Leading women in a new direction
Let’s take this last week a little deeper.
1. When you experience a role reversal, you are free to hear His voice (page 122-123).
Mary Magdalene was once tormented, but her encounter with Christ released her to hear His words saying she was worthy, that her life mattered, that she was a friend to Him. What words have you not been hearing as you’ve held on to unforgiveness?
2. When you experience a role reversal, you are free to have a future (pages 124-125). [Read more...]
In Chapter Seven, I introduce Stephanie. Many of those who shared their stories in The Unburdened Heart: Finding the Freedom of Forgiveness are friends. Stephanie is no exception. I can’t wait for you to meet her today.
She’s Stephanie Shott, speaker, author, mom, wife, and mentor to moms across the nation through The M.O.M. Initiative and also a partner with me in mentoring moms through Moms Together.
This is her story.
It was 1962. Abortion wasn’t legal but it was still dangerously available in back alleys and dim rooms where women risked their lives to end the life within. [Read more...]
To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you. ~Lewis B. Smedes
In our last week of this study, I wrestled with which chapter to end it with, and as I reread Stephanie’s story and Chapter Seven, the word krateõ seemed the most fitting.
Krateõ means to accomplish, to take hold, to attain.
On Wednesday, you’ll meet beautiful Stephanie Shotts, whose story is featured this chapter. She was born of rape, sexually abused, and no one every said they were sorry.
No only were they not asking for her forgiveness, but their acts sent Stephanie down a road that later left her desiring forgiveness for her own choices. [Read more...]
Let’s take this week’s study deeper. You’re on the path to living free from the burden of unforgiveness. Let’s do this together!
1. Did you read Chapter Six of The Unburdened Heart? What is one takeaway from this chapter?
2. Kaphar forgiveness means that reconciliation is possible through Christ. Suzie shared that reconciliation isn’t always a one-to-one encounter, but can begin in your heart. Maybe you’ve thought that reconciliation or forgiveness was elusive because of a person’s inability to change, or because they are no longer in the picture. Write a prayer today for a fresh start in your heart.
3. In Luke 4:18 Jesus stated that He came to set the captive free. In what ways have you been held captive by unforgiveness?
4. How have you grown or changed in the past few years? Name one way you hope that is acknowledge by others.
5. This may not apply to all of you, but if the person you are trying to forgive has changed or grown in any way, note that here. Take a moment and reflect on that change. Is it a miracle? Is it something for which to give praise? Has it been acknowledged?
Let’s say this prayer together: Father, I don’t want to live in yesterday anymore. I desire to fully live in today, to see the miracles around me, to laugh, to be excited about tomorrow. Redeem my past, God, as only You can do. Take it and hold it and put it into priority in my life, giving loads of room to grow and to transform, and to take that chapter and allow it to bless others as I show them how You healed my heart. And Lord, if there is someone with which you desire that I begin a fresh start, begin that work in me today, with Your help and wisdom and insight. In the powerful name of Jesus, amen.
There comes a time when you start to identify yourself as one who has begun a journey to living free, regardless of other’s choices or your past. And those who are longing to be in that same place are listening. They long to know how you left that place to find another that loosed you from the bonds of unforgiveness.
But let’s not ignore the importance of telling your story before that time.
In Chapter Six (Starting Fresh) of The Unburdened Heart: Finding the Freedom of Forgiveness, I shared that before I could fully tell my story, I needed to look at the entire story.
As I looked at my mom’s story, I found a beautiful young girl pregnant, married to a boy in the Navy, who abandoned her, who had affairs, who at times abused her. [Read more...]
Today we are jumping ahead to Chapter 6.
The Unburdened Heart study is seven weeks long, and The Unburdened Heart: Finding The Freedom of Forgiveness has 12 chapters, so we are choosing chapters where we can spend time together.
Chapter Six: You Start Fresh is my favorite chapter in the book, because it’s my forgiveness story with my mom.
This is my recent video with the Canadian Christian show 100 Huntley Street, as I share our story. It’s our video today in our study.
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Do you have a desire to start fresh with a person?
Do you desire to start fresh with God?
What is one thing that comes to you as you think about Kaphar(Kaw-far) forgiveness?
