Love Again, Live Again by Joan Hunter Book Review

My Book Review

Joan Hunter's book Love Again, Live Again discusses the role in God in relationships.  She discusses the importance of putting God in your relationship because without him your relationship won't make it. I am not married or have a boyfriend, but I still found some helpful thoughts about friendships and how to have a great relationship with people.
She states the main element in a successful marriage is forgiveness. It seems easier then it is. If you were really hurt such as if your partner abused you it isn't so easy to forgive them. My last boyfriend pushed me into doing things I was comfortable with.  In her book, she states, "Choose to stay sexually pure for that special person who is waiting for you. God is preparing their heart just as He is preparing yours." I haven't saved my virginity because of God. I have saved my virginity for fear of getting sick and having pain. Yes, I am waiting for my special person, but not because of God.

Hunter talks about how important it is to learn how to say "no." Taking on too many things is not healthy. I am 100% guilty on this. Saying "no" is hard for me.

There are things she talks about in the book I think are way over the top such as

"Dreaming about sex with another person, male or female creates the same spiritual damage as actually participating in such activities."

I don't agree with this. I don't tell myself before I fall asleep to not dream about romance and relationship. I can't stop my dreams unless I don't ever sleep, but then I will pass out from being exhausted and still dream. I just found these rules in Christianity a little over the top. She explains God will forgive you as long as you ask for forgiveness, so if you have a romantic dream make sure you get on your knees and beg God for forgiveness. 

If you are married or engaged I would suggest reading Love Again, Live Again. If you are a pastor this would be a great book to give to newlyweds and marriages that are starting to go south. This book is filled with some really great inspirational thought.

Chapters Topics:
Destroy that Wall
Let God Fix Your Spouse
Finances and Relationships
Guard Against Anger
Forgive for the Sake of Your Marriage
Your Children Belong to God First
Break Ungodly Covenants
Dealing with Immorality
Where Is Your Heart?
Give Your Sins to Jesus
Commit to Keeping Your Walls
Unmet Expectations Revisited
The Power of Your Words
Hearing and Listening
Restore Intimacy with God
Relationship with Man
Codependency
God Lives Within You

Amazon Purchase Book: CLICK HERE


ABOUT THE BOOK
Book: Love Again, Live Again
Author:  Joan Hunter
Genre: Non-Fiction; Christian Living, relationships
Release  Date: November 6, 2018

Everyone gets their feelings hurt in life. As these wounds fester and compound throughout life, they become scars that affect our current relationships. Anyone suffering from a wounded heart feels a sense of separation from people, but the separation it creates from our heavenly Father is far worse for our mind, body and soul. “Broken Heart Syndrome” is a recognized medical condition. Tests show that the pain caused by relational stress or trauma releases stress hormones to circulate through the body. This causes the inner layers of the heart to shred, damaging the cardiac muscle and its capacity to pump blood throughout the body. The chest pain this can cause resembles a serious heart attack. Stents or angioplasty can treat blocked vessels, but modern medicine still has no quick fix for a broken heart. Joan Hunter reveals how to heal your heart from past hurts. To do this, you must be set free from the trauma of past relationships that prevent you from giving of yourself to those most important to you today. In doing so, you will also restore your most important relationship—the one with your heavenly Father.

Click here to purchase your copy!

GUEST POST FROM JOAN

Everyone has had their feelings hurt by parents, siblings, spouse, children, teachers, friends, or coworkers. Whether you realize it or not, those wounds affect your current relationships. Anyone suffering with a wounded or broken heart feels a sense of separation. Often, you feel that the separation from “man” is the problem. But in reality, separation from your heavenly Father is what causes the worst pain in your mind, body, and soul.

After ministering and teaching about a “Broken Heart Syndrome” for several years, I discovered that there was an official medical diagnosis by that name. Tests have shown that the inner layers of the heart actually shred, which damages the cardiac muscle and its capacity to pump blood throughout the body. Any interruption of the electrical system imbedded in the muscle hinders the heart rhythm and can lead to death or permanent damage. Usually caused by extreme stress or trauma, which precipitates an excess of stress hormones to circulate throughout the body, the resulting chest pain can resemble a serious heart attack.

The diagnosis is made by ruling out a heart attack, which is caused by blocked or collapsed cardiac blood vessels. While stents or angioplasty can treat blocked vessels, there is no quick fix for a broken heart. Broken Heart Syndrome does not block blood vessels and it can sometimes heal within a month or so. It can be caused by an extreme stressful/traumatic situation such as the death of a loved one, divorce, severe sudden illness, injury, or extreme shock.

