Synopsis
EXPOSED is a true modern day love story between God and a girl and the enemy who wants to tear them apart.
Raped at seventeen and then again as a freshman in college, Shannon Deitz felt completely bypassed by love. Rebelling against the violent attacks on her body and struggling to quiet the pain through self–abuse, her feelings of worthlessness eventually became so palpable she could not fathom how anyone – most especially God – could love her. This only caused her to push deeper into her own torment.
Shannon Deitz spent nearly two decades of her life in the darkest valleys of self–destruction, believing she was unworthy of God's love. After witnessing as a child the sex and drug–induced downfall of her older sister, Shannon turned away from her Catholic faith and upbringing and found herself caught in a wild and carefree lifestyle. She drank, partied, and sought comfort in abusive relationships, only to be raped not once but twice–by two different men.
"I endured countless, inexcusable trials walking further and further way from the embrace of Christ because I felt too unworthy to look back," Deitz recounts. "And worse, I didn't want to be like them, those who were self–righteous...holier than thou. I liked me." At least she thought she did.
Then, at the age of 27, unable to fight the battle raging inside her any longer, she gave it all up. Face down on her bedroom floor with her life in shambles all around her, Deitz surrendered every aspect of her being to God. She gave up the self–judgment, the condemnation, the need to be better. She let it all go. And in that moment she finally understood the truth–that her life had never belonged to her. It had always belonged to God.
Exposed: Inexcusable Me . . . Irreplaceable Him is one woman's courageous journey down the path of spiritual self–discovery. Not only does this book expose the awful truths of physical and emotional abuse, but it also exposes the truth that, no matter how deeply our wounds may run, we will always be worthy of God's healing grace.
This book offers faith–based encouragement for teenagers and adults who have suffered physical or emotional abuse. Through the extremely personal, no–holds–barred account of one woman's journey down a self–destructive path, it addresses such issues as spiritual warfare, the need to be loved, and the need to relinquish control of one's self to God.
About the Author
Shannon Deitz is a woman in love with God and excited about her faith. But it wasn't always that way. For nearly two decades Shannon spent her life in the darkest valleys of self–destruction, believing she was unworthy of God's love. At the age of 27, Shannon found herself at rock bottom, where she finally understood the truth – that her life had never belonged to her. It had always belonged to God. It was the beginning of a love story that has grown more beautiful with each passing day. From that point she did as God called her to do and for twelve years ministered to teens as a youth minster and spoke to thousands of teens and young adults at conferences all over the world. Her ministry is now offering hope to women and men of all ages.
Shannon is an international speaker on faith issues and surviving abuse, founder of Hopeful Hearts Ministry, and spokesperson for the Maria Goretti Network, a non–profit self–help abuse survivor support group. Her memoir, EXPOSED: Inexcusable Me...Irreplaceable Him, debuted in 2010 and was voted runner up for the 2011 About.com Reader's Choice Award. Shannon and her husband, Neal, live