Overcoming the Nevers: Review & Giveaway

"I will never..."

let my house look like THAT.

be on medicine for diabetes.

put myself into a situation where I am being abused.

My list goes on.  We all have them, our "nevers".  It is not a problem to have nevers, it IS a problem when we let those hurts and disappointments from our past control our present.  The truth is, we all do it to some extent. As we begin to recognize our "nevers" and confront them, the pains can ease up.  I'm not saying the memories will be gone, but we can learn to better deal with our own past.  We can free ourselves from the burdens that hold us back, the things that keep us from living in full abundance.

Did you know that God wants you to be free from those pains?  It's so true.  

Teri Johnson shares a unique approach to dealing with past hurts and disappointments.  She shares her personal experience as she helps her readers begin to address their own problems.  Teri uses a 12 step approach to healing.  She also addresses these trials biblically.  

This book is refreshing, easy to read, and challenging.  It encourages, inspires, and aids the reader in living a healthy life, while healing the past.  I loved that I was able to read this as I was completing my Restoring the Foundations Bible class, they work hand in hand.

You can order an autographed, soft cover copy of this book for $14.99 on her website, Keeping it Personal.  You can also get an ebook version for $7.99!

Teri Johnson has offered to send a copy of this book to one of my readers.  Winner may chose whether they prefer soft cover or ebook.  Enter below using Rafflecopter.

Overcoming the Nevers: Week 2

Continuing with my journey through the book Overcoming the Nevers - here is the question list for the week.


In order to overcome and experience true freedom, Teri Johnson suggests that we need to decide to let go of past hurts, regrets and pain. How have you done this in the past? Were you successful at moving on? Are there things you are still holding on to that keep you from enjoying true freedom?


I think that in the past, my main mode of "letting go" was just to shove things aside and pretend to forget about them for a while.  I would avoid my past and look toward the future, partly because I want to be forward moving, but also partly because I did not want to think about painful things.  I hope that makes sense.


Recently I've done a lot of work related to this.  Especially as I went through my Restoring the Foundations class, but I'm not done yet.  I recognize that in trying to avoid some of the difficult times, I've pushed aside a lot of people that I dearly love.  It's not that I don't want them to be a part of my life, I just want to live in the now.  I dearly miss those people and need to spend some time and serious effort restoring some relationships that I have let lapse.


If you are one of those people, I am sorry that I have been so bad at staying in touch.  I have not been a good friend to you for a year, or several years - depending on who you are.  Know that I still love you dearly and you are on my mind constantly.  We are unfortunately, in a place that we cannot travel much to see those people whom I love, but I need to work harder at keeping in touch, by email, phone, or otherwise.


I guess, in short - my answer is yes and no.  I have been effective at avoiding pains, but not at being free from them.  By avoiding my pains, I have alienated myself at times - all with good intentions, of course.  I've hurt other people in an effort to make myself feel better about life.


Through recent work, I have been freed from some of those hurts and pains.  I am continuing to work through others.  It amazes me sometimes to realize just how connected a particular pain can be to how the rest of my life functions.  I live in freedom, but continue to work toward COMPLETE freedom.  


Here's a little nugget about freedom that I wrote down during my class tonight.  I don't know if it's original, or something that I've heard elsewhere, but it totally pertains to this post, and to the work I am doing in my life.

Freedom in Christ

means

Freedom from Sin

and

Freedom to have

Abundant Life.