PAGE 32

This page is dedicated to poetry about abuse

The poems on this page have all been contributed by Natalie McDonnell (nee Price), herself a survivor of abuse.
In her poetry, she expresses the pain of abuse and her release from that abuse.
Through her poetry, she endeavours to encourage victims to seek the great help she has found in Christ.
Natalie,  may be contacted through this web site by using the CONTACT form.

Natalie's poems have now been broken up into multiple pages so as to reduce the size of each page.
Each page will now contain a maximum of 20 poems.
You can move from page to page by clicking on the page links to the left.

SO MANY CHURCHES
HAVE JUDGED THE LOST

What is happening
In our churches today
Causing many people
To turn away
We have so much
To answer for
So many have been hurt
And going out the door
Christians coming across as
A high and mighty bunch
Only interested
In the righteous
Coming home for lunch
Our churches are full of
Wolves in sheep’s clothing
Their true colours
Are shamefully showing
Sunday worshippers
With hearts of steel
Where is the love
Doing God’s will
Sadly society has
Lost trust in the church
With some of the
Stories you hear
They’ve given up
On their search
I spoke to a woman
The other day
She was really bitter
I wanted to pray
Her heart had
Been hardened
Against my words
Nothing I could say
Changed what she
Had heard
We should be careful
On how we come across
So many churches
Have judged the lost

© Natalie Price July 9, 2010

WE’VE LOST OUR INTEGRITY

Christians Attacking Christians
There is a high cost
To this kind of assault
Each side blames the other
Telling each other
It’s not their fault
Our history in Christianity
Is quite horrific
To say the least
The truth of this sad matter
Is that this dark evilness
Comes from the beast
When will we realize and learn
When we attack each other
Our spirit burns
It’s very difficult to preach
The Lord’s gospel
From the heart
In a world where these evil
Religious wars start
Why would the
Unsaved want to listen
We’ve lost our integrity
And our mission
It’s hard to imagine
That Christians can
Mutilate and kill
They say they have
This right because it’s God’s will
So how do we differ from
Other religious beliefs
The fact remains
The devil is our enemy
And is a miserable thief
Our God is an awesome God
And very forgiving
Time after time
The human race better start
To rethink its place
And worship God
With heart, soul and mind

© Natalie Price July 11th 2010

WHY DON’T THEY UNDERSTAND

I can’t even trust my friends
It’s all pretend
They speak venom
When I’m not there
I thought they really cared
In the last couple of weeks
I have felt really bleak
My family came against me
My happiness they
Could not see
I tried not to take my
Hurt to work
But they all saw it
And they all talked
They’re offended
Would you believe
Because I was not
Myself you see
I cannot always be happy
Like I really want to be
You would think
They would understand
Instead they made demands
I’m expected to be
There for them
No matter what
I’m going through
Instead of understanding
They wanted to hurt me too
I’m very tired and sick of this
No wonder I turn away
And throw up my fists
Anger fills my very soul
Very easily I could
Go out of control
In whatever I do
I give my best
They couldn’t care less
If I’m deeply stressed
I have to ask why
People want to hurt you
And make you cry
Very soon I am going
To say goodbye

©Natalie Price July 12th 2010

YOU WILL SEE LIFE WHERE
THE EARTH WILL MOURN


Man shall hide
Even from the wind
And the shadows of
The mighty Rock
In a land, that has
Become weary
Our world will
Watch in shock
Every boat needs
An anchor to help
Hold it through
The storms
Not many listen
To wisdom
Even though
They’re warned
Every house
Needs a foundation
In terrible times
Of flood
If we do not heed
This warning
We will be covered
Completely with mud
Every person needs
A hiding place
To protect us
From the storms of life
Without our protection
The wind will cut us
Through like a knife
You cannot hide
In the mountains in fear
Of the wrath of God
He will wipe out all sin
With his iron rod
God has provided
The rock of Salvation
You will be saved on
His foundation
Come to the shelter
That will protect you
From the storms
You will see life
Where the earth
Will mourn

© Natalie Price July 13, 2010

I WAS LOST

Each time something
Bad happens
We can choose
To be a victim
And suffer
The affliction
Or we can learn
From our mistakes
And do what it takes
To change
Our situation and
Our destination
I decided not
To be a quitter
Or allow myself
To be bitter
The path I was on
Was a downhill battle
I could almost hear
The chains of hell rattle
Satan nearly had
Me in his clutches
Everything the
Devil touches
He destroys
By stealing
Away our joy
Jesus brings peace
And destroys the fear
You know when
The Lord is near
Satan tries to fill
Our heads with gunk
Toss it out
It’s only junk
When your life is
On the blink
Change the way
You think
Listen to the
Lord’s voice
He gives us a choice
My life has been
Completely
Turned around
I was lost
But now have
Been found

