Teachable Woman Podcast

. Introduction – Welcome & Encouragement in Difficult Times

1. Rev. Michele Owes and Rev. Diana P. Cherry warmly welcome listeners back to the podcast.
2. A moment of compassion is extended to those experiencing natural disasters (tornadoes, storms, etc.), with encouragement to remain strong in trials.
3. The hosts remind listeners that hardships can serve as tests that ultimately strengthen faith.
4. Prayer and support are offered to anyone currently facing crisis or uncertainty.

2. Recap & Foundation – The Command to Forgive

1. The episode builds on a previous discussion about forgiveness as a Christian obligation.
2. Key truth: If we do not forgive others, our prayers can be hindered.
3. Biblical principle highlighted: reconcile with others before offering gifts to God.
4. Important distinction: forgiveness does not equal trust—they are separate concepts.

3. What Hinders Our Walk – The Danger of Unforgiveness

1. Referencing Galatians 5, the hosts explore how believers can start strong but become hindered.
2. Unforgiveness is identified as a hidden spiritual barrier.
3. A critical shift in perspective: when people sin, they sin against God—not us.
4. This reframes personal offenses and reduces the tendency to internalize hurt.

4. The Heart Issue – Why We Struggle to Forgive

1. Unforgiveness often stems from:
2. A desire to punish others
3. Feelings that “it’s not fair” when others move on
4. Holding onto resentment harms the one offended more than the offender.
5. Real-life examples (especially in relationships) show how unmet expectations and emotional investment can lead to deep hurt.
6. Key takeaway: Unforgiveness is self-destructive, like a slow spiritual cancer.

5. Expectations & Offense – Setting Ourselves Up for Hurt

1. Many offenses arise from unspoken or unrealistic expectations.
2. People may hurt us unintentionally or without awareness.
3. Miscommunication and assumptions often lead to disappointment.
4. The hosts emphasize extending grace, recognizing that not all offenses are deliberate.

6. Healing Through God – Peace, Prayer & Letting Go

1. Prayer is essential in decision-making and emotional healing.
2. God’s guidance will come through:
3. Stillness and waiting
4. A sense of peace as confirmation
5. Believers are encouraged to:
6. Release the need for revenge (“vengeance is mine, saith the Lord”)
7. Examine their hearts honestly
8. Use practical exercises (like the “empty chair” method) to process and release hurt
9. Forgiveness restores peace and strengthens one’s relationship with God.

7. Summary & Call to Action – Forgive to Be Free

1. Central message: “Forgive, and you shall be forgiven.”
2. Forgiveness is both a responsibility and a pathway to freedom.
3. Listeners are urged to:
4. Forgive others (family, friends, church members, past relationships)
5. Forgive themselves for past mistakes
6. Release burdens that cloud joy and spiritual clarity
7. Final encouragement:
8. Cleanse the heart of resentment
9. Trust God to handle others
10. Walk in peace, lightness, and renewed faith

Teachable Woman Podcast

Reverends Michele Owes and Diana P. Cherry

Forgive To Be Forgiven

Rev. Michele Owes: Welcome, welcome, welcome back to the Teachable Woman Podcast. We're excited to be with you again. I am Reverend Michele Owes. I am with Reverend Mrs. Diana P. Cherry, and together we are Teachers of Good Things. Mrs. Cherry, please say hello.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: Hello Podcast Family! While Reverend Owes was praying. I was just impressed that some of you might have gone through tornadoes, snowstorms, or windstorms recently. And before we start the podcast, I just want you to know that if you have, be strong. Be encouraged many times, things like that.

I have a niece who's going through a tornado today, so, uh, I wanted to do that and say, hi, podcast family. Good to be back with you.

Rev. Michele Owes: Yes. Yes. And we do pray for your safety.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: Yes,

Rev. Michele Owes: for God's provisions to care for you and your family,

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: yes.

Rev. Michele Owes: will be done. Amen.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: Yeah.

