Spiritual Healing after Adultery: A Memoir of Hope
In this remarkable memoir, therapist, Cherie Burgess, shares her story of emotional resilience, spiritual sanctification and renewed hope in marriage. Spiritual Healing After Adultery: A Memoir of Hope is divided into two parts. Part One contains most of the journal entries Cherie wrote to God while she was separated from her husband. The entries highlight the thoughts and feelings she experienced under the spiritual strongholds of adultery, anger, anxiety, betrayal, depression, rejection and suicidal ideation. Cherie shares how the Lord gave her visions, dreams and Bible verses to encourage and edify her through the trial. Part Two focuses on how she was able to grow spiritually and soulfully when she surrendered her heart to the Lord. Cherie felt compelled to write her story so that others would be encouraged to live faithfully focused and free.
The REST Approach is a Christian counseling workbook aimed at helping followers of Christ process and heal from psychological distress including anxiety, depression and other symptoms of complex trauma. Through this scripture-centered interactive workbook, individuals are introduced to a variety of evidence-based psychosomatic treatment interventions such as diaphragmatic breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, visualization, guided imagery, prayer-based emotional freedom tapping (EFT), somatic soothing and the "mindfulness what and how skills" of dialectical behavior therapy. In addition, narrative and cognitive-behavioral therapeutic techniques are incorporated to help readers process their thoughts and feelings related to self-awareness and God-awareness (SAGA). The four components of the REST Approach are embedded in the scripture of Matthew 11:28-30: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Rest implies release - letting go. Letting go of tension in our bodies by learning to pause and relax. Letting go of tension in our minds by learning to focus on the things we have control over instead of the things we don’t. Rest also implies a divine exchange. Exchanging your worries for God’s peace. Exchanging your bitterness for God’s love. Exchanging your thoughts for God’s promises. The REST Approach follows the mnemonic, R - E -S -T: 1) Rest & Repent “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest"; 2) Embrace “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart”, 3) Settle “and you will find rest for your souls" and 4) Trust & Testify “For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
These are the words Cherie heard from the Lord during the year of 2020. Initially, the words began slowly - drip...drip...dripping - until they became a steady stream. Over time, the words became like rain, filling the crevices of her mind. There were thunderstorms with poems like Centrifuge and there was whispering with poems like "Faith, Can You Hear Me?" In March of 2020, Cherie began to hear the Lord's wrath for nations who lacked obedience. She heard messages and warning for the countries of China, Italy and America. The Lord poured forth his mercy and love as he woke his prophets up. He sounded the alarm to warn about the impending doom coming from the Jezebel spirit through the organization BLM, the United Nations and the democratic party. Cherie experienced visions and dreams and was told to watch the north and the east of Jerusalem. She sensed a rising of the Caliphate. All of this, came after a vision and a message that Lord gave her early on in 2019. While in the shower, in desperate prayer, Cherie saw herself as the woman with the issue of blood, approaching Jesus to grab the hem of his robe. But instead of touching his robe, and power coming out, she grabbed and wrung the robe in faith. This is when she heard the Lord say, "I am wringing out my remnant for one drop of My blood covers a multitude of sin." In October of 2019, while at a Christian mental health conference, Cherie was given a prophetic word by a man who looked right at her and said, "You will writing lyrics to songs" and "The Lord has set your face like flint - you will be teaching teachers." Cherie thought nothing of it.
But, on December 14th of 2019, she woke up these words running through her head: "I cannot hold the rain. Who do I think I am to contain the Mighty Word of God? His Spirit bursts within me. Speaking His Word is my only need. How do I settle into this space without shedding approval from man? Atmospheric pressure is causing my skin to break. No matter how hard I try, I cannot contain the rain. Oh Lord let it pour. Let your Spirit overflow. More of you and less of me. Oceans of you and drips of me. Let it be. Let it be. Let it be." And that is when the constant flow of poems began.
Re-Defining Self: A Personal Development Workbook for Christians
As you move forward in faith, the Lord promises to establish your steps (Proverbs 16:9) and reminds you unless the Lord builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted (Psalm 127:1). It’s time to let go of anxiety and enjoy the Fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control; Galatians 5:22-23). Believe that “God has a plan and purpose for your life” (Jeremiah 29:11). “Trust in the Lord with all our heart, and lean not on our own understanding, acknowledge Him in all your ways, and God will make you path straight” (Proverbs 3:6).
How to Use this Workbook: This workbook contains the following components:
Information that the Holy Spirit shared with me to move from spiritual blindness (darkness) to spiritual seeing (light);
Guiding scripture references to help you increase self-awareness and God-awareness (SAGA);
Seven spiritual themes (calling, change, energy, balance, community, harmony and unity) with accompanying introspective activities to encourage self-awareness and God-awareness (SAGA). The seven themes were inspired through the book, Soul Work (see references at end of workbook).
My hope is that by sharing my spiritual journey I will inspire you find hope and healing in your own journey.