Healing Me, Healing You

By Sheri A. Taggart

Your purpose in life is far greater than your pain!

Our emotional and spiritual anguish will often manifest as physical pain. Are you tired of being stuck in pain, unable to move forward? The time for you to enjoy complete healing is now!

In this refreshing journey toward healing you will learn:

How God wants us to enjoy complete restorative healing, whether we are the victim or the offender;

how much God loves us, even if weve made a mess of our lives;

how to begin the process of forgiving ourselves and others;

how to live above our circumstances with abundant joy;

how to discover Gods great calling for our lives.

Refreshingly honest and eye openinga great journey of self discovery, healing, and finding strength to move forward in life. I look forward to book two in the series!

C. Cardenas, R.N., Floresville, Texas

Sheris words of encouragement will comfort the suffering soul. She so appropriately uses Scripture and life experiences to bring restoration, peace, and joy through spiritual growth.

Reverend Harry Kahl, San Antonio, Texas

Sheri gives so many practical, down-to-earth ways to grow and heal in Christ. I especially love her flowing use of Scripture. I loved this book!

Reverend Gerald Goodridge, Schertz, Texas

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Jul 1, 2015
• ISBN: 9781490885988

Sheri A. Taggart

Sheri A. Taggart, a former fitness trainer and preventative medicine program coordinator, now owns a private practice as a clinical massage therapy practitioner. She also orchestrates and lectures for healthcare clinics pertaining to stress, life imbalance, and sleep deprivation. Sheri, a Bible teacher for many years, also serves in her “Soul Therapy” Ministry, offering free biblical counseling where she applies God’s Word to current, modern-day issues. Sheri lives with her husband in a small community near San Antonio, Texas.

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Copyright © 2015 Sheri A. Taggart.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

*Scripture Quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the New International Version Bible, copyright years of: 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011

Scripture Quotations marked (NKJV) are taken from the New King James Version Bible, copyright year of: 1982

Scripture Quotations marked (NASB) are taken from the American Standard Bible, copyright years of: 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1973, 1975, 1995

Scripture Quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the New Living Translation Bible, copyright year of: 1969

Additional Resources used

Believer’s Bible Commentary by William MacDonald, edited by Art Farstad

copyright dates: 1989, 1990, 1992, 1995

Bible Gateway online

Pastor Steve Curry’s Sermon notes (2014) for the following definitions:

Chapter 2: Sin Iniquity Transgression Holy

Chapter 4: Grace

WestBow Press

A Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.westbowpress.com

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

ISBN: 978-1-4908-8597-1 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4908-8598-8 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2015910185

WestBow Press rev. date: 09/01/2015

Contents

Foreword by Rev. Gerald Goodridge

Introduction

Chapter 1    What’s holding Me back?

Chapter 2    Feeling Lost and Disconnected

Chapter 3    Reaping what we Sow

Chapter 4    God’s Gift of Grace

Chapter 5    How come I don’t Feel Forgiven?

Chapter 6    Should the Building be Condemned?

Chapter 7    Restorative Healing

Chapter 8    Living as a New Creation

Chapter 9    Ministry of Reconciliation

Chapter 10    The God of Second Chances

Chapter 11    Correcting our Course

Chapter 12    Finding God’s Will for My Life My Calling

Chapter 13    Feed My Sheep

Chapter 14    We are Equipped

Chapter 15    Waiting on the Lord

Chapter 16    Encouragement along the Journey

Chapter 17    The Armor of God

Chapter 18    Overcoming the obstacles that Keep us from God’s Word

Chapter 19    Our Territory

Chapter 20    Healing Words

Dedication

To my sweet Aunt Andrea who went to be with The Lord during the writing of this book. She was such an inspirational Woman of God.

Acknowledgements

Dear God, thank you for always picking me up and being so merciful and long suffering with me as we walk this journey of life together.

Loyce McCarter, my editor and friend, for being so great at what you do and for reading my manuscript with your heart as well as your eyes.

Kerry Williston and Doris Cooksey for technical support. Without you ladies, I would not have been able to get my manuscript into book form!

Jennifer Morris, my publishing coordinator, for being so sweet and patient as I’ve been learning this whole publishing process!

Pastor Jerry Goodridge, Pastor Harry Kahl, Cheryl Cardenas, Stacy Bowers, Sally Barclay, Kadee Rodriquez and Tammi Smith for taking your precious time to review my manuscript and giving me both suggestions and written reviews.

The mighty Prayer Warriors who have prayed for me and the writing of this book series: Tim, Marlene, Art, Margie, David, Lillian, Debbie W., Betsy, Pastor Harry Kahl, Pastor Ron and Paula Arbaugh, Shirley, Tammi, Sheila, GiGi, Sherry, Nikki and Fay. Every time I felt opposition, your prayers covered me with love and strength.