Rev. Michele Owes: to that. And thank you Mrs. Cherry, for bringing that to our attention.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: Are we living in some crazy weather times?

Rev. Michele Owes: Yes, absolutely, absolutely. We were forewarned years ago, but there were people who just didn't believe there was any global warming going on. They've, they've silenced themselves now because nature is just showing us exactly how much damage we've done. But in our very last podcast, we talk about forgiveness.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: Yeah.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: Amen.

Rev. Michele Owes: And so Mrs. Cherry brought that to our attention at the nth hour of the last podcast, and that is so important. But I do wanna start us off today in Galatians and Galatians says this, which I think is so apropos to what we're talking about, chapter five, verse number seven says, ye did run well.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: Hmm.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: Mm-hmm.

Rev. Michele Owes: little leaven, leave the whole lump in essence. The scriptures are saying to us that we could have been walking our Christian walk very

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: Mm-hmm.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: Mm-hmm. Yes, that's that's very true. And in forgiving, we have to examine our own hearts because as we always say on the podcast, when I hold. Something in my heart against another person. I'm really hurting myself. I'm not hurting the other person. They are free as a bird flying away and their wings are waving.

They don't think they did anything wrong. They don't remember they did anything wrong, and they are gone about their business and we're still stuck in wherever that hurt, um, happened to us. So one of the things when I was looking up, uh, forgive it, it, uh, says that. For the lack of ability to forgive is because we have a desire to punish, or we say it is just not fair that they've gone on with their lives.

You know? Especially, let's, let's use a common example. Um. Illicit or immoral relationship, and that's what the word of God calls them. And we end up pregnant and the guy has gone on about his business, don't even know he's getting ready to get the next one pregnant. And we are, we're, we're like, we're like, but he needs to pay for that.

And oftentimes the difference is that we want to see them punished. We want to see them pay for what they did. And, uh, God gave us salvation free of charge. He didn't ask us to pay for one thing. He just said, if we accept Jesus in our hearts and believe you know, we're saved. So I think one of the key elements to being able to move forward and not to hold unforgiveness in our hearts is that we have to give up.

We are mere human beings. We don't have the power to forgive, and we really don't have the strength to hold on to unforgiveness because it will end up destroying us and our desire. Um, to get back at the other person or our resentment for what they did to us. Never realized we did it to ourselves. 'cause most times when things happen like that, it was a choice and we chose to be a very, uh, happy and active participant in the mess [00:08:00] that was going on.

And now, now since, since we had joy at the moment, there's no time now to lose our life. Or to use lose some of our longevity because we shorten our own lives by harboring unforgiveness. So give it up. It's not worth it.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: Mm-hmm. Yeah.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: Right, right,

Rev. Michele Owes: Although it should be a common expectation in the Christian Church that we greet one another in Christian Love,

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: right.

Rev. Michele Owes: but. Sometimes, you know, you are looking in a direction and you don't even see the people in that direction because your mind is somewhere else. There ought to be enough grace to forgive us for that moment because maybe we weren't even looking at, you could have been staring right at you, but not really seeing you because your mind is somewhere else. And sometimes life complicates our issues such to the extent that we can just. Zone out. We are, we're there, but we're really not there.

We're thinking about something else.

And I think that, um, the, the term being intentional in all that we do is a very popular. Now term. So sometimes if we don't understand what an expectation is, it, it's an it's, it's an intention. It's what I intended and what you didn't intend. And as a result, I ended up being hurt, but it was because. As Reverend said is because of un unrealistic expectations.

Oh, you know, she always gets down to the nitty gritty, the girl she is.

Rev. Michele Owes: I was gonna say, well, there are some other examples in

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: Yeah, but listen, in the world we live in, let's get real.

Rev. Michele Owes: Understood. Completely.

I call 'em unknown knowns. We knew what we wanted and we knew where it was going, but it was not known to the other person, so they just rode rough shot right over us, knocked us out, and kept on going.

