"Unashamed" Book Review and Giveaway

Has there ever been a person who didn't have to recover from shame? I think not. It's so insidious that we don't even know it's there much of the time. Likely this is because we've been told the same lies, either by others or by ourselves, so often that it's come to sound like truth. 

You're not enough. You don't belong. You are your past.

Usually the shame lies aren't so point blank but under the facade these statements are what they boil down to. So how do we overcome it?  This is the question author Heather Davis Nelson seeks to answer in her book "Unashamed".

God and I have already gone for many trips down healing lane so quite a number of chapters in "Unashamed" weren't new concepts for me. However, because I have already gone through the healing process, I can say that this book speaks the truth.

Each chapter covers a different area of shame we might struggle with, how it manifests in our lives, where it might have come from and how to deal with it.  I would have liked a little more emphasis put on the 'dealing with it' part however it is there.  Ironically, when it came to the chapter on parenting and how to avoid instilling shame in your kids, I was filled with shame. I've made too many mistakes and it's too late.  Hmm, looks like I need to go for another healing trip with God. But I did do most if not all of the mistakes the author is warning us not to make. I wish I'd read this book while my kids were still infants before it was too late.  Fortunately, Jesus is a Redeemer - not just of my soul but of my life with all its mistakes too. He can take the mess I've made with my poor parenting and turn it into something beautiful. I know this in my head. Some days my heart even knows it. Some days.

Other than the chapter on parenting, which I found quite discouraging - because the past is not open for changing, this book held a lot of encouragement and also points out the difference between guilt and shame which, to quote the book, goes like this:

Guilt = I did something bad.
Shame = I am bad.

Subtle but worlds apart.

I am guilty of missing the mark in parenting but I continue to be of value because I am God's daughter and He has proclaimed His love for me

Feel like your could use some healing from shame?  On July 2nd, 2016, I will be having a draw for a free copy of "Unashamed". Comment below to have your name entered.  Good Luck.

Ps. God loves you!

"Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post. Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway.  If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win.  Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”