This book reveals how to heal your heart from those hurts. To do this, you must be set free from old relationships that prevent you from giving of yourself to those most important to you today. You will also see how these principles affect your most important relationship—your relationship with your heavenly Father.

Amazon Purchase Book: CLICK HERE

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Joan Hunter is an anointed healing evangelist, a dynamic teacher, and a best-selling author. She is the founder and president of Joan Hunter Ministries, Hearts 4 Him, and 4 Corners Foundation, and she is also the president of Hunter Ministries. Joan’s television appearances have been broadcast around the world on World Harvest Network, Inspiration Network, TBN, NRB Word Networks, Daystar, Faith TV, Cornerstone TV, The Church Channel, Total Christian Television, Christian Television Network, Watchmen Broadcasting, and God TV. Joan has also been the featured guest on many national television and radio shows, including Sid Roth’s It’s Supernatural!, It’s a New Day, The Miracle Channel, The Patricia King Show, Today with Marilyn and Sarah, and many others.Together, Joan and her powerful international healing ministry have conducted miracle services and healing schools throughout numerous countries in a world characterized by brokenness and pain. Her previous books with Whitaker House include Healing the Whole Man Handbook, Healing the Heart, Power to Heal, Supernatural Provision, Freedom Beyond Comprehension, and Miracle Maintenance. Joan lives with her husband, Kelley Murrell, in Magnolia, Texas. Together, they have eight children—four daughters and four sons—and seven grandchildren.



TOUR GIVEAWAY:

To celebrate her tour, Joan is giving away a grand prize of a $20 Starbucks gift card!!

Link for giveaway: Click Here

Giveaway Code: d5ca

Blog Stops

Just the Write Escape, November 15

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 16

Mary Hake, November 16

Bibliophile Reviews, November 17

A Baker’s Perspective, November 18

Inklings and notions, November 19

Real World Bible Study, November 20

TennTwo, November 21

Reading is my Super Power, November 21 (Interview)

Robin Is Bookish, November 22

proud to be an autism mom, November 22

Stephanie’s Life of Perseverance, November 23

margaret kazmierczak, November 23 (Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, November 24

Janices book reviews, November 25

Carpe Diem, November 26

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 27

Bigreadersite, November 28

Amazon Purchase Book: CLICK HERE

I Was Sexual Assaulted By My Boyfriend

This is really hard for me to write up, but I felt maybe this might help some other women out there.

My relationship ended. You might be thinking what happened? Well, it is the big word SEX. Sex can be a wonderful thing in a relationship, but it also makes a relationship go south very quickly. My boyfriend, who I've known for only 4 months couldn't wait to have sex with me. I am glad he was physically and emotionally attracted to me.  Me on the other hand. wanted to wait at least a year.  I feel sex should be given to someone you really know well. I only knew him for one month and he tried pushing me into having sex.  He would get really frustrated with me and would try to force it on me. For instance, we were watching a TV marathon in July watching TURN Revolutionary Spy. He kept kissing me and getting on top of me. I then pushed him away and said "no", but within another thirty-minutes he tried it again.  I fell fake fell asleep on the couch in hopes he would stop, but he didn't.  Instead, he started touching my private parts. The next second he started pulling my pants down to stick his private part down my pants. I quickly woke up and pushed him away.  I look back at thinking how much of an idiot I was. I should have left, but I didn't. A tornado saved me.  I couldn't believe what he did. For me, I didn't think about it being sexual assault because I thought maybe a guy does that when he is soo in love with you. In my lifetime, I have only had one relationship. I will tell you that story some other time.  I was completely shocked. This guy is amazing guy he puts up with me not feeling good, he went to many of my doctors' appointments and even played cards with my grandma. How will I find another guy like this? This was the stupidest thought. I should have respected myself and left this relationship a lot sooner.  I was too afraid I won't find a guy that understands my health conditions. This was stupid because he didn't think about my health condition he thought about himself. He always was telling me he is sexual frustrated. He knew I wasn't on birth control, so he made a comment, "You will have to go on birth control or you will have to have anal sex because I don't like wearing a condom."  Puppy love is evil because I shouldn't have walked out of this relationship right then and there.

