* New Podcast Episode: Gratitude Gifts Grace *

Podcast: Embrace New Beginnings by Hannah Lockwood Ministries

* Christian Podcast and Blog *

Website: hannahlockwood.org

* New Podcast Episode: Back to Basics *

Podcast: Embrace New Beginnings by Hannah Lockwood Ministries

* Christian Podcast and Blog *

Website: hannahlockwood.org

* New Podcast Episode: Going Back Home *

Podcast: Embrace New Beginnings by Hannah Lockwood Ministries

* Christian Podcast and Blog *

Website: hannahlockwood.org

Sometimes, the circumstances of life beat us so raw that the unyielding pain and pressure leaves us wanting to give up on hope that better days are ahead. We believe lies whispered in our ears that this world would be better off without us. These deceptive thoughts begin to run rampant and allow open opportunities for the enemy to attempt to talk us into taking matters into our own hands to end all the madness and suffering. Thankfully, we have a great big God that knows and understands every human emotion, form of abuse, tragedy, rejection, abandonment, and crisis in life. Jesus never judges our location in these dark and lonely places. He only uses it as a GPS to find our coordinates so He can perform a spiritual rescue mission. Through His miraculous full-spectrum healing and deliverance of depression and oppression, Jesus is able to meet us in our darkest moments and lead us back into the light where we can see the truth of our identity, worth, value, and how much we are so dearly loved. Thus says the Lord, "Take my Hand. I will lead the way through the darkness, and you will never feel lost again." Never Give Up!!! With Jesus, there is always a Way out and through.

* New Podcast Episode: Never Give Up *

Embrace New Beginnings by Hannah Lockwood Ministries

* Christian Podcast and Blog *

Website: hannahlockwood.org

It is beneficial, healthy, and freeing in admitting to the Lord that we have sinned (even when ashamed, disappointed, or inconvenienced). It is a pleasing aroma (holy sacrifice) to God in our continued obedience to confess our sins daily and ask for cleansing (healing, wisdom, redirected path). We rest in the fact that Jesus is always faithful, trustworthy, and true to His own nature and promise of forever being full of forgiveness and mercy. In coming to Him with true repentance, He will continually forgive our sins and release us from all our wrongdoings. The Holy Spirit is always working to help remove everything that is not in conformity with God's will and created purpose for our lives. The benefits (freedom, full-spectrum health, wholeness, peace, right standing, etc.) to acknowledge our sins far outweigh the consequences. (1 John 1:9) Whom the Son sets free - is free indeed! (John 8:36)

* New Podcast Episode: Bring It All Before Him *

Embrace New Beginnings by Hannah Lockwood Ministries

* Christian Podcast and Blog *

Website: hannahlockwood.org

Surrender isn't about giving up or giving in, it's about giving "it" to God. Authentic forgiveness requires surrender. To experience and extend true forgiveness, we must be willing to surrender all expectations of a favorable outcome for ourselves, feeling like justice has been served, and removing all desire for revenge and retaliation in exchange for allowing God to handle things His way - even if they go against our wishes and needs. Romans 9:15-16 is a clear example of how God (Controller and Creator) makes the final decision about whether or not to show mercy and kindness to those society would shout "crucify" instead. In obedience with God's will and requests, we need to realize that surrendering our path of justice back into God's hands might look very different than what we think is right and fair. Sometimes God chooses to show mercy to even the most vile sinners because He can see their future life while we are limited in present time reality. Ask yourself, "Is a person's Salvation worth more than temporary satiated feelings of revenge and getting even?" Jesus looks at the condition of the heart - things we often don't have awareness or understanding of fully. What would it look like for you to release yourself from the burden of divvying out punishment and retribution to those who have hurt and done your wrong? What about even for your worst enemy? What if God chooses to extend mercy to them... like He has so freely done for you on many occasions? What if His mercy act (that we interpret as unjust and unfair), turns out to be the fork in the road that leads this person to repentance, Salvation, and into right relationship with Jesus Christ? Who are we (prone to sin and wander) to stand in the way of what only God has the right to carry out in the first place? Romans 3:23-24 clearly states, "For everyone has sinned (no matter how good of a person they strive to be); we all fall short of God's glorious standard. Yet, God freely and graciously declares that we are made righteous due to our connection to Jesus Christ who paid the full debt of all our wrongdoing). Jesus' perfect sacrifice freed us from the penalty of sin. There is tremendous freedom experienced when we choose to surrender our rightful justice pursuit back into the loving hands of God. We allow Him to make the final decision of whether they will receive wrath or mercy. This is where true forgiveness is born - in the letting go of what we want and exchanging it for what God wants instead. Forgiveness does not ever release the offender from their wrongdoing and the negative impact it has had on the lives of those involved. Forgiveness simply releases you (the one suffering) from a crippling weight burden you were never meant to carry around on your own shoulders. Find that much-needed relief through Jesus-like forgiveness and set yourself free today!

* New Podcast Episode: Forgiveness Requires Surrender *

Embrace New Beginnings by Hannah Lockwood Ministries

* Christian Podcast and Blog *

Website: hannahlockwood.org

As the woman (the one caught in the act of adultery and her sins exposed to the world - John 8) was dragged out into the public square, the onlookers' faces were full of contempt, judgement, and disdain *BUT* when she looked up to gaze upon the face of Jesus she saw only compassion, understanding, love, and forgiveness. Ask Jesus to do the same for you and your life. Pray, "Show me Your face, Lord." God doesn't care how many times you have failed, made the same mistake repeatedly, or fall back into persistent sin. As you come in true repentance and desire for transformation, the Lord always takes you by the hand to help you stand back up again. Every time you grab ahold of His hand to begin again, make sure you are only looking upon His face that is full of compassion, understanding, love, forgiveness, and new beginnings. No other opinion matters except that of our loving God.

* New Podcast Episode: Show Me Your Face *

Embrace New Beginnings by Hannah Lockwood Ministries
* Christian Podcast and Blog *
Website: hannahlockwood.org