Last night Kathy and I participated in a group of 10 Celebrate Recovery leaders working through a video series topically addressing God giving man a second chance.  This is being led by one of our pastors.  The second video tackled Guilt/Shame.  I knew shame has always been a huge part of what kept me in bondage (and still does to this day at times).  It is difficult to tell my story fearing someone will come along and validate the old beliefs I’ve had of myself.  There was a magnificent quote that was in the materials saying the greatest bondage of shame lies in me being unable to forgive myself.  I am fully aware of this need.  Yet, it keeps popping back up anytime I’m facing directly the torment of my past.

Last night God was showing me again the tentacles still clenching some of my soul.  I am so much freer than I’ve ever been but God isn’t done healing until I can say all these tentacles are gone.  I’ll know this when the memories of past don’t want to shut me down.  I say in my testimony as given last weekend that God has laid a passion within me to tell others caught in this bondage of shame.  Well, I still know the bondage but instead of it crippling me into silence, it only holds me back somewhat.  I’m becoming more and more aware that I’ve still have some denial to face.  I do get lost in the work I do and it does mask the pain of shame.  But, I released it to God this morning and I’ll continue to do so until the last tentacle is cast out.

Our God is truly a God of Love.  This is what folks need to know more than anything else.  No matter what has been part of their life or what is presently part, God is waiting to hold you, redeem you through His Son Jesus and to fill you with His Mighty Holy Spirit.  It is a life of freedom one never knew could be lived when shame has owned your identity.  I’m so grateful to have found and to be finding these TRUTHS!