Be even tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offence. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it. -Colossians 3:13-13 TM

I don’t know about you, but these verses cut me to the quick. Why? Because my forgiving others is directly linked to Christ’s forgiveness of me.

Do you remember the day you came to faith in Jesus? I do. And a major reason I trusted him as Savior was to be forgiven. I had made one poor choice after another all through high school and into college. One bad, embarrassing memory stacked on another. Sometimes I could not get to sleep at night because all the full-colored memories would drown me is a sea of shame and guilt-with no way of escape. I could not go back and change what I had done. I knew I’d be haunted forever.

So, when I heard for the first time in my life who Jesus is and why he came-to forgive and restore me. I was shocked. I came stumbling into my faith-not really sure what I was getting into. But one thing I heard loud and clear: I’d been forgiven by the Master. I have quite simply, never been the same. All I do, all I say is a thank you card to the one who rescued me from the dark pit of sin. What a miracle!

I am heading for Utah this week to lead a weekend-long woman’s conference on the topic of forgiveness from the content of my book Grace and Guts: What It Takes to Forgive. Over one hundred women will gather to tackle this vital issue. It will be my joy to lead them down fresh paths to the hope, peace, and freedom that comes from embracing forgiveness and learning how to extend it to ones who have cut us deeply. It will be a highly interactive gathering. I will lead women through various spiritual exercises to personalize what is being taught. There will be discussion groups, forgiveness journals, and personal prayer times. I am amazed the way the Lord uses the book and these weekends to recalibrate lives.

Hey, let’s stay connected via: facebook, fan page or subscribe to my blog. Plus, I would love to hear how Grace and Guts has helped your journey toward forgiveness.