Journey of Healing: Embracing Redemption and Motherhood

Devotional

Day 1: Confronting and Healing from Past Traumas

Healing from past traumas is crucial to prevent dysfunction from affecting our current lives and families. Repressing painful memories only delays the healing process. By confronting and dealing with these memories, we can find closure and move forward. [58:47]

Healing from past traumas is a vital step in ensuring that our current lives and families are not affected by past dysfunctions. Often, painful memories are repressed as a coping mechanism, but this only delays the healing process. Confronting these memories, though difficult, is essential for finding closure and moving forward. The journey of healing involves acknowledging the pain, seeking support, and allowing oneself to grieve and process the trauma.

By addressing past hurts, we can prevent them from influencing our present relationships and behaviors. This process may involve therapy, prayer, and leaning on a supportive community. It is important to remember that healing is a journey, not a destination, and it requires patience and self-compassion. As we work through our past traumas, we can create a healthier and more functional environment for ourselves and our loved ones.

Isaiah 61:1-2: "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn."

Reflection: Think of a past trauma or painful memory that you have been avoiding. How can you begin to confront and heal from it today? What steps can you take to seek support and find closure?

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Day 2: Trusting in God's Plan During Suffering

Romans 8:28 teaches us that God has a plan for us, even in our suffering. This scripture reassures us that all things work together for good for those who love God. By trusting in His plan, we can find purpose and redemption in our pain. [01:01:10]

In times of suffering, it can be challenging to see the bigger picture and understand why we are experiencing pain. However, Romans 8:28 reminds us that God has a plan for us, even in our suffering. This scripture reassures us that all things work together for good for those who love God. By trusting in His plan, we can find purpose and redemption in our pain.

Trusting in God's plan requires faith and patience. It means believing that even in our darkest moments, God is working behind the scenes for our good. This trust can bring us peace and hope, knowing that our suffering is not in vain. It can also help us to see the ways in which God is using our pain to shape us, teach us, and bring about His greater purpose in our lives.

2 Corinthians 4:17-18: "For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."

Reflection: Reflect on a time when you experienced suffering. How did you see God's plan unfold in that situation? How can you trust in His plan during your current struggles?

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Day 3: The Power of Sharing Our Testimonies

Sharing our testimonies can be a powerful tool for healing and redemption. By opening up about our experiences, we can help others see that they are not alone in their struggles. Our stories can inspire and encourage others to seek healing and trust in God's plan. [01:02:24]

Our personal testimonies hold immense power in the journey of healing and redemption. When we open up about our experiences, we not only find healing for ourselves but also provide hope and encouragement to others. Sharing our stories helps others see that they are not alone in their struggles and that healing is possible. It creates a sense of community and support, where individuals can find strength in each other's journeys.

By sharing our testimonies, we also glorify God and demonstrate His faithfulness in our lives. Our stories can inspire others to seek healing and trust in God's plan, knowing that He can bring good out of even the most painful experiences. It is through our vulnerability and honesty that we can make a significant impact on the lives of those around us.

Psalm 66:16: "Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what he has done for my soul."

Reflection: Think of a personal testimony that you have not yet shared. How can sharing this story help others in their healing journey? Who can you share it with this week?

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Day 4: The Healing Power of Jesus' Blood

The blood of Jesus is purifying and has the power to heal our wounds. By pleading the blood over our minds and hearts, we can find peace and purification from negative thoughts and past hurts. This spiritual practice can bring immense relief and transformation. [01:08:06]

The blood of Jesus holds immense power in the process of healing and purification. It is through His sacrifice that we can find peace and healing from our wounds. By pleading the blood of Jesus over our minds and hearts, we can experience purification from negative thoughts and past hurts. This spiritual practice can bring immense relief and transformation, allowing us to move forward with a renewed sense of hope and peace.

The act of pleading the blood of Jesus is a declaration of faith in His power to heal and restore. It is an acknowledgment that His sacrifice covers all our sins and wounds, and that through Him, we can find true healing. This practice can be a source of comfort and strength, reminding us of the depth of God's love and the power of His redemption.

1 John 1:7: "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin."

Reflection: Reflect on an area of your life where you need healing. How can you plead the blood of Jesus over this area? What steps can you take to experience His healing power today?

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Day 5: Cherishing Moments with Loved Ones

It's important to appreciate the moments we have with our loved ones, especially our parents and children. Time is fleeting, and we often don't realize the value of these moments until they are gone. Cherish the time you have and make the most of it. [44:48]

In the busyness of life, it is easy to take our loved ones for granted and overlook the precious moments we share with them. However, time is fleeting, and we often don't realize the value of these moments until they are gone. It is important to appreciate and cherish the time we have with our parents, children, and other loved ones. By being present and intentional in our relationships, we can create lasting memories and deepen our connections.

Cherishing moments with loved ones involves making the most of the time we have together. It means prioritizing relationships, expressing love and gratitude, and being fully present in each interaction. By doing so, we can build stronger bonds and create a legacy of love and connection that will endure beyond our lifetimes.

Ephesians 5:15-16: "Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil."