To my loving family for all your unending support and encouragement: My husband Tim and my children, their spouses and granddaughter, Kelli, Dusty, Ariel, Bob, and Layla; My step-daughters, spouses and children, Jenny, Amy, Jesse, Kevin, Jacob, Ksena, Niya, Andrew, Danielle and Kaleb; My mom and dad, Art and Marlene, my Grandma Margie, my sister Traci, husband Michael and son Charlie, brother David, wife Yadi and children Krizia and Joel, step-brothers Aj, Jon and wife Mari. Also to Winnie, Mary, Betty, Tammy, Cj, Ron, George, Maria, Jason, Kadee and their five beautiful children. I also thank God for all the amazing friends that He has given me in this life. I am so thankful for them and their constant love and friendship. I have been blessed far beyond what I deserve!

Foreword

T he thoughts, convictions, examples and illustrations Sheri Taggart presents will not only appeal to Christians but to anyone seeking to reduce and manage the pain and brokenness in their life. Sheri reminds us all that everyone experiences aches, pains, sorrow and loss, although they vary in kind, intensity and duration, coming from numerous divergent sources. However, most importantly, Sheri brings us Good News for the source of true and complete healing for all that ails us!

Our ailments might be as common as a headache or as complex as the problem of a lady I met a number of years ago. She was very anxious, nervous and in constant pain. she feared that a certain confessing murderer on death row would accept Jesus as his Lord and Savior and subsequently spend eternity in Heaven! Her thoughts of this man spending eternity in Heaven was causing her severe pain and anguish! I felt very sorry for her because the murderer was her son-in-law! I believe all would sympathize and some might even empathize as we can all understand the depth of her pain and sorrow, knowing he had murdered her daughter! Now the imprisoned, convicted murderer on death row (her son-in-law) had nothing else to do but read the only book in his jail cell, The Bible, which offered healing and wholeness to him and to anyone who can or will receive its promises.

This lady fully understood the message of The Bible, God’s grace, the source of true and everlasting- eternal healing, but in her turmoil she could not receive healing for herself and thus could not extend it to others! She found herself in an emotional and psychologically painful situation which led to physical pain and discomfort. She was also a prisoner, captive in her own heart!

How do we receive our healing and thereby be able to extend healing to others? Read on! Help is in your hands!

*Rev. Gerald Goodridge (Pastor Jerry).

Introduction

W e live in a hurting world that is crying out! As a Clinical Massage Therapist (in the state of Texas) and a Bible teacher who uses Scripture to counsel in life application, I see all forms of pain every day of my life. It’s very sad to watch and even sadder when the one suffering feels they have no place to safely turn.

God has pulled me through some dark moments in my life, back into the light on more than one occasion. He’s healed me in ways I can’t even explain. Because He has been so good to me and because He’s placed in me a heart of compassion for others who are in pain, I’ve made it my mission to help people finally become free the way God intended!

Five years ago, The Lord began placing this book on my heart. It’s been quite a journey. I’ve watched so many people being beaten down in the spirit, feeling defeated and worthless, holding onto bitterness, anger, and un-forgiveness toward themselves or someone who’s wounded them. Their broken hearts have been holding them back from serving The Lord with full joyful obedience. This is not the life Jesus died to give them. Many of us have been there but few have escaped. YOUR purpose in life is far greater than your pain!

My hopes are, as you read these pages you will begin or continue in the healing of your broken spirit so that you will realize that you are loved and cherished by The Lord. He’s so excited to use you in His glorious plans. He wants you to be healed so you can, in turn, help heal others who desperately need rescuing. Don’t ever give up on Him because He’ll never give up on you! Let Him take you on a journey into Restorative Healing.

Life is too short to live in misery. Jesus died to save us and to give us an abundant life full of joy! Please don’t waste another minute of your life— stuck!

"Each soul is more valuable to God than we could

ever comprehend. If this book can help

just one soul, it will all be worth it!"

-With Love, Sheri Taggart

"May the words of my mouth and the

meditation of my heart be pleasing in

your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer."

Psalm 19:14 (NIV)

Chapter 1

What’s holding Me back?

The Prison of Pain

A few years ago, a lady came into my office suffering from insomnia, low energy levels, chronic neck pain and severe acid reflux that she attributed to her high-stress job. I believed her, because I’ve seen this numerous times. As the session progressed she admitted to me that she had been holding onto un-forgiveness toward a person who had deeply wounded her many years prior. She’d been carrying this pain since the event occurred. The one who hurt her had sincerely asked for forgiveness, but my poor, sweet client just could not find a way to let it go. She also had the attitude that this person did not deserve forgiveness, anyway! Because of her attitude, she was the one who continued to carry the burden of great pain, in more ways than one!

Another day, a gentleman came in with severe neck and shoulder pain. He had been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, as well. As I began his treatment, he began to get teary-eyed. He was clearly upset. I wondered if I’d been too aggressive with my trigger point technique! No, that wasn’t it. He was upset because his mind and heart were being tormented day and night, barely able to function! He had made some serious mistakes that tore his family apart, and now, he was dealing with the aftermath. This man also admitted that he had stepped away from the church and from God, because of his shame. He was suffering greatly because he could not find it in his heart to forgive himself.

Both of these clients were Christians. Just like the unbelievers of the world, Christians make mistakes, and then, suffer their consequences. They also bear pain inflicted on them by others and suffer the same disappointments and loss in life. Often, our emotional and spiritual pain will manifest in the body as physical pain and disease. In these cases, the emotional spiritual issues need to be addressed before the physical pain is eased. Although Christians have a better way of dealing with pain than unbelievers do, by living a life in Christ, they are not exempt from it.

When we hurt, God hurts with us, whether we were the victim or the offender. His desire is that we will be able to move on from it so we can live our lives the way He designed.

The Lord placed something on my heart one day that helped me understand His view of us when we are stuck in a holding pattern, as a prisoner of pain. It comes from Luke 9:62 (NIV), Jesus replied, ‘No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for a service in the Kingdom of God.

Living most of my life in the country, I’ve seen many people plow a field. If you look back while trying to move forward, one of two things will happen; either your lines will be very crooked or you’ll wreck by running into something! Neither is good. What Jesus is saying in Luke, is, If you can’t move forward in your life, leaving your past hurts, disappointments and mistakes behind you, I won’t be able to use you to do My Kingdom work! You’re not fit for it!

I’ve spent years upset with myself over things I cannot change. When my focus was on my past failures, it was next to impossible to focus on the things of God. This sounds funny to say, but even our sin and our pain can become an idol to us. Remember, an idol is anything on which we spend great focus and place before our God! If I’m so busy focusing on my faults or the way I’ve been wronged by someone else, my focus will be removed from God and I won’t be fit for His service, because He doesn’t have my full and best attention.

God wants us to, Get up; dust off our britches and keep moving forward! Staying stuck will cause us to be stunted in our Christian growth. While we are focusing on things that would be impossible for us to change, we are missing out on all the assignments where God could be using us, along with the many blessings that accompany them.

Please don’t let your past sin or the sin of others, rob you of all that God desires for you to have. My hope is that God will lead you into a journey of Restorative Healing that will bring joy and vitality to your soul, making you more fit for service in His Kingdom. My prayers are with you, as God walks you through this next exciting chapter of your new, restored life with the guidance of His Holy Spirit.

Chapter 2

Feeling Lost and Disconnected

God Seems so Far Away

There are times in our lives that we have all felt a little lost. Maybe a little disconnected from God and our loved ones. If you’ve never been there, nor, even know what I’m talking about, you, my sweet friend are very blessed indeed. But, for the rest of us who have felt this way, we can all agree that it’s a very dark, scary, lonely and depressing place. Sometimes it’s because of the poor choices made by others, while other times, it’s our own fault.

Whether we are a Christian believer or a nonbeliever, we can all say that we’ve heard of the word, sin. Most of us could even make a long list of the assortment of sins that exist in the world today, but that won’t be necessary.

In The Bible, God uses different words to describe sin. The word Sin is a general term for missing the mark or target and is used to describe what is done against God or another. The word Iniquity is a more specific term for perverting what is good. Lastly, the word Transgression is to rebel or revolt and go beyond the limits of God’s Law.

All of these words describe sin, and they all involve going against God. We read in Romans 3:23 (NIV), For ALL have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God.

You notice, it doesn’t say some of you or most of you it says all have sinned, there are no exceptions. Ecclesiastes 7:20 (NIV) even goes as far as saying, Indeed, there is no one on Earth who is righteous, no one who does what is right and never sins. 1 John 1:8 (NIV) says, If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.

We are called Liars if we even claim to be sinless. Why is it so important for us to know this? It helps us to realize, first of all, that we are all in the same boat. No one is better or more righteous than another. Also, when we reach out to help someone else who has fallen, we will have more mercy, compassion and patience with them.

Why do you think we all sin? Paul, in the book of Romans, said it perfectly. Romans 7:15 (NIV), I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate, I do.

Why, if he started out with the desire to do what is right, did he then go on to do what was wrong? Humans have struggled with this issue of sin since the very beginning of time, starting with Adam and Eve in the Garden. In The Bible, even the most faithful men and women sinned. This is because we have a sinful nature called, flesh. God does not expect any of us to be perfect. There is no earthly way we can, no matter how great our effort. Does this give us the license to sin, simply because that is what is expected of us mere mortals? God says, No!

We know that when we sin, we hurt God and grieve The Holy Spirit, but what else happens? We cause a separation in relationships.

Most all sin is committed in secret. It’s not usually something we openly broadcast for the world to see. In order to secretly sin, we have to walk away and hide from those we don’t want knowing our business, causing separation from the ones we love. When we are with them, we may also become a little preoccupied, nervous and begin the habit of lying. All of these behaviors will cause a great separation in the relationships we once held dear to our hearts.

God knows all and sees all things. Hebrews 4:13 (NIV), Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give an account.

Although we can secretly commit sin, hiding it from loved ones, we can never hide it from The Lord. He’s always in the loop where we are concerned, and that’s okay. It shouldn’t be scary. He knows us better than anyone so He’s the perfect one to help us.

John 3:16-17 (NIV), For God so loved the world that He gave his One and Only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.

God knew, from the very beginning, we would struggle with sin. Our sins deserve death, but because God loves us so much, He was willing to allow His One and Only Son to take our punishment on the cross, just so we could have a relationship with Him. While Jesus was hanging on the cross, He cried out to His Father, Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?, which means, "My God, My