God Hears: Groans. GROAN: (in biblical terms, a groan and a sigh are interchangeable); a wordless sound uttered in pain, grief, or distress; a visceral sound full of deep emotion but without language; a personal expression of inner disturbance; the Greek word for groan is rooted in the word for ‘to give birth;’ a deep wordless …
God Hears: Introduction. “Lord, you know everything there is to know about me. You perceive every movement of my heart and soul, and you understand my every thought before it even enters my mind. You are so intimately aware of me, Lord. You read my heart like an open book, and you know all the …
The Shame of King David. There were four main characters in the biblical drama of David’s shame and restoration: David (1040-970 BC) was totally unique in Scripture. Raised a shepherd boy, the last of eight boys, the one everyone seemed to overlook, he became a renowned musician, a legendary poet, a fierce warrior, and the most …
Devotion Overwhelms Shame: Mary of Bethany. “Six days before the Passover celebration began, Jesus arrived in Bethany, the home of Lazarus – the man He had raised from the dead. A dinner was prepared in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, and Lazarus was among those who ate with Him. Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive …
Scorning the Shame: Hosea. Psychiatrist and author Dr. Curt Thompson has a very helpful section in his outstanding book called The Soul of Shame. In this one section he discusses Hebrews 12:2, where its writer says that Christ “endured the cross, despising the shame.” Dr. Thompson discusses how Jesus laid out a pattern for us on how to deal …
Shameless, then Contrite: Zacchaeus. “And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house!’ So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully.” (Luke 19:5-6). Please read the story of Zacchaeus in Luke 19:1-10). Zacchaeus …
Scorning the Shame: The Canaanite Woman. Psychiatrist and author Dr. Curt Thompson has a very helpful section in his outstanding book called The Soul of Shame. In this one section he discusses Hebrews 12:2, where its writer says that Christ “endured the cross, despising the shame.” Dr. Thompson discusses how Jesus laid out a pattern for us on how …
Healing the Shamed: A Leper. Please read Matthew 8:1-4, Mark 1:40-45, and Luke 5:12-16. CONTEXT. According to Matthew, right after Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount, He was immediately pressed into service. He had no choice but to go right to work. “When He had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him. And behold, a leper …
Shame Not: Twenty Questions. “Come to me, all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, all you who are struggling and find life burdensome; I will give you rest.” (Matt 11:28). Sing Over Me (featuring Taylor Leonhardt and Molly Parden) – YouTube The word “shame” in Scripture comes from a Greek root word “aischos,” which …
Unhealed Shame: Judas. “Then Jesus replied, ‘Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!’ He meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, who, though one of the Twelve, was later to betray Him.’” (John 6:70-71). Could there be a more tragic figure in Scripture than Judas Iscariot? We don’t know anything …
Healing the Shamed: St. Peter. Please read all four accounts of Peter at his weakest: Matt. 26:69-75; Mark 14:66-72; Luke 22:54-62; John 18:15-18, 25-27). St. Peter is a tough nut to crack. We shouldn’t try to read the mind of anyone, no less someone who lived 2,000 years ago and is as complicated as he is. So …
Healing the Shamed: An Adulteress. “In the middle of Jesus’ teaching in the temple courts, the religious scholars and the Pharisees broke through the crowds and brought a woman who had been caught in the act of committing adultery and made her stand in the middle of everyone. Then they said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, we …