Rev. Michele Owes: Yeah. You know, prayer is so important about all things before we do anything. you know, God will let us know if this is right thing for us, if this is the right person for us. And you know, one of the things I learned in ministry is that we cannot force God to do what we want, but we have to force ourselves. Align with his will.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: To do what's right.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: Mm-hmm.

Rev. Michele Owes: Until God reveals to us everything he needs to reveal to us.

And if he doesn't answer at that moment, he's either already told you to walk away and leave it alone

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: Mm-hmm.

Rev. Michele Owes: have not done it and there's no new answer, we just need to wait until we are mature enough to get the answer he's gonna give us.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: Right.

Rev. Michele Owes: And um, go

If I start moving forward slowly and everything falls into place, then to me. I accept that as God not being displeased with it. He hasn't, I haven't heard a word from him, but my indicator for everything in life is peace. If I keep moving forward and I'm just nervous and upset and just not quite right, you know, that feeling like, uh, it's like a turmoil in your tummy,

Rev. Michele Owes: Yeah.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: I, I, you know, I stop because something is not right.

Life ending, or, you know, it wasn't impacting anybody but me and maybe my little finances. But, um, that's, I use peace as an indicator of, uh, my position with God and my life, my walk in life, you know, every day I, and every night when I pray, and every morning when I pray, I, I just pray that his will will be done in my life.

The 37 second prayer again, you know, I just pray that his will will be done in my life. If I have peace, I really do believe that, um, I'm being led by him. I, I really, really believe, you know, lemme share something. The Holy Spirit is so nice to us. I had. Uh, uh, where I am, I'm by myself, and I had laid down a very important remote.

I mean instantly. And so sometimes God will do that. He'll instantly show you things or give you that one word or whatever. But then there are other times that he expects us to use our holy, godly brains that he gave us and to make decisions and to let peace be our guide as we move through life. But if, if we're harboring unforgiveness, we don't have peace.

But we have a right and we have a responsibility to forgive. Yep.

Rev. Michele Owes: Amen. The scriptures tell us that when we stand praying that we ought to forgive.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: Right.

Rev. Michele Owes: Luke six, verse number 37, it says, judge not, and

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: Right.

Rev. Michele Owes: not be judged, condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: Yeah. And.

Rev. Michele Owes: Ye shall be forgiven. Now these letters are in red. This is Jesus speaking. So Jesus is saying, if we forgive, we will be forgiven. And if there is no other incentive that you can find to forgive a person, just put yourself first. Hey, I wanna be forgiven. And for that reason only right now.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: Right.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: Yeah.

You, I just need you to work with you. This is, look, all that stands with you, however many, uh, feet and inches that stand with that, I'm giving you charge over that, right? You work that

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: Right,

Rev. Michele Owes: and let me work the other

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: right.

Rev. Michele Owes: So vengeance. Mine. You can't want to punish anyone. That's my job. Thank you. Say it the Lord. so there's so much that we do where we just try to step in and over into God's territory or the territory of the Holy Spirit and, you know, we're gonna fix them ourselves. So we gonna take on the vengeance, we're gonna punish them ourselves, or, it really just punishes us.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: Mm-hmm.

Rev. Michele Owes: it's heavy, weighty.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: Mm-hmm.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: Mm-hmm. Yes. It's like a cancer. It's slowly eating away at us, and sometimes we can't, as my mom used to say, I just can't put my finger on it, but something just ain't right. And sometimes that's that unrest that we have in our spirits. It is just due to the fact that something is not right in our relationship with the Lord.

And it might be that great big two letter word, if you know,

Rev. Michele Owes: Mm-hmm.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: my son is teaching a message now on if, if we obey, if we love him, if we keep his commandments, if we, you know, if, if, if, and sometimes. The big if is standing in our way, if we forgive, and you know, it really, um, if there is any rest, unrest or uncertainty or that feeling of something is not right.

