Shannon

Sin feels good… for a while.

It promises you things it can’t deliver:

“No one will ever know.”

“This will make you happy.”

“You deserve this.”

It lies.

It deceives.

And in the end, it destroys.

There was a time I believed that if I stayed faithful, God would write a beautiful, public story through my life.

I imagined stages. Books. Fruit that others could see.

And then I fell.

Not in a small way—but in a way that wrecked trust, broke hearts, and shattered illusions.

I was an adultress, but that is not what defines me. I am not defined by my biggest failures, past mistakes, sizeable sin, greatest accomplishments, or astounding achievements. My identity doesn't come from my job or a title, but it is found in the One who gave His life for me, Jesus Christ. He has given me a new name: redeemed, chosen, adopted, forgiven, daughter, royalty, and even masterpiece.

Mike gets up before most people. He reads the Bible, prays, and drinks a few cups of coffee. He may write a new series and/or work on the message that he will teach that weekend before he goes to the gym to train people. After the gym, he will come home and study more. I will hear him on the phone at different times, listening to people bare their souls to him because they are in desperate straits.