I ended up having a tubal ligation surgery. I didn't do it because of him. I did it because my OBGYN doctor felt it would help my endometriosis plus it would be very dangerous for me to get pregnant. I might want kids in the future, but I don't want to go through the pregnancy part of it. My doctor reassured me I still will produce eggs so I can still have a baby that looks like me and my husband.

One week before surgery I was outside kissing him good-bye he starts to grind on me. Soon I found myself being held down with him trying to put in my pants. I yelled, "STOP STOP. I don't want to." He still kept it up. I quickly twisted out of it. It was weird time slowed down for a second and I saw his face and it was evil. I felt he didn't look at me as a human being with feelings. I felt he looked in the zone of forcing me so he could have pleasure. The next second,  he said, "Please. Please." while pulling me closer to him. I pushed him away and said, "N-O-. NO. I shouldn't have to tell you more than once."


Again, I was stupid for staying with him. I should have told my mom what he did and reported him. That would have been the smartest thing. I was so caught up thinking I won't find someone who will accept me for having lots of health problems. I now understand he didn't love me because if he did truly love me he would have been patient and waited till I was ready. If he loved me he wouldn't have forced himself on me or keep pushing me into doing it when I told him I wasn't ready.

While I was healing up from the surgery I noticed something different about my him. He didn't want to kiss me or really even hug me. He didn't plan out when we will see each other next.  He was also texting me a lot less. Usually, I would get an "I love you" text in the morning, one at lunch and then one when he got home from work. I was barely getting one when he got home from work.

Finally, I couldn't take it anymore and asked him what is going on. Our conversation ended up a little like this:

ME: What is going on? Are you okay?

HIM: What do you mean?

ME: You have been acting funny? You haven't kissed me much when we see each lately.

HIM: Oh yeah, well I just feel like we don't have much in common.  Plus, its not fair for me if I kiss you and we don't go to the next step.

ME: What?

HIM: Your kisses make me all riled up, but we never end up having sex. It is easier for me to just avoid them to not get all hot and bothered. I can't help myself that I am really attracted to you. Plus, I have been really thinking about the future and we don't have anything in common.

ME: What do you mean by not having anything in common?  We both like movies, Netflix marathons, video games.

HIM: Yes we like video games, but you play Wii and I play XBox.

ME: Yeah, four years ago my grandma bought me the Wii.  I don't have the money to get an Xbox. I have asked you many times we should play together.

HIM: I understand that, but the games I play you need another Xbox.

Me: That's not my fault.

HIM: You don't understand football.

ME: So that doesn't mean I don't like watching it. I ask you all the time when you are over on Sundays what the score is.

HIM: Well, I just don't understand why you don't sleep over or have me sleep over at your place with you. You slept with your last boyfriend.

ME: What? I NEVER slept over at my ex-boyfriend. He slept over at my place for two weeks while we were trying to find him an apartment because he was a homeless veteran. When he was at my place he slept on the couch in the family room.

HIM: I just assumed.

ME: Next time ask me don't assume.

HIM: I don't like theater and film production  is your passion.

Me: Theatre, Film & TV is my career. I am lucky my career is my passion, but I don't expect you to like my career. I don't like chemical blending.

Him: I like going to the beach and you don't.

Me: I love going to the beach. I just have to be careful with getting over heated. I would have to go on a day when it isn't 86 or higher degree day. Or if I do I might need to take a break in an air-conditioned place for a little bit, but I love going to the beach with my umbrella a good book and a radio. I don't mind putting my feet in the water.

HIM: I love swimming and I don't want to leave you by yourself because that isn't very nice.

ME: I am telling you its okay. If I told you I would be bored and hate being myself then yes that wouldn't be very nice.

HIM: I wouldn't be able to have any fun with you sitting on the beach while I am in the water.

ME: I know what will make me happy and what won't. You don't have the right to think you know what will or won't make me happy.

HIM: My ex-girlfriend hated me going to the beach because she had body image issues and didn't like if I looked at other girls. It's human nature to look at other gorgeous girls. I wouldn't do anything.  I am not the most handsome guy, so no worries.
(He is right. He isn't very handsome. But looks aren't everything).
I didn't get to go swimming much at my dad's because I was with you.

ME: What? I never stopped you from going over there. You only invited me to your dad's twice.

HIM: The first time you were there we couldn't go into the water because of being so hot, so I didn't go in because I didn't want to leave you by yourself.

