Sarah Sundin's Blog, page 545

Shoving off Shame - Christ Redeems Us

Ruth opened the grand front door, and the sunshine made her eyes water. Ma had peace and joy because she loved the Lord and the Lord loved her. Ma was good, but Ruth was -
"God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
Ma's favorite verse. Ruth huffed. Not her. No matter how many times she prayed for forgiveness, her sin and punishment hung thick and black over her.

In my novel, A Memory Between Us, the heroine, Lt. Ruth Doherty, struggles with shame over her past. Last week I started a new blog series about dealing with shame that lingers after sin has been forgiven or there was no sin to begin with, as in abusive situations. Here's the first post: http://sarahsundin.blogspot.com/2010/10/new-blog-series-shoving-off-shame.html

God doesn't want us to live under a heavy cloak of shame because 1) Christ redeems us, 2) Christ covers us, and 3) Christ restores us.

Christ Redeems Us

Many years ago, I prayed for forgiveness for past sins...over and over again. One day, the Lord stopped me mid-prayer: "Sarah, do you believe Me?" What a silly question - of course I believed God! Then the still, small voice said, "So why don't you trust Me to do as I say?"

1 John 1:9 says, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness" (italics mine). See that word will? That's a promise! And God always keeps His promises. For more assurance on the completeness of God's forgiveness, read Psalm 103.

Do you really believe Him? Do you trust Him to fulfill His promises? Do you trust Him to remove even the stain of your sin?

These questions may be painful. They were for me. I had to acknowledge that when I dwelled on past sins, I showed a lack of trust in God. I showed a lack of belief that He would really forgive me. And in my distrust, I minimized the magnitude of Jesus' sacrifice. One drop of His blood is enough to wash away the sins of all mankind. Isn't it - at its core - prideful to think my sins were so great that His blood couldn't wash them away?

The condemning voice that says you can never be forgiven doesn't come from the Lord. Romans 8:33-34 says, "Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died for us - more than that, who was raised to life - is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us."

When shame says, "You're a horrible person. God could never forgive you," you respond, "Go away, liar! God forgave me and cast my sins away."

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Oct. 22, 1940: Germans force Jews from the Rhineland to camps in southern France.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Oct. 21, 1940: Publication of For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway. Movie premiere of Knute Rockne, All American, starring Pat O'Brien & Ronald Reagan.
65 Years Ago—Oct. 21, 1945: British engineers blow up U-boat pens in Hamburg.

Book Beat - Love Finds You in Victory Heights

Readers often tell me they want to read more novels set during World War II, so I thought I'd share some of the wonderful books out there.

I've always admired Tricia Goyer for her meticulous research and engaging writing, so I couldn't wait to read Love Finds You in Victory Heights, Washington (Summerside Press, 2010), co-written with Ocieanna Fleiss. I wasn't disappointed. Hey, you can't go wrong with a B-17 Flying Fortress on the cover!

Rosalie Madison works at the Boeing plant in Seattle, Washington assembling B-17s. When a newspaper article by reporter Kenny Davenport dubs her "Seattle's Own Rosie the Riveter," she balks at the unwanted attention from the public - and from the handsome reporter.

The story is sweet, the romance charming, and the supporting characters are a kick. Wartime Seattle, especially the neighborhood of Victory Heights, comes to life, and I seriously want to take swing-dancing lessons after reading about Kenny and Rosalie jitterbugging at the Igloo. Seriously. Sadly my sweet husband's one and only fault is a dancing impairment.

I'm impressed with Tricia and Ocieanna's ability to tell a good story, supported but never overpowered by solid research. This story was a lot of fun.

Movies and Memories Giveaway - We Have a Winner!

What a contest this turned out to be! We had 895 entries in the Movies and Memories Giveaway!! Many thanks to LitFuse Publicity for running the contest and blog tour. The random number generator has selected one grand prize winner...
Cassandra Darensbourg!

Congratulations to Cassandra!

Cassandra will receive a A Movie and Memory Prize Package!
* Make-your-own-photo book from Mypublisher.com
* Netflix Subscription
* Starbucks gift card
*Gourmet chocolate
* British specialty teas in carved wooden box
* Miniature model of a B-17 Flying Fortress bomber & C-47 cargo plane
*Big Band music CD (Break out your dancing shoes)
* WWII poster playing cards
* Keep Calm and Carry On

Thanks to everyone who entered, to those who spread the word about the contest and the book, and to all the bloggers who reviewed A Memory Between Us! This was a fun way to celebrate the release of my second novel.

