"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God— not the result of works, so that no one may boast." (Ephesians 2:8)

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (Luke 12:34)

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15;13)

Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. (Colossians 3:13)

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect. (1 Peter 3:15)

He will yet fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips with shouting. (Job 8:21)

See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled. (Hebrews 12:15)

Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise. (Deuteronomy 6:6-7)

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:18)

Thus says the Lord: “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good ways is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’” (Jeremiah 6:16)

Thus says the Lord: “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good ways is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’” (Jeremiah 6:16)

Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1:13)

Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. (Philippians 3:12)

Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. (Colossians 3:2)

Too often in Christian history, shame has been used as a tool for control. Instead of sin providing direction to renewed faith, sin was employed as a weapon to hurt and kill one’s body, mind, and soul. If you didn’t follow the community’s values or desires, shame controlled or manipulated you. Even the slightest infractions were met with emotionally and spiritually crippling consequences. Sadly, shame is not a tool of the Messiah. Jesus did not affirm shame.

Too often in Christian history, shame has been used as a tool for control. Instead of sin providing direction to renewed faith, sin was employed as a weapon to hurt and kill one’s body, mind, and soul. If you didn’t follow the community’s values or desires, shame controlled or manipulated you. Even the slightest infractions were met with emotionally and spiritually crippling consequences. Sadly, shame is not a tool of the Messiah. Jesus did not affirm shame.