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Be ashamed when you sin, don't be ashamed when you repent.
There are two things: sin and repentance.
Sin is the wound, repentance is the medicine.
Sin is followed by shame; repentance is followed by boldness.
Satan has overturned this order and given boldness to sin and shame to repentance.
--St. John Chrysostom
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>> I would like to honestly share my thoughts, here, for I felt that this had been something that you've been thinking about in depth and so have I. I had been thinking and struggling about "shame" for a while that I couldn't just pass by.
ReplyDeleteI would would love to know your thoughts on my writings, if you'd like to share. I guess, I'm trying to understand where you're coming from, as well. At times, I see how I can misunderstand others just because we were looking at things in a different angle even when we are actually on the same ground.
Christine, an INFP =)
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Yes! am forgiven and free!
At last, I am released!
No longer do I live under the bondage of shame!!
I let go of the things that I've held on to cover my shame
I let go of the thoughts of shame
I let go of blaming and killing myself over and over due to shame
For God have died for me to not live in shame
For He have saved my soul to not die by shame!
He saved my spirit to live free!
God, my God, my almighty God!
You want me to live alive
that you do not want me to hide
and you do not want me to die
For it is you, who had created me
that it is you, who allowed me to breathe
And it is you, who had made me to be me!
You want me to breathe and you want me to live!
Yes, you want me to be live alive!
...as the real me.
The real me, alive and free!
So..IT IS OKAY TO BE ME.
Yes, it is okay to be me!
Yes, my child, no matter how ugly you feel at times...
it is okay to be you
for I understand you
I understand everything about you
I understand your shame
And I understand your sin.
for I know your anger
because I know your pain
I hear your sighs
and I hear your cries...
You see, my precious child,
that is why I was there
That is why I was there for you
I died on the cross for you
Oh my precious child,
don't be afraid
Don't be afraid of what you do
Don't be afriad of what you might do
Yes, my child.
There's no need to be afraid of what others do
There's no need to be afraid of what others might do to you
For you are my child
For you are my only child that I will take care of you.
Yes, you are my only child.
You see, you are my only child who is like you.
that there is no one else that is like you, but you!
No one else, but you!
Can you see how precious you are to me?
You are THE ONLY ONE to me
that I am exceptionally fond of you
that I would do anything to take care of you
that I would die for you!
For I love you
For I love you, my child
Yes, I love you
I love you.
After reading the post, again, actually written by St. John Chrysostom...haha =)
ReplyDeleteI understand that I was coming from the same place that when we repent, we do not need to feel ashamed.
I guess that I was having a hard time really believing in forgiveness and experiencing it for myself.
...which as he said brings boldness in me to live.
I now realize that he was speaking about occasions when I sin but do not fear God to even feel guilty or shame. It makes me think of situations when I sin over and over again that I become almost desensitized in turning away from God by committing the kind of sin.
Christine,
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your thoughts and your writing!
I think you've truthfully and expressively conveyed both the sorrow and the grace, the complexity and the simplicity--the paradox!
Thank you!