Reflection: Think of a loved one you may have been neglecting or taking for granted. How can you show them appreciation and love today? What specific actions can you take to cherish your moments together?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Welcome, everyone, and Happy Mother's Day! Today, I want to share a personal journey of healing and redemption, and how God has worked through my life to bring me to where I am today. I started by giving out gum to everyone, a little trick I use with my first graders to keep them engaged. I also shared a bit about my background, my family, and my journey as a mother and a teacher.

I honored my mother, Jane Reed, who is currently battling dementia. Despite her condition, she has taught me invaluable lessons, such as the importance of being on time, being a giver, and appreciating the small moments we have with our loved ones. I also shared some humorous anecdotes about my husband, Chad, and our wedding day mishap with the marriage certificate. We celebrated our 24th anniversary recently, and I am grateful for the life we have built together.

As I transitioned into the core of my message, I shared a deeply personal story of overcoming sexual abuse. This traumatic event happened when I was a child, and I repressed the memory for 25 years. It wasn't until I encountered a family member of the abuser that the memory resurfaced, and I began my healing journey. I shared this story to emphasize the importance of not dragging our past dysfunctions into our current lives and families.

Healing is a process, and for me, it involved a lot of talking with God, crying, and asking "Why me?" I found solace in Romans 8:28, which reassured me that God has a plan for us, even in our suffering. This scripture helped me see the good that came from my painful experience. I was able to teach the grandchildren of my abuser about God, and I saw them get saved. This, to me, was a form of redemption.

I also shared how God removed the physical reminder of my trauma by having the house where the abuse occurred demolished. This was a significant moment of closure for me. I encouraged everyone to reflect on their own stories and seek healing from past hurts, whether they are from childhood or more recent experiences. Healing is essential to prevent dysfunction from affecting our current families.

I concluded by inviting everyone to come forward for prayer and to seek healing through the blood of Jesus. The altar is a place of strength, not weakness, and it's important to bring our burdens to God. I emphasized the power of Jesus' blood to purify our thoughts and heal our wounds. I also shared some final thoughts on motherhood, the importance of appreciating the moments we have with our children, and the lessons we learn from our parents.

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Key Takeaways

1. The Importance of Healing from Past Traumas: Healing from past traumas is crucial to prevent dysfunction from affecting our current lives and families. Repressing painful memories only delays the healing process. By confronting and dealing with these memories, we can find closure and move forward. [58:47]
2. God's Plan in Our Suffering: Romans 8:28 teaches us that God has a plan for us, even in our suffering. This scripture reassures us that all things work together for good for those who love God. By trusting in His plan, we can find purpose and redemption in our pain. [61:10]
3. The Power of Testimony: Sharing our testimonies can be a powerful tool for healing and redemption. By opening up about our experiences, we can help others see that they are not alone in their struggles. Our stories can inspire and encourage others to seek healing and trust in God's plan. [62:24]
4. The Role of Jesus' Blood in Healing: The blood of Jesus is purifying and has the power to heal our wounds. By pleading the blood over our minds and hearts, we can find peace and purification from negative thoughts and past hurts. This spiritual practice can bring immense relief and transformation. [68:06]
5. Appreciating the Moments with Loved Ones: It's important to appreciate the moments we have with our loved ones, especially our parents and children. Time is fleeting, and we often don't realize the value of these moments until they are gone. Cherish the time you have and make the most of it. [44:48]
### [44:48]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[39:53] - Introduction and Mother's Day Wishes
[41:22] - Honoring My Mother
[43:10] - Wedding Day Mishap
[44:48] - Lessons from My Mother
[46:22] - The Importance of Being on Time
[47:43] - Learning to Be a Giver
[49:12] - Family and Marriage
[50:43] - My Children
[53:19] - Reflections on Motherhood
[54:18] - Childhood Memories
[55:15] - Traumatic Experience
[56:12] - Overcoming Sexual Abuse
[57:31] - The Power of Testimony
[58:47] - Beginning of Healing Journey
[60:09] - Talking with God
[61:10] - Romans 8:28
[62:24] - Teaching and Redemption
[64:05] - Healing Process
[65:38] - Creating a New Family
[66:30] - Importance of Healing
[67:19] - Altar Call
[68:06] - Power of Jesus' Blood
[68:51] - Final Thoughts on Motherhood

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What are some of the lessons the speaker learned from her mother, Jane Reed? ([44:48])
How did the speaker describe her initial reaction to the resurfacing memory of her childhood trauma? ([01:00:09])
What role did Romans 8:28 play in the speaker's healing journey? ([01:01:10])
How did the speaker find closure regarding the physical reminder of her trauma? ([01:02:24])

Interpretation Questions

How does Romans 8:28 provide comfort and purpose in times of suffering? ([01:01:10])
In what ways can sharing personal testimonies, as mentioned in Revelation 12:11, contribute to healing and redemption? ([57:31])
What does the speaker mean by not dragging past dysfunctions into current lives and families? ([01:04:05])
How can the blood of Jesus be seen as a purifying and healing force in our lives? ([01:08:06])