ME: No one was in the pool. Don't blame me. The second time the pool was covered because it was fall. If you wanted to go over there on the weekend I wouldn't have stopped you.

HIM: It doesn't matter I just don't understand why you don't want to sleep over. I want to wake up next to you.

ME: If you can't control yourself with just kissing then how can you control yourself if I am lying next to you in bed.

HIM: We have been together close to 7 months now.  I have been there for you and did everything you liked to do, but you haven't done anything I want.

ME: I am always asking you if there is something you would like to do just let me know. I asked you when are we going to play Dominos with your cousins again or a game night with your brother and his fiance.  You never asked me out on a date. You never said "lets go to a movie." I don't want to be like your ex-girlfriend and make you buy things for me all the time. I don't have the money to go out and do things. I'm on an extremely tight budget.

(When we first started seeing each other he told me about his ex. He said she was always keeping him busy and spending his money. That was one of the main things he couldn't stand about her. He told me he enjoys just kicking back at home and relax watching Netflix. )

HIM: If I asked you then I don't mind spending the money. I just don't understand why don't want to sleep over. I want you so bad and I don't understand why you don't feel the same.
(He never asked me.)

ME: We have not known each other for 7 months.

HIM: We started texting each other in March, but you didn't text me back until April.

Me: We didn't meet each other until the middle of June. I don't count texting dating. I count the days when we physically meet each other.  You don't have to have sex to show someone you really love them. Sex only makes the relationship complicated especially in the beginning of getting to know each other. If we have known each other for more than 2 years and I haven't stayed at your place or you haven't stayed at my place then I can understand. I told you when I first met you, I am a sex after married kind of gal.

HIM: I just don't think we have anything in common. I love you so much and like you so much, but I just think we should move on.

(After realizing I was selling myself to him which you shouldn't do.  Don't do it girls. Just walk away, especially if its a guy who is making feel like you should be doing something you aren't comfortable with. )

ME: You are right. We don't have anything in common.

HIM: Yes, I have a really high sex drive, but I just don't want you to think its all about sex.

(I'm laughing after reading that comment. It was because he totally wasn't getting any.)

ME: It hard for me not to think it isn't all about sex because that is what you keep going back to. May I ask you, when did you have sex with your ex-girlfriend?

HIM: We had sex the first week we met. She was my first relationship and she had a high sex drive. I never had a high sex drive until I met her.

ME: When did she move it with you?

HIM: 3 months

ME: Wow. Did that work out for you?

HIM: No not really. I just don't like being alone.

ME: I am sorry you don't want to be alone, but lying to a woman isn't the answer. You told me you like going to see theater shows and had fun being on a film set. You told me you hated that your ex-didn't let you play your video games.  I didn't complain when you wanted to spend the weekend playing your games.   You told me you like to do Netflix marathons. Plus, I follow my psychologist advice and she said a relationship will be a lot healthier if you don't rush into having sex and moving in with each other.

Usually, when you get dump especially getting dump from text messages you cry and are upset. I wasn't upset and I didn't cry. Deep down I felt relief and happy. I should have listened to my gut way before this. After telling my experience to my psychologist I knew God was truly looking out for me.
After talking out the situation with my psychologist,  I now understand that he sexually assaulted me not once but four times.

Please, I beg you don't do what I did. Leave.

Here are things I learned:

- If he says "I love you" the second week you know each other move on and leave.
- If he starts touching you without your permission. Leave and don't look back.
- You tell him you don't want to rush into things and would  like to take it slow, but he doesn't listen to you. Leave and don't look back.
- Test your boyfriend out by pretending to fall asleep. If he touches your private areas while you sleep. Get up and leave. Tell him, "If you don't respect my body than you don't deserve me." Don't look back.
- If he holds you down and tries to put his privates on you. Yell, "Stop" If he doesn't stop push him away and call 911. Make sure you report him no matter what.  Leave him and don't look back.

 I didn't really want to write this because it is such a private topic,  but I wish I knew what I know now.

Here are some books I felt helpful:

Sex, Frustration and Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (CRPS)

When you have RSD/CRPS, having a relationship can be very challenging. I have been dating my boyfriend now for three months. Explaining to him about how much pain I am in is impossible. It seems to go through one ear and out the other.  He is always pressuring me into having sex with him even after telling him I am in pain and don't feel good.  My RSD pain is mid back all the way to the top of my toes. Most days hugs cause me pain, so anything with touching of the vagina, thrusting of the hips. and the weight of the other person on top.   I just seem to not be able to get through to him on how much pain I am in. This scares me because if I can't get through to him and he doesn't watch what he is doing I will have to break-up with him.