© Natalie Price July 13, 2010

SOMETIMES I FEEL
I’M BEING TESTED


I must be strong
In my faith
And stand strong
Against my enemy
Who constantly tries
To destroy my destiny
The devil has
Been my persecutor
Trying to destroy
My hope for the future
He is a deceiver
Against mankind
His evilness can
Fill your mind
When I’m spiritually low
He attacks me
Causing me woe
He thrives on
Suffering and pain
My head fills with
Guilt shame and blame
As I desperately try
Not to give in
He burdens me with
All this sin
The joy that is
In my heart
He tries to rip apart
Sometimes I feel
I’m being tested
No matter how much
I’ve protested
God is with me, I know
He protects me
Wherever I go
But my faith
Needs to be strong
Otherwise things
Could go awfully wrong
As I stand on
God's foundation
I'm under
The Lords Crown
Of salvation
This victory is won
Praise God for
Jesus His Son

© Natalie Price July 15th 2010

I NOW WALK IN VICTORY

As the rain pours down
My spirit feels refreshed
It cleanses the body
The air smells fresh
The dirt and grime
That accumulated
During my day
Has now been removed
And washed away
The Spirit of the Lord
Gently guides me
On my path
As I walk
Under his light
I’m protected
From the wrath
His joy fills my heart
As I lift my
Voice in praise
How can I not be
Absolutely amazed
Especially in his love
In everything he does
In adoration
For all he’s done
I worship
And adore him
In giving me back my life
Through His Holy Son
Thank you Lord
For your mercy and grace
I now walk in victory
With a smile on my face

©Natalie Price July 16th 2010

NOT KNOWING IF SHE IS
HEALTHY OR ALIVE


Scared by his
Demonic possession
It’s like looking at
Satan in the flesh
He’s out to deceive old ladies
And turn their lives
Into one big mess
As long as he nails his target
For his own miserable gain
He doesn’t care that they’re
Old and lethargic, it’s easier
To drive them insane
He has no respect
For their families
Obviously no morals or shame
This  blackness seems
To  be surrounding me
So I cannot think clearly or see
My skin crawls at
The very thought of him
Of  all this corruption and sin
Anger flares inside of me
When I think of all he’s done
He thinks he has the victory
But really he hasn’t won
I hope we never
Come face to face
As I never want
To go near his place
And think of all this misery
How awful can it be
Not knowing if your mum
Is healthy or alive
Desperately wanting
To get free to survive

© Natalie Price July 17, 2010

I’M  HONOURED TO BOW
DOWN AND REPENT


Many people ask
Why God allows us
To go through
Suffering and pain
I personally believe
That sometimes
It is for our own gain
Read the Bible story
Of the faith of Job
He lost almost everything
But he never let go
Job trusted God
He went through a
Terrible time of trouble
His life became a rubble
It’s easy to think our
Suffering is caused by
Our own wickedness
This is something
I’ve witnessed
We should never
Accuse God for
What we go through
He loves us, he is
There to help you
Job refused to
Do evil deeds
He trusted God
For every need
God permitted Satan
To attack everything
That belonged to him
But he refused to turn
Away and let the devil in
God hears our prayers
He is more than fair
God loves his people
He is better than a friend
Or even a brother
He wants to give us  his love
And to love one another
I’ve often related
My own life to Job’s
By reading his story
I’ve learnt that through trials
And testing you grow
I’m honoured to bow down
Before my Lord and repent
God is my tower
And my strength

© Natalie Price July 18th 2010

WHAT HAVE I DONE

Would you still praise God
If your world was ripped apart
You had nothing left
No will, no heart
In your distress you cry
Out to God
What have I done
To deserve to be
Treated like scum
Am I just a worthless dog
To be kicked to pieces
And really flogged
I argued that I’m
Innocent of crime
But there is torment
And fury going on
In my mind
My body is riddled
With boils and sores
I’m pitilessly hurting
Right to the core
I plead for death
But it will not come
Help me Lord
What have I done
God wants us to love him
No matter what
We go through
Good or bad he needs
To know we love him too
His love is unconditional
Whether we sin or not
Some are severely tested
And some of us cop the lot
Jesus was tortured and slain
He did no wrong to be blamed
Sometimes things
Happen for a reason
Experiencing counts a lot
Knowledge opens doors
For people who are lost
Use what you’ve learnt
You’ve paid the high cost
Be part of the living sacrifice
With Jesus on the cross

© Natalie Price July 19th 2010

START PRAISING GOD
FOR THE DEVIL TO LEAVE TOWN


Sometimes I’ve spoken unwise words
Making sure all get the message
To make sure all have heard
My anger swells inside of me
It’s like I want the world to see
All the bitterness and hurt
That has been plaguing me
The green eyed monster appears
In people I love so dear
When I see this misery that
Has taken hold of them
I want to destroy these
Demons again and again
The trouble is I must
Stop speaking like a fool
And giving Satan the
Upper hand to rule
When my mind is tormented
With all these fears
God’s word is what
I should be using
For Satan to disappear
The weapons God gave us
Are worship and praise
The devil can’t stand it
He burns in a blaze
Our prayers are the answer
To this devil's form of cancer
He spreads his evil
From place to place
Until one day you’re
Looking right in his face
His eyes pierced through you
He tries to reach your soul
To steal and destroy and
Put your life out of control
I really need my Lord’s
Strength right now
I have been attacked
And it’s been foul
The devil is cruel
In using your loved ones
To bring you down
So start praising God
For the devil to leave town

© Natalie Price July 20th 2010

TODAY SHE IS A BITTER WOMAN

If you’ve given up a child
That you’ve never seen
You would always wonder
How have they been
I nearly gave up a
Child of mine
I’m glad I didn’t
Thanks to God
Things turned out fine
As she got older
I told her the truth
She seem to understand
Until her youth
She turned to drugs
Alcohol and young men
She didn’t care for
Any of them
She allowed them to
Use and abuse her
Again and again
Her self-respect had
Completely gone
Turning to drugs
Her life was no fun
Holding one job down
Seem to be a very hard task
Her confidence left her
She no longer laughed
Today she is a bitter woman
There is no forgiveness within
She believes my actions
Were a terrible sin
The fact remains I kept her
But inside her head it occurred
She says she has always
Felt different and
Believes that the rest of
The family, were preferred
Desperately I tried to explain
The more I did the more
She was stirred
I love her very dearly
And I always will
But how do I convince her
Our relationship is
Going fast downhill

© Natalie Price July 20, 2010

HE KNEW BEFORE I WAS BORN
I WOULD CHANGE MY HEART


Don’t bury yourself
Into the ground
Break those barriers
Which pull you down
I tried to overlook
So many things
Within my own life
God was trying to
Make things right
Turning a blind eye
Only caused me pain
In the end I felt
Very much ashamed
I hated facing the truth
And overlooked things
That was so uncouth
Satan was out to destroy
My life from the start
He knew before I was born
That I would change my heart
I believe I was born
For a special mission
It took years for me to
Understand my commission
This is my training ground
I was lost but now am found
Where God leads me, I will go
And give a helping hand
To others and sow
God has spent the time
Investing in me
It’s an honour to give back
Plant seed and help
Others who are
Desperately in need
When I think of the person
That I use to be
I cringe at the thought
Was that really me
Thank you Jesus
For all you’ve done
If it wasn’t for you
This victory would
Not have been won

©Natalie Price July 22nd 2010

A LITTLE MIRACLE

Prayer is the answer when
There is nothing else left
Our Lord can save us
At the point of death
A baby boy’s head was
Severely deformed
The doctors gave
Him very little chance
Of being transformed
His little skull was
A terrible shape
To look at the
Little fellow would
Make your heart break
This delicate operation
Could have left him
Severely brain damaged
He had the advantage
Of so many prayers
With everyone’s love
Showing that they cared
A little miracle changed
This little one’s life
His little head looks
Perfectly right
The doctors who operated
Are totally amazed
The parents are so thankful
They give God the praise
There is nothing impossible
That God cannot do
Call out to him and he
Will help you too

© Natalie Price July 23rd 2010

FOR YOUR LIFE HE DIED

This is a little testimony
I wish to share with you
It may help in what you’re
Going through and give
You some hope too
For most of my life
I have suffered deep
Emotional pain
I’m nearly sixty now
I look back on it
As personal gain
I’ve become stronger
Through every experience
Good or bad
It’s helped me to build
My faith even when
I’ve been sad
Trials and tribulations
Is not something I’ve enjoyed
But it’s better for me to
Learn from them, then
Having my life destroyed
God has taught me
So many things
Having patience for one
And trusting him
Abused victims find it
Difficult to trust
God showed me that
It’s not always about us
Sometimes there is
Good reason why we
Need to suffer pain
Think of Jesus and
The reason he came
He’s the perfect example
If you’re asking why
He did not need to
Suffer the crucifixion
But for your life he died

© Natalie Price July 24th 2010

I’VE CLAIMED MY ENEMY FOR JESUS

How the tide turns
I pray from this to learn
If the waves come crashing down
This could bury me into the ground
God’s protection is what is needed
For us to say we have succeeded
Facing the devil’s work head on
I command you Satan be gone
With the armour of God we will win
This victory against this evil pain
I may have to face my enemy again
This evilness nearly destroyed
My very existence, God made me
Very determine with persistence
I could not have done
This without him
To face my enemy of sin
Forgiveness is what
My Lord called me to do
Before I can serve my
My God in something new
I saw my mother for the
First time in three years
Inside of me there were lots of tears
But I knew my enemy was very near
I had to face him without the fear
God’s angels protected me
As I went in peace
I’ve prayed for protection
For this nightmare to cease
I've claimed back what the devil stole
And put my mum under Jesus’ control
Her husband needs to be saved
So I’ve claimed him for Jesus
From this very day
The devil has lost this battle
And will never have his way

© Natalie Price 25th July 2010

RELIEVING THE PAIN
RELEASES THE CHAINS


I can rise above the hurt
God gave me the strength
And kept me from the dirt
When I’ve become weary
And it gets too much
I just sit down and pray
And keep in touch
I love spending time
With my Lord
Just pouring my heart out
I never get bored
Allowing bitterness
To rise up within
Causes serious problems
Because of the sin
Relieving your pain
Releases your chains
Whatever goes
On in my head
I talk to God instead
Death is something
None of us can escape
Jesus offers eternal life
And takes us away
From all our heartache
The answers are there
Just accept them and
Stay under God’s care
When you feel peace
Then the pain will cease
While we’re on this earth
We will always be under attack
Sad but true, this is a fact
This is the enemies ground
Hold onto Jesus
Or it will get you down
My faith is what
Keeps me going
My love for God
Is always showing
Jesus makes an excellent friend
He will stick with you
Until the very end

© Natalie Price July 26, 2010

LOSING THEIR DREAMS

Tears of the oppressed
They flow like a river
And pour out across our land
You hear their
Voices whimpering
There is no one
That understands
From the highest
Mountain tops
To the deepest valley’s below
They’re crying for help, they’ve
Nowhere that they can go
The city towers over them
It’s very cold outside
Their hearts fill up with misery
Where can they go and hide
The parks are full of vermin
Who come out in the
Darkness of the night
You then become the hunted
This often ends up in a fight
Food is extremely scarce
Competition is very fierce
Its survival of the fittest
They know nothing
But bitterness
In their realm of sorrow
They often wonder
If they will make it
Through tomorrow
Their sobs can be heard
All through the night
They’re hungry and cold
This is not right
More and more we see
This every day
Penniless and homeless
With no place to stay
The cost of living
Is getting beyond our means
The great Aussie battlers
Are losing their dreams

©Natalie Price July 27th 2010

SO ASHAMED OF THEIR HIDDEN PAST

Wherever God leads I will go
I’ve made my decision
To reach out and sow
We all need to know we’re loved
There is nothing better than
Giving a lost soul a warm hug
Abused victims often
Shrink back into their
Own little space
By shutting people out
So they can hide their face
Some feel so ashamed
Of their hidden past
They’ve been told that their
To blame, so they feel
They’re an outcast
Sometimes it takes
A lot to break through
The barriers they set up
Are like steel to get through
Many walk away
And do not want to know
God is calling them
And he has called us to go
If we say no
They will continue to live
In their world of woe
The seasons are changing
At a very fast pace
All hell will break loose
If we do not win this race
Jesus is coming back
To gather his flock
For those who do not
Accept him will be
In very deep shock
We need to do something
To show that we care
There are so many living
Out there in despair
Help them to speak out
Against their abusers
They are the victims
Of these despicable users

© Natalie Price July 27, 2010

OUR CHILDREN ARE BRAINWASHED

It’s human nature to strive
For material possessions
With some they will do
Whatever it takes to
Get what they want
It’s like an obsession
Our children
Are brainwashed
Into believing
They need the latest
Technology to get ahead
Some kids believe
If they don’t have it
They’re better off dead
This is a false allusion
That our Society puts
Into their heads
Some parents cannot
Afford these things
Many children hide this fact
Embarrassment is
What it brings
One thing I have learnt is
God’s love, family and friends
Means more to me
Than anything
If I had nothing
But these things
I would be extremely rich
In everything
Maybe it’s time to
Get our priorities right
Especially now as things
Are becoming very tight
Teaching our children
That technology
Brings success
Is far from the truth
And often brings stress
God gives us far
Richer things
Eternal life is what he brings

©Natalie Price July 29th 2010