Rev. Michele Owes: Right.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: we, this thing happened to us. We just haul off and forget. And, and I mean, I'm really, honestly, uh, I really believe that sometimes we don't even know, like you said earlier, we don't know when we've offended somebody.

We don't know when we've done this, that, or the other, but our subconscious might be holding onto some things that we really need to take a moment and pray the Lord's Prayer. Very quietly, very slowly, forget about the 37 seconds. Very quietly, very slowly. That prayer is so powerful, and when we get to the end parts, you know, when we stand praying.

Rev. Michele Owes: Yes. Yes.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: just

Rev. Michele Owes: Completely. Yes, yes. But it's so important and you know, it can weave its way into our countenance. It can

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: Yes,

Rev. Michele Owes: its way

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: yes.

Rev. Michele Owes: whether or not we see the world and we see the works of God in the way that he would have us. It can taint our entire outlook. Because we're carrying this weight and we see the, we see the entirety of our lives by that lens. What happened to us then and who did what to me or didn't do for me, or should, or could've, would've, and all of those kinds of things.

Rev. Michele Owes: so we have to forgive others, but we also have to forgive ourselves because we are not perfect. We are flawed. Our flesh can get out of control if we allow it, we can make decisions that are not the ones that God would have us to make.

We can do some things that are against the will of God. We, we can just be human. Right, our carnal human sales and there is none that is perfect. So we also have to forgive ourselves for the things that we may have done in the

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: Hmm.

Rev. Michele Owes: we have been holding our own selves hostage. We can find no joy in this life because we didn't do that right back then, or we had this experience that really hurt us, or we just.

Not only forgive others, we have to forgive ourselves,

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: Right.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: It.

Rev. Michele Owes: we want you to know today in this podcast is that it does not matter what you've done.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: Mm-hmm.

Rev. Michele Owes: It does not matter. Your heavenly Father loves you. He is prepared to forgive you. is yours for the asking. If you have not taken time to just ask God to forgive you and then to help you forgive others, just to release things,

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: Yes.

Rev. Michele Owes: now that you understand that whatever they did is really not against you, it's against a holy

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: Right.

Rev. Michele Owes: and they'll have to straighten that out with him themselves. So leave it to God.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: Yes. It.

Rev. Michele Owes: on out of the way get on in your relationship with God, get it to a place where you so enjoy running to your father every day, and he enjoys hearing

You get two chairs. You sit in one and sit the other one in front of you and imagine that that person is sitting there and in your heart have a conversation with them. You know, uh, I know I talk to my husband all the time, whether he hears or not, I don't know. I don't even care. But I'm just, you know, I feel better when I talk to him, you know, did you see that?

And, um, they went to heaven before you had a chance to do this, but it's never too late to get your heart right and to get forgiveness for you from God. So try that. It might help.

Rev. Michele Owes: That's, that's a great exercise to try. Well, Mrs. Cherry, we have come to the end of this podcast. It has been our absolute joy to share with you. We pray that you receive something tonight that would be of benefit to you. That would have a beneficial effect not only in your life, but in the lives of the people you know, your family, your coworkers, your church members. Matter of fact, for all listening to this podcast, everybody ought to go back to church with a whole new attitude for anyone that you felt didn't. Speak to you. Didn't treat you right when you were working in the ministry, didn't let you join something. Let me tell you, they won't even let me join a choir.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: That's right.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: Yeah. Right, right. We can all be touch with that one. I think.

Rev. Michele Owes: Forgive them. This is a life that God gave them and they have the right to make choices with it. And even if we think they are the wrong choice, they are still God's children and he knows how to work with them. Our job is to continue to pray for them. Let's just forgive them. Forgive the husbands and the wives and those you used to be married to whatever.

Let's just. Clean up some stuff in the body of Christ. Let's clean up some things in our lives and in our hearts, and I think we can walk around with Life won't just be so heavy, right.

Rev. Michele Owes: Amen. And that is in Matthew chapter six. We'll see you on our next podcast.

Rev. Diana P. Cherry: Good night.