a hand basket,” said Samson. “I can’t figure out what to do about it.” Bob shook his head. “It is because they took Bible reading out of public schools. Kids have no guidelines without the Ten Commandments.” “You’re right,” said Samson. “It has been said that sin makes you stupid.” “We are making a difference in our community,” said Bob. “One soul at a time. We have to keep doing that.”
― Summer Lee, Standing Strong: A Christian Novel

“You don’t have to answer to me. Just think about this. It is you that I love. Not how you look.” “You really love me that much?” Without batting an eye, he said, “Yes, I do.”
― Summer Lee, Standing Strong: A Christian Novel

“I wish being overweight was not always on your mind.” Bob looked sad. “That’s why you’re sad. You must do something to change your thinking pattern. You are focused on some negative things and it pervades your consciousness and makes you unhappy. You have so many good things you could be thinking about. Happy things. What can I do, Alisa? I want to be there for you.” She spoke quietly, finally letting out what was bothering her. “I always thought that if I could only lose weight, you would like me.” “I don’t just like you,” he said. “I love you. I’ve always loved you,” he said. “I’ve told you more than once.” “Amazing. I’ve always been quite fond of you, but I thought it was one-sided.” “It’s not.”
― Summer Lee, Standing Strong: A Christian Novel