Cultivating A Forgiving Heart

Forgiveness. Whether the injuries done to you are small or great, your spiritual and emotional well-being depends on cultivating a forgiving heart. But how? An in-depth six-week devotional Bible study for women in the Secrets of Soul Gardening series.

Master the art of forgiveness—practical strategies for opening your heart and living faithfully Cultivate a forgiving mindset and learn how to be truly compassionate to others. This thoughtful guide offers you easy-to-use tools that will help you let go of negativity and grow into the best version of yourself. By focusing on various types of relationships, you will be able to better understand why and when you should forgive, as well as how you can persevere through what can be a challenging journey. Filled with inspiring Scripture, stories, and exercises, you'll discover everything you need to become more forgiving in your everyday life. The Christian Art of Forgiveness includes: Actionable prompts—Learn fundamental forgiveness skills through simple exercises like meditating on how you've hurt others or reflecting on your personal values. Supportive scripture and stories—Better understand what it means to forgive through the Lord's wisdom, as well as illustrative sample stories that show forgiveness in action. Focused guidance—Explore how the unique challenges of forgiveness can change depending on who you're working to forgive—including family, friends, colleagues, community, and even yourself. Learn how to love like Jesus with The Christian Art of Forgiveness.

Master the art of forgiveness--practical strategies for opening your heart and living faithfully Cultivate a forgiving mindset and learn how to be truly compassionate to others. This thoughtful guide offers you easy-to-use tools that will help you let go of negativity and grow into the best version of yourself. By focusing on various types of relationships, you will be able to better understand why and when you should forgive, as well as how you can persevere through what can be a challenging journey. Filled with inspiring Scripture, stories, and exercises, you'll discover everything you need to become more forgiving in your everyday life. The Christian Art of Forgiveness includes: Actionable prompts--Learn fundamental forgiveness skills through simple exercises like meditating on how you've hurt others or reflecting on your personal values. Supportive scripture and stories--Better understand what it means to forgive through the Lord's wisdom, as well as illustrative sample stories that show forgiveness in action. Focused guidance--Explore how the unique challenges of forgiveness can change depending on who you're working to forgive--including family, friends, colleagues, community, and even yourself. Learn how to love like Jesus with The Christian Art of Forgiveness.

'A practical guide by the man Time magazine has called “the forgiveness trailblazer.” While it may seem like a simple enough act, forgiveness is a difficult, delicate process which, if executed correctly, can be profoundly moving and a deep learning experience. Whatever the scenario may be—whether you need to make peace with a certain situation, with a loved one or friend, or with a total stranger—the process of forgiveness is an art and a science, and this hands-on guide walks readers through it in 8 key steps. How can we become forgivingly “fit”? How can we identify the source of our pain and inner turmoil? How can we find meaning in what we have suffered, or learn to forgive ourselves? What should we do when forgiveness feels like a particularly tall order? All these questions and more are answered in this practical book, leading us to become more tolerant, compassionate, and hopeful human beings.

Inspiration and encouragement from across faith traditions for all who seek hope and wholeness through letting go. “The burden of a grudge, resentment or bitterness is not fully understood until the act of forgiving another lifts it and the freedom of grace given is experienced. How weighed down we are with being unforgiving! When you truly forgive from the heart … you know it by the liberation of your own soul.” —Rev. Timothy J. Mooney, in “A Choice and a Gift” Old wounds can bind up your heart and keep you from fully loving—and fully living—in the present. Your pain may come from devastating trauma or unconscious resentment from accumulated everyday grievances. No matter the depth of the hurt, true healing comes from the courage to face the past and begin the process of letting go. These offerings of warmth and wisdom from many different faiths, backgrounds and perspectives will encourage you to begin your own journey toward the wholeness and freedom that comes from true forgiveness. CONTRIBUTORS: Marcus Aurelius • Nancy L. Bieber • Rev. Carolyne Call • Rev. Dr. Joan Brown Campbell • Nancy Barrett Chickerneo, PhD • Paul Wesley Chilcote, PhD • William Cleary •Nancy Corcoran, CSJ • Linda Douty • Rabbi Ted Falcon • Marcia Ford • Marie M. Fortune • Tamar Frankiel, PhD • Rabbi Edwin Goldberg, DHL • Caren Goldman • Rev. Steven Greenebaum • Judy Greenfeld • Kent Ira Groff • Diana L. Guerrero • Karyn D. Kedar • Kay Lindahl • Rabbi David Lyon • Pastor Don Mackenzie • St. Maximos • Ron Miller • Diane M. Millis, PhD • Rev. Timothy J. Mooney • John Philip Newell • Linda Novick • Rev. Larry J. Peacock • Gordon Peerman • M. Basil Pennington, OCSO • Jan Phillips • Susan Quinn • Imam Jamal Rahman • Marty Richards, MSW, LCSW • The Rev. Canon C.K. Robertson, PhD • Rev. Nanette Sawyer • Rev. Donna Schaper • Katharine Jefferts Schori • Rami Shapiro • Louise Silk • Rev. Susan Sparks • Aaron Spevack, PhD • Rabbi Elie Kaplan Spitz • Molly and Bernie Srode • Tom Stella • Sohaib N. Sultan • Terry Taylor • Yoland Trevino • Rev. Jane E. Vennard • The Rev. Peter Wallace • Cynthia Winton-Henry

Forgiving those who have purposely hurt you, and/or hurt someone you love, brings healing to your heart. Weeds of unforgiveness, if allowed to grow, can choke your spirit, make you bitter, and ruin your relationships and life. Learning To Forgive Those Who Hurt You will teach you the meaning of genuine forgiveness, and will show you how to discern and discard the myths that can keep you from forgiving others. Author Denise George includes a personal Bible study at the end of each chapter. *Previously published by Zondervan as Cultivating a Forgiving Heart.

Phillip Yancey says that "every writer has one main theme, a spoor that he or she keeps sniffing around, tracking, following it to its source." My spoor is "grace," states Linda Teeple, author of The Nature of Grace: Ponderings On God's Abundant Grace. "I write about Grace because I want everyone to 'get' grace. There's a life-changing difference between understanding grace at the head level and experiencing grace at the heart level. God continually reminds me of his grace through nature--the nature of the great outdoors, the nature of the human heart, and the nature of relationships." Linda is a marriage and family therapist by vocation and a naturalist by avocation. She resides in Anderson, Indiana with her husband and her canine companions, Panda and Leader Dog puppy, Faith. Linda writes a weekly newspaper column entitled, "The Nature of Grace," which can be viewed at http: //www.heraldbulletin.com.