Have you ever kept a secret so big that it held you back from loving someone else completely? Did you think that you could hide from God in the process, too?
Tune in to Remorselessly Biblical and join Beth and her guest, Cindy DeBoer, as they talk very openly about how committing the “big sin” of pre-marital sex rendered them stuck and kept them from making future God-honoring decisions—including understanding how to love well and feel worthy of forgiveness. “The more obedient we are, the bigger He gets,” Cindy says. “Understanding we don’t have to carry the guilt and shame anymore allowed us to move forward in our marriage. We changed our priorities and ultimately, our entire life.”
Cindy shares how she and her husband went from an emphasis on materialistic things and worldly wealth to giving it all up in pursuit of God. When her husband received the next big paycheck, instead of purchasing another home or building a barn to add to their large property—they adopted their daughter from Guatemala. This decision came from constant questioning and praying together: “God, what do You want us to do with all this?”
She goes on to discuss how being “leaders” in their church made her feel, how she felt like a complete hypocrite and imposter as she walked down the center aisle, pretending to be pure and teaching young girls they had to be, too—yet she had not been. Not even her husband knew that secret, “Our family went through a necessary deconstruction.” Which, by the way, I remind you is the best thing we can do to really draw nearer to God. Otherwise we just keep running and repeating the SAME mistakes. It’s exhausting. Learn from others who have gone before you and remember that those who know better, do better. Don’t condemn yourself (or allow others to) for making decisions before you really knew better—including who you were created to be.
Cindy DeBoer is a blogger, psychiatric nurse, and recovering “missionary.” With her popular and timely blog, Far, Far Better Things, Cindy reveals the gritty yet life-giving journey her family discovered as they began to live truer to their faith. Her blog centers on how she and her family gave up on the American Dream, left lucrative careers, lived in nearly 100 percent Muslim Morocco, and now follow Christ in the inner city of Grand Rapids. Her most popular blog post garnered over 145,000 hits from over 150 countries. She and her husband, Paul, are passionate about demystifying Islam, working with sustainable development programs in Central America, and living simply—so that others can simply live. They have two daughters at home and two married sons.
You can find Cindy’s blog and connect with her here: https://cindydeboer.com/
There is a big difference between having ears and having ears "to hear." What are you hearing? What is the story you've been telling yourself about yourself? There is joy and peace in not only knowing who you truly are, but in believing it. Christians are not the only group of people who wond...
How many promises are there in the Bible, you ask? 5,467, give or take! And not a single one of 'em promises you have to live in fear.
Have you ever stayed stuck in a situation like a relationship or a job strictly because you were afraid of what might happen if you left? Or maybe you stopped ...
Join us on this episode for lots of fun and laughs as we talk about the importance of showing up as yourself and the trust building power that level of authenticity brings. Enjoy, special guest, Rebecca Fleetwood Hession, as she shares her "expectation-free" upbringing as it relates to her ongoin...