Application Questions

Reflect on a past trauma or hurt in your life. How might confronting and dealing with it, rather than repressing it, lead to healing? ([01:04:05])
Romans 8:28 speaks of God's plan in our suffering. Can you identify a difficult situation in your life where you later saw God's purpose? How did it change your perspective? ([01:01:10])
The speaker shared her testimony to help others. Is there a part of your story that you feel could help someone else? How might you share it? ([57:31])
The speaker emphasized the importance of appreciating moments with loved ones. What is one specific way you can show appreciation to a family member this week? ([44:48])
The blood of Jesus is described as purifying. Is there a specific negative thought or past hurt you need to bring to Jesus for healing? How will you do this? ([01:08:06])
The speaker found closure when the house where her trauma occurred was demolished. Is there a physical or emotional reminder of a past hurt that you need to let go of? What steps can you take to find closure? ([01:02:24])
How can you create a supportive environment in your family to address and heal from past dysfunctions? ([01:05:38])

Sermon Clips

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "Motherhood is a wild ride. Would you agree? It's got highs. It's got lows. It's got laughs. It's got tears. Oh, the tears. So rough. We have kids moving away. Does anybody have any kids that move away? I've got some, but mine's in Florida. I'm going there Friday to sit on the beach with them. I love that. But I would not change it for the world. I love this so-called job that I have." [39:53]( | | )

2. "I had great memories growing up. I played sports all of the time. I played sports in the winter, the summer, the spring, the fall. Whatever the sport was, we were playing it and our parents took us to it. They were fantastic, fantastic. But man, mix into all that good stuff, sometimes there's some not so exciting things that happen, but you know what? You got to deal with it. All right, things happen. You got a deal." [54:18]( | | )

3. "I wish that I would have appreciated her so much more when I was in the groove of life because now that she has dementia, she doesn't know my name. We can only have three word conversations. It stinks, you know, hate that disease. It stinks. But man, when I had her, I wish I would have appreciated her. I wish I would have appreciated her. I wish I would have appreciated the stuff she was teaching me, like loading the dishwasher from the back to the front. It just makes sense, kids. Do it. It allows for more room." [44:48]( | | )

4. "Healing can be an ugly process but it is a necessary one. Chad found me a quote and I apologize. I don't have a tile for it. But it says the family you create. I created a family with Chad with all of those people. The family that you create is more important than the family you came from. Now I don't want that to sound harsh because when I first heard that I was like. I love my mom and my dad and my sisters. I was a Reed for 26 years." [01:05:38]( | | )

5. "I had a best friend. She lived up the street from me. I grew up on the east side of town. I grew up off of Morrow Drive. You guys know where Morrow Drive is? I love the east side of town. Big homes and great lots, sidewalks where you can actually like walk on the street. You know, we used to walk to school. I went to Morrow Heights. Any Morrow Heights chargers in here? I love it. Yeah. So anyway, sorry, I get a little excited up here." [55:15]( | | )

### Quotes for Members

1. "Healing is a process that we got to go through so we don't bring dysfunction back into our families that we have now. I know that I've stated that before but it's so huge. It's so huge. And healing is so invigorating. Oh my goodness. I just love it. Jesus is our healer. Jesus is going to be the one to heal you from all of that junk. It's not going to be putting posts out on Facebook. Not all those people don't need to be hearing about it or on Twitter or whatever. Oh this is my venting rant. No. Keep it between you and Jesus." [01:04:05]( | | )

2. "I overcame that sexual abuse by the word of the by the blood of the land which Jesus laid out for us on the cross anything and everything on the cross that blood of the lamb takes care of it and then the word of our testimony. That's me. That's my part. Jesus did his part I'm doing my part now by sharing my testimony or just part of my testimony I've got a real whack story, but the testimony so that people can see everybody's got a story and we got to learn how to use our story so we don't drag our dysfunction into our current situation." [58:47]( | | )

3. "We gotta have healing we gotta have it my healing process there was a lot of talking with God Oh my goodness, he I would think he would have gotten sick of hearing from me But I would just sit before him and I would cry and I would cry and I would cry and ask the question Why me you can't ask why me? It is what it is. It happened, right? It happened. It's the fall of man. That guy was an idiot He took advantage of me. It is what it is. Let's deal with it. Okay. All right. I got you God Let's do it." [01:00:09]( | | )

4. "So in my healing I often came across Romans 8 28 so instead of asking why why why why why This told me why and we know that with great confidence that God who was deeply concerned about us causes all things to work together as a plan which we all believe that he has a plan for us for good that those who love God to those that are called according to his plan and a man to his purpose. Yes. Thank you Lord for that scripture now I took that to heart and I was like, you know what? Okay, so there was a reason this happened. Let's deal with it." [01:01:10]( | | )

5. "Get this stuff under the blood. That blood he spilled for us on the cross is purifying. That blood that he spilled for us on the cross can heal us. I often plead the blood over my own brain because my thoughts need to be purified. Us women, we are fantastic about playing that comparison game and talking, oh, my gosh, she's got this. She's got that. I wish I had this. I wish I had that. Oh, my gosh. Oh, my gosh. I instantly stop and I plead the blood over my brain to purify my thoughts." [01:08:06]( | | )

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