Today, for instance, I got home from OBGYN who just did a pre-op exam for my tubal ligation surgery I will be getting the end of October. This exam caused my RSD to have pain and burning in my vagina. He knew I wasn't feeling very good. He came over and surprised me with this beautiful flower and candy. How can you not love and give your guy pleasure for bringing a thoughtful gift when you are not feeling good?

He spent time with me watching Merlin, a fun TV show, but within an hour he starts to touch my vagina.  I quickly push his hand away. I was really mad at him for that. He tells me, "I can't help it I have such strong feelings for you." Then he tries it again. He whines about having a boner and he has to release it. Now I am thinking did you really come over to make me smile or did you come over to get pleasure?  

Recently, he has been having a lot of pain in his ankle to the point where he doesn't want to do anything because of it.  I really wanted to kick his foot so hard and say, "That is how I am feeling. I will stop kicking you if you stop trying to touch me where I don't want to be touched."

Did I say how much it sucks to be a woman?
Especially a woman in pain?
The more and more I am in this relationship the more and more I hate being women. In the beginning of our relationship,  I kept  telling him I am not a sexual type of person. Sexual activity freaks me out. It gives me so much anxiety. Having a lot of pain and not feeling good doesn't help.
My medications also don't help. They cause bladder infections, vagina dryness, burning and soreness.  I  was open and honest with him from the start of this relationship. I told him "I don't want to have sex until I am married or in a relationship for at least 2 years. Even if we have been together for 2 years or married, I cannot physically feel like having sex all the time. You would be lucky if you get any type of sexual type of activity once a month."

I know he gets really frustrated with me because I don't stay over at his place. The main reasons why I don't stay at his place is:

1. It is really hard for me to find a comfortable spot. The only spot I find to be comfortable is in my recliner.  He doesn't have a recliner. Sleep is very important for someone with health problems, especially with RSD/CRPS. 
2. My medications mixed with his high sex drive don't make a safe environment, at least at this time of the relationship. My Ambien can cause me to do things I don't want to do. I fear he might push me into having sex when I am out of it. I know you are probably thinking, "If you are worried about this why are you going out with this guy?" I understand that and that is why I am taking it slow and really watching him and analyzing him and his actions. If he can't control himself or keeps pushing himself on me I will break up with him. 
3.  His brother and brother's fiancee live with him. They are great people, but it makes it harder. 
4. I really want to be settled in life first. I am in the process of trying to get on social security disability because I can't find a full-time or even a part-time job that will work with my health. My RSD/CRPS, Rheumatoid arthritis and stomach are getting worse. I don't want to get into a situation where he is the dominant of the relationship. No one in the relationship should be dominant. I want to make sure my confidence and self-esteem is ready for it.  I also don't want to feel I should be having sex with him because he is paying my bills and giving me a house to live in.  I don't think he would do that but I am still learning things about him. 
5. Changes are hard on RSD/CRPS. For instance,  a few weeks ago I worked on a Music Video . I don't go to bed until 1:30am and get up around 11:00am. I had to be on set at 5:30 am. Trying to go to bed at 9:00pm was really hard and waking up at 4:30am was impossible, but I did it. I didn't get home until 9:30pm. That is a very long day with RSD/CRPS. I am still paying for doing that music video. 

Don't get me wrong, he is a great guy, at least on and off LOL. When he can he goes to many of my doctor appointments with me. He does things he isn't a fan of doing such as seeing musicals and plays. He plays cards with my grandma and my mom. I live with my parents right now so he puts up with my loving parents.  I think that is why he makes me feel bad about not giving him pleasure. Having sex though is something I won't do, at least for a long while.   This is my body and I don't feel comfortable about doing sex type activities. Plus I suffer with severe amount of pain all the time. If he doesn't like it then the relationship will just have to end. This does scare me because I worry if I will ever find someone who excepts that I am in pain all the time and can't do things normal people can do. They say they love me no matter what, but I am starting to find that is not always true. They love you until you can't give them what you want.
I hope everything works out and look forward to learning more and more about him. I promise to keep you up to date on my relationship. I will also let you know tips and tricks I learn being in a relationship while dealing with health problems.