Eighteen years ago, my family was betrayed by a leader in our church. Lies were spoken about us, and we were really injured. When this happened, I decided to study about the deadliness of lies. Jesus was betrayed by His close friend, Judas. Jim Elliot and the other misionaries were speared to death because of a couple who lied about them. I am sure you can add a lot more examples of how you or people you know were affected by lies. Yesterday we had our fall fundraising banquet for The Pregnancy Center. When preparing to give my testimony, I realized my mistake. Instead of focusing on the deadly power of lies, I wish I would have studied the Life-giving power of the truth. I asked the LORD to give me Scriptures and lessons on that. Yesterday morning, He showed me Proverbs 14:25a which states, "A truthful witness saves lives..." Hallelujah! Last night, I got to share how the shackles of shame were broken in my life with 250 people. I was a truthful witness and God will save lives because that is what He does! Please tell someone the truth about how God has broken the shackles of shame off your life. You will be more free and God will take the truth and use it to save lives! Jesus is Life!

When wickedness comes, so does contempt, and with shame comes disgrace. Being the perpetrator brings contempt, and being the victim brings contempt. Our enemy wants to bring the abuser and the abused to the same place of hatred. The fingerprint of shame I am writing about is contempt/self-contempt. These are both hatred. God doesn't want us to hate others. God does not want us to hate ourselves. Do not let the enemy win ever again! Walk in love! Surrender all wickedness, contempt, shame and disgrace to the LORD! Psalm 34:5 Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.

Please pray for me because I have been asked to share how God has transformed my life through the teachings and retreat. I am putting my trust in the Lord for this. I am feeling fear, shame, inadequate for the task and insecurity. I am surrendering these to the LORD now.

"The Lord has chastened me severely, but he has not given me over to death." (Psalm 118:18} My dear sisters in Christ, we have been instructed. We have been disciplined. We have let ourselves heed the warning. We have caught the bread that the beggar has thrown. We have been chastened! The Lord has chosen shame to instruct us so well! "Open for me the gates of righteousness; I will enter and give thanks to the Lord. This is the gate of the Lord through which the righteous may enter. I will give you thanks for you answered me; you have become my salvation." ( Psalm 118:19-21) 1Cor 1:18-31 The Lord uses broken things. "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5:3)

How can you tell if you made a mistake you need to apologize for or if you are just reacting out of shame? I want to be sensitive to my mistakes, but also avoid the trap of going over everything again and again and reacting out of shame when their is no need to apologize. Help!