If you'd like to see a summary of the blog tour, please visit http://www.litfusegroup.com/Blog-Tours/a-memory-between-us-by-sarah-sundin.html I was blessed with some fabulous reviews by some fabulous bloggers!

Lessons from the 1940s - Careless Words Kill

During World War II, careless words could lead to needless deaths. A mother chatting in the beauty parlor about her son's ship leaving San Diego the next day, a spy in the chair next to her - a sub notified, a ship sunk. Posters like this reminded people to watch their words.

Recently school bullying has made the headlines. Careless, cruel words caused several teens to hate their lives so much that suicide seemed the only escape. Needless, heartbreaking deaths.

Bullying has always been with us. How many of us were on the receiving end as children? How many dished it out - and are willing to admit it?

However, technology has made bullying worse. While a bullied child used to be able to retreat to a safe home, now text messages and social media batter them with those careless words all day long.

In addition, our culture has elevated snarkiness to art form. While politicians and celebrities have always been targets for the media, now the common man has the ability to add his own comments. We feel safe mocking the famous - we'll never meet them in person and see the effect of our words - besides, they knew what they were getting into, didn't they? And our culture grows meaner.

And so one teen, desperate to be accepted by others, beats another teen up with her words. The others laugh at her clever snarkiness. They join in. The victim slowly dies inside.

How can we stop this? We can refuse to join in the meanness. We can refuse to laugh at snarkiness. We can keep communication open with our children, watching for signs that they're bullies or victims. Most of all, we can watch our own words vigilantly and teach our children likewise. Words have power. Use them wisely.

How do you recommend we stop this cycle?

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Oct.18, 1940: Vichy France introduces anti-Semitic laws.

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Oct. 16, 1940: "R-Day": All US men aged 21-36 register for the draft (16 million men). Movie premiere of The Great Dictator, Charlie Chaplin and Paulette Goddard parody of Hitler.

New Blog Series - Shoving off Shame

"Ruth dragged her feet up the steps of the monument and circled the marble rising in carved splendor to golden winged figures on top. She gazed up at Queen Victoria bright in the midday sun in all her marble purity. The queen looked down her pure white nose with disdain in her pure white eyes. She knew. She saw Ten-Penny Doherty in her filthy shame, sullying her beautiful land."

In my novel A Memory Between Us, the heroine, Lt. Ruth Doherty is weighed down by shame over something she did in the past. I understand. I've been there too. For years I allowed shame to defeat me.

Shame is the voice in our heads saying, "I'm a horrible person. I'm not worthy. God could never use me."

Shame is one of Satan's favorite - and most effective - weapons to incapacitate us. Sometimes shame is thrust upon us due to things we have no control over, such as abuse, coming from a dysfunctional home or a home you're ashamed of, disabilities, or our looks. Sometimes shame arises from sin - not just from unconfessed sin, but it often remains after forgiveness. In fact, the closer we get to God, our shame sometimes grows as we see new dimensions to our sin - how we hurt others, led others astray, and grieved the Lord.

When sin flourishes in our lives, shame serves an important purpose to show us our deeds through God's perfect eyes and bring us to repentance. The Greek word for shame in the Bible is entrope, which means "turning in upon oneself producing a recoil - based on a wholesome shame - from what is unseemly or vile" (Strong's Expanded Concordance).

However, when shame remains after sin is forgiven and removed from your life, or no sin existed in the first place (as in abusive situations), this shame is not from God.

It is not God's will for us to live under the heavy cloak of shame for three reasons: 1) Christ redeems us, 2) Christ covers us, and 3) Christ restores us. Over the next few weeks, I hope to explore these concepts. Jesus said, "'You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free'" (John 8:32, italics mine). I want to live in freedom. How about you?

Today in World War II History

70 Years Ago—Oct. 15, 1940: Heavy Luftwaffe raid on London, Birmingham, and Bristol starts 900 fires.
65 Years Ago—Oct. 15, 1945: Vichy Premier Pierre Laval executed by the French for collaborating with Nazis.