My Life is an Open Book
From the Darkness of Divorce to the Light of God's Presence
by
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- Introduction -
Welcome to my journey. I do not claim this to be a journey far more special than anyone else’s, but I can say with assurance that it surely is a journey of love. It is a journey that could have only been made possible because of the creator and author of love, Jesus Christ. I have come to a point on this voyage called life where I have truly begun to grasp the shear magnificence of it all. As far back as I can remember it seems I have always believed in God and his awesome love, not only for me, but for all that he has created. I can even recall an instance at a very young age when I was compelled to punch another boy in the nose because he exclaimed that I looked like the monkey I had come from. I remember very boldly saying to him, as he lie nose bleeding in the dirt, that I did not come from any monkey, I came from God!
Somehow, somewhere, someway, God was able to place that seed of knowledge and wisdom within my heart. I have often wondered since that day what ever happened to the fiery spirited little boy who had such a passion for God. I have come to believe that my life experiences have clouded the childlike faith that once resided so passionately within me. This may not only be true for me, but for many others as well. I have sensed at times that it is still there just waiting to rise up and take hold of me once again. O Lord, that it may soon come to pass within my heart, and that of so many others who have been drawn away from you because of the dark influences that are ever present in this world.
Within the pages of this book I am not claiming that you will find literary genius or extraordinary revelation, but it is my sincere hope and prayer that you will experience and be inspired by my voyage of hope on God’s ship of faith. For despite all my failures and shortcomings, the sense I have always had for God’s presence never left me. There were however, many occasions when I had abandoned him due to the unworthiness I had felt because of my sins. Even now I struggle at times, as many of you may as well, to claim the gift of God’s forgiveness and unconditional love.
Recently, I had ministered to a young man who felt he had blasphemed Jesus Christ because of the struggle he was having with overcoming sin in his life. I was led to tell him that God knows you had turned aside from him because of your shame just as you have done with your earthly parents at times. I was then led to share with this wonderful young man that God’s love for him will never change, and that it will be because of His love that he will rise up from his shame and sin to claim the calling God has on his life. I know now that this message was not only meant for his ears, but for myself and countless others who are fighting the same battle within our lives. The poems and stories encased within these pages will outline a progression that has taken place within my life. A progression from the darkness of misplaced priorities, selfishness, ignorance and pride, to the humility of being immersed in the presence of a loving and forgiving God.
This journey starts out at a time in my life when I had reached a crossroads. The ten-year marriage to my first wife had come to an end, and I was faced now with having to make some very difficult decisions that would surely affect my life and the lives of my children, for years to come. I will take you through some of the most heart wrenching and heart breaking times in all of my life. Even to this day when I read these poems, I am humbled to tears of both deep sorrow and great joy. Sorrow because of the pain I had inflicted on my family, friends and God, and joy because of the way Jesus so lovingly and reassuringly brought me back to the place in life he had called me to be, in his arms forever more.
I only ask now, that you let your lives be opened to receive the love of Christ that will flow from these pages into your heart. It is for the sake of that love, and for the glory of God that I bring forth this message to you. May he be forever praised, and may you be forever blessed by his love.
In my journey I have truly come to understand and embrace the healing and redeeming power of God’s love. It is no mystery to me now why the Lord chose to make love His main focal point for our existence and His plane for all of creation. Let your love flow in and through me O God, so that you may truly be glorified and others may be strengthened, encouraged and humbled by this testimony in the most extraordinary way possible. In Jesus name and by your love…amen.
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About the Book
This book is a story of triumph and victory over the evils of divorce. At the time of my divorce I had come to a crossroads in my life. I would either submit to the will of evil or I would seek to embrace what was good and right in this world. In my seeking I found the greatest good the world has ever known, and His name is Jesus Christ. For the past twenty-one years my wife Julie and I have grown stronger in our faith together, and we have witnessed the power of God to heal broken relationships and bring restoration to our own family because of His infinite and steadfast love. Our lives bare witness to the truth in God''s word that proclaims that His love never fails, and that the love of Christ overcomes all things we may encounter in life.
The intimacies shared in this book are a reflection of the journey we have been on throughout the course of this life changing process. The inspiration behind its message is that it may bring hope to other families who have been stricken with the disease called divorce. And that it may instill a belief that it is possible to be cured of this affliction through the medicine of God''s love if we will submit to His will in allowing it to flow in and through our hearts. There is something truly amazing that happens when someone is able to be transparent and vulnerable enough to share the pages of their book with others. It opens up a world of possibilities for the many people who had always felt that they were alone in dealing with the many struggles we face as human beings upon this earth. The word of God says to; "Carry each other''s burdens, and in this way you fulfill the law of Christ." One of the greatest commandments in this law is to love one another. It is because of that love that we share our lives with you for the glory of God.
About the Author
Barry Douglas Bowers is an Assistant Pastor at New Life Ministries a church of twelve-hundred people in
In 1983 Barry was divorced from his first wife of ten years. He has four older children through this marriage, Corey who is now thirty, Carey who is twenty-eight, Holly who is twenty-five and Brodey who is twenty-three. This heartbreaking episode in his life has brought him closer to God, and it has inspired him to seek a higher calling in living a godly life. In 1984 he was married to his present wife Julie who is a local Pharmacist and co-leader of their church Youth Ministry. For the past twenty one years they have faced the day to day struggles that are often times associated with broken families. Their love for one another and their faith in God bear witness to the truth that you can overcome any adversity if you will allow your faith and love of God to be the lamp unto your feet and the light that guides your path each day. Barry, Julie and their two children, Stacee seventeen and Drew thirteen, make their home in