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I do not read every book/author I spotlight or book tour I host!
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Thursday, April 28, 2016

#ThursdayThoughts: Special Guest Post by Colleen Coble @colleencoble

Good Morning Friends,

You might be wondering at the change of photo on my header here, on Face Book and my website. No real reason....just in the mood for something different.

Also, if you haven't heard yet, I am ever so happy to inform you that my novella, Keri's Christmas Wish is finished and has been submitted to a publisher!

I'll keep you posted on the details.

Meanwhile, please welcome Colleen Coble back to our blog with something she thinks about....

Forgiveness is a real hot button for me. I’ve seen so many lives changed when a person chooses to forgive the unforgiveable. But there’s one area I feel is harder than any other—forgiving yourself.

We all mess up and fall short of the goal we set for ourselves. Sometimes that failure can hurt other people even more than it hurts us, and we wrestle with letting go of the shame we take on in those moments. Forgiving ourselves is crucial if we want to move past our failures and reach our full potential. How do you do that? This is what works for me:

1.       Identify the fact that you have shame about something.

You can’t deal with something if you keep it buried.

2.       Remind yourself that everyone fails.

As a Christian, I look at examples in the Bible of people who failed but were still forgiven and used of God. David is a prime example.

3.       Take responsibility for your actions.

Too much of the time we make excuses for ourselves. You can never get past the way you feel if you don’t face the facts. You disappointed or hurt something. That’s a fact.

4.       If you can make amends, do so.

Apologize or do anything else that comes to mind to show genuine remorse.

5.       Talk it out with a friend.

There’s something about sharing your burden that makes it lighten. Another perspective helps us see things more clearly.

6.    Actually forgive yourself.

When that shame rises up, speak aloud to yourself and say, “That’s over and God has forgiven me. I forgive myself as well.” After a while you actually start to believe it.


In Mermaid Moon Mallory was still dealing with shame from something she’d done ten years earlier. Ten years is a long time to carry that weight around, but some people carry it all their lives. You don’t have to!

Best-selling author Colleen Coble’s novels have won or finaled in awards ranging from the Best Books of Indiana, the ACFW Carol Award, the Romance Writers of America RITA, the Holt Medallion, the Daphne du Maurier, National Readers’ Choice and the Booksellers Best.

She has more than three million books in print and writes romantic mysteries because she loves to see justice prevail. Coble is CEO of American Christian Fiction Writers. She lives with her husband, Dave, in Indiana.

To keep up with Colleen Coble, visit www.colleencoble.com, become a fan on Facebook (colleencoblebooks) or follow her on Twitter (@colleencoble).

Mermaid Moon can be purchased at Amazon.


You are so right, Colleen! Forgiveness is definitely Something to think about!

Hope you all enjoyed today's post. Check back each week for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight!

Until later....take care and God Bless.
PamT
"Inspirational with an Edge!" ™





13 comments:

Rachel L. said...

It's so true - forgiving yourself can be the hardest part. Well said, Colleen.

MJ Schiller said...

It seems a lot of people are fairly unforgiving and see a character who forgives someone as weak. It actually takes strength to forgive someone. And more to forgive yourself. Thanks for sharing this post! Best wishes for MERMAID MOON!

Ashantay said...

I agree with MJ. Forgiveness is a strength. Love is power. And more courage is needed to walk away without extracting revenge or having the last word than not. Thanks for your post.

P.S. I volunteer shelving books at the local library, and your books are always in circulation. So happy for you.

Jacqueline Seewald said...

I believe we must accept the fact that we are only human and therefore fallible. When we understand this, we can forgive ourselves.

marilyn leach said...

Colleen, it seems many Christian virtues can be done well by almost anyone: kindness, concern, so on. But forgiveness separates the men from the boys. It takes God's heart to be genuine in forgiveness. Thanks for your good advice. Cheers

Pamela S Thibodeaux said...

Boy do I agree with you all that forgiveness can be difficult to say the least!

But when we know how valuable it is in setting US free...we tend to do so more quickly (if not easily)...although sometimes we have to remind ourselves that we've forgiven So-and-So for Such-and-Such.

I hope Colleen gets a chance to drop by but if not THANK YOU ALL for doing so!
Good luck and God's blessings.
PamT

Marissa Garner said...

Very good advice. I just wish it was easier for me.

Kara O'Neal said...

Thank you so much for the list. I really needed to read that right now. Good luck with sales.

Leah St. James said...

One time the pastor at my church made a mistake and I remember her ssying, "If God can forgive me, I can forgive myself." It was one of those aha! moments for me. I've never forgotten.

Terri said...

Colleen, I love this post.Forgiveness can be so tough and we need to be reminded how important it is to forgive others and ourselves.

Alicia Dean said...

I am so sorry I didn't stop by yesterday. This is an excellent post! Very wise words. Your book sounds like an awesome, emotional read. Best wishes!

Colleen Coble said...

Thanks for the comments, friends! I hope the post was helpful!

Susan Coryell said...

Especially like "forgive yourself." So important! Nice post.