Sheri Rose Shepherd - Your Hearts Desire: 14 Truths That Will Forever Change the Way You Love and Are Loved

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Your Hearts Desire: 14 Truths That Will Forever Change the Way You Love and Are Loved

Copyright 2012 by Sheri Rose Shepherd. All rights reserved.

Cover photo of couple copyright AE Pictures Inc./Digital Vision/Getty Images. All rights reserved. Author photo taken by Laura Anderson. Copyright 2010 by Anderson Photography. All rights reserved.

Designed by Jennifer Ghionzoli

Published in association with the Loyal Arts Literary Agency, PO Box 1414, Bend, OR 97709.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible , New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked ESV are taken from The Holy Bible , English Standard Version (ESV), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version , NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. (Some quotations may be from the NIV 1984 edition.) Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com.

Scripture quotations marked The Message are taken from The Message by Eugene H. Peterson, copyright 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NASB are taken from the New American Standard Bible, copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Shepherd, Sheri Rose, date.

Your hearts desire : 14 truths that will forever change the way you love and are loved / Sheri Rose Shepherd.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references (p. ).

ISBN 978-1-4143-6691-3 (sc)

1. Christian womenReligious life. 2. God (Christianity)Love. 3. LoveReligious aspectsChristianity. I. Title.

BV4529.S4315 2012

248.8'43dc23 2012004755

From the Heart of Sheri Rose

Delight yourself in the L ORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Psalm 37:4, ESV

I F YOU HAVE PICKED up this book, it is probably for you....

It is written for every woman who has ever loved a man. It is written for the married woman who loves her man but struggles in her marriage. It is written for the single woman who desires to find a good man to love her. It is written for the divorced woman who believed in her marriage only to have her man walk out. It is written for the mothers of sons who desire their beloved boys to become men of faith. This book is written for you and every woman who wants to find the courage to take a step of faith and believe that God is bigger than any statistic and that He still has the power to rebuild what is broken and restore what is lost between men and women today.

In the following pages, you will find true love stories filled with hope and humor that will inspire you to make challenging life-changing choices. Each chapter also contains real-life love coaching, powerful prayers, inspiring scriptural love letters to draw you to the heart of God, and a Treasure of Truth to hang on to when you feel like giving up. If youre reading the book in a group, you will find two questions at the end of each chapter that should lead to some interesting discussion. There is also a QR code there, which will lead you to a video where I answer some of the hardest questions about love, men, and marriage. You can view the clips from a smart phone or online.

I am praying that this teaching and truth will bring real change, refreshment, and some relief from the heaviness and heartache we women carry every day. When we finish our time together, may our lives give us and the world a second chance to see what real faith and true love look like when lived out with a legacy perspective.

In His Love,

Sheri Rose

Special note : This book can also be an amazing resource for a seven-week small group study in your home or at church. Simply read two chapters a week and watch my seven-week teaching series, either online or from a DVD, which is designed to allow me to help you lead your group.

Small Group Guide

T HIS BOOK IS a stand-alone resource for all readers, but if you feel led to facilitate a small group in your home or church, below are some guidelines to ensure a successful and meaningful experience.

As women enter, consider having worship music playing, because it will set a peaceful tone in the room.

The ideal size of a small group is six to seven women. If youre planning to do this with a large group of women, divide them into these smaller-sized groups and choose a discussion leader for each table.

Be sure to let your group know you are hosting the group, but you are not a professional counselor. You are not responsible for solving everyones relationship issues. As questions arise, if you dont know the answer, look to Gods Word and let the group know youll get back to them.

Dont let yourself or others give advice outside of biblical guidelines.

Address the issue of covering your men and not oversharing. Attendees should avoid humiliating the men in their lives by revealing too much.

Let women know they should each keep their responses to questions of no more than three or four minutes each, so everyone has an opportunity to share.

At the end of each group session, spend time praying for each others concerns and relational challenges.

Use the as a reference to upcoming topics.

If you are planning on serving refreshments, arrange to have people alternate bringing snacks and drinks each week.

Feel free to make a copy of this guide and distribute it to everyone in your group.

Consider letting Sheri Rose lead your group using the companion Your Hearts Desire DVD, which includes a seven-week Bible study series, coming out in fall 2012. If youd like to find out more about Sheri Rose and her teaching ministry, visit www.biblelifecoaching.com.

Desiring a Happily Ever After

Fighting the Temptation to Give Up on Love and Marriage

Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

1 Corinthians 13:7

I BELIEVE WHEN a man walks down the aisle and says I do, his every hope and intention is that his marriage will be for life. He sincerely desires to understand and take care of the beloved bride he has chosen. He romanced her and worked hard to express his love so she would want to spend the rest of her life with him. He was determined to be her hero and lovingly lead her safely through life. The challenge for each man begins after the I dos because generally no one has taught him how to accomplish his God-appointed position in a womans life.