In this book you will witness how God’s truths destroy the lies of the enemy and heal the unseen wounds of the heart. You will discover in a radical way how God can break the spiritual bondage that holds you captive.
The Bible tells us that we are made in the image and likeness of God. Unfortunately we have an adversary, the devil, roaming around like a lion seeking whom he may devour. Most of the time he doesn’t literally kill us, but takes us off the path of God by concealing our true identity. Satan attacks when we are young, when our hearts are soft and vulnerable—easily molded. Whether we grow up in the Church or come to Christ later in life, we don’t realize we’ve been altered because much of Satan’s work is either subtle or completely invisible. Fear not. We have a Deliverer.
In Christ you have redemption from all of the devil’s work, including the impact it has on your heart, the reactions it produces in you, and even his work that becomes a part of who you are. This book is packed with revelations like this from God and on how Satan uses an array of influences such as our family, our culture, and even the Church to wound and scar us—change us from who God intended us to be. But it doesn’t stop there. Through Denise’s journey you’ll see how God’s mighty hand reaches forth to unbury secrets, gently uproot lies, and heal wounds in our hearts, thereby setting us free from Satan’s grip and restoring us back to God’s original design.
Excerpt
“You’re supposed to be on the path that God exquisitely designed just for you. He paved it Himself. Only you can walk this path; it was built for you long before you were born and your name is on it. The name on your path isn’t Denise. On it is your name that’s written in Heaven, the name on the white stone you’ll receive some day, the name only God knows” (Rev. 2:17).
Ed continued, “God is giving me a vision of your path. I see steppingstones. They’re fourteen inch brown square tiles with beveled edges, set on flat ground in a perfectly straight line. The stones don’t touch each other; the space between them is as far apart as your natural steps. As a matter of fact, the distance between the stones changes as you grow spiritually. The stones are places of support, and the light of Jesus shines on the path to guide you. As your feet land on the stones, you walk toward the white stone with your name on it. God expects you to walk at your natural pace on the path that holds your destiny. You’re not required to run the path, and no extraordinary effort is needed to walk it—only submission to God.”
Ed wiped his eyes with his sleeve, and his voice became hoarse as he continued. “Though you’ve spent much of your life off the path, God didn’t allow one blade of grass to grow over your stepping stones. The dark green grass with wide flat tops hadn’t just been cut—it had been manicured. Angels trimmed it as they expectantly waited for you. Once you started walking your path, the angels were commanded to keep it clear of hazards and obstacles. They also provide protection on each side. Each step you take brings you nearer to God and closer to attaining ‘Well done, good and faithful servant’ (Matt. 25:21). The love God has put into creating your path is overwhelming; it’s excruciatingly intimate, beautiful, and peaceful.”
Professional Reviews
Review by Peggy Joyce Ruth
“Original Design is a treasure chest of personal stories, valuable examples, and the most relevant Scriptures. If you are seeking the peace and happiness that our Father intended for us to enjoy, Denise’s experience, as told in this book, will give you a boldness to put on the Armor of God and fight against the enemy who works to destroy us all.”
Review by Sharon Dwyer
I am so thankful that Denise was obedient to God and wrote this book. This is the first book that Denise has written and it must have been difficult sharing her personal story.
After finishing this book I thought about how my childhood was so different from Denise’s childhood. Even so, I was able to glean God’s truths from this book. Denise clearly states God’s promises and stands on those promises to get victory over the enemy in each situation. We are “fearfully and wonderfully made” and His promises are for everyone of us, no matter how our circumstances in life may shape us. Thankfully, people like Denise share their stories and help us to seek God and His word and then we are able to be the person that we are created to be.
Julie Arduini
This is a powerful account from Denise Buss regarding her journey from a less than perfect childhood to a decent into alcohol, promiscuity and drugs, to a relationship with Christ where she was desperate for emotional healing. She shares how spiritual warfare was so intense that she asked her sister to care for her adopted daughter for fear of her daughter’s safety. There was depression to the point that Denise considered ending her life.
Through those battles, Denise has a pastor friend that is wise in prayer strategies that gives her the tools to find healing and restoration in Christ. He is a major factor in the book and Denise credits him for being gracious with his time, prayers, and wisdom as he shared with her time and time again.
The writing is strong and her story is gripping. The book description lead me to believe I’d be reading a book that gives strategies in the theme of something you might read from Chuck Pierce or Dutch Sheets. Instead, Original Design reads more like a memoir. It’s still powerful, though.
One issue I have that I think deserves a mention in the book is I have received training in spiritual warfare/deliverance ministry and rule number one, especially if you have a history of promiscuity and insecurity, is to receive prayer from someone of the same sex. If you are with someone from the opposite sex, you bring someone from your gender with you. It’s wisdom and accountability and I’ve seen just as many accounts written from people who failed to do this, and it took the prayer times to a dangerous place. Denise makes it clear Ed is like a brother figure and not once do I ever see where he crosses a line. However, I think it warrants a warning concerning anyone considering adopting her approach.
She features information on salvation and Baptism of the Holy Spirit that are helpful. There is of course a lot of talk of demons and battling them through prayer.
If you enjoy stories that show the freedom Christ gives, especially through times of torment from the enemy, you will enjoy ORIGINAL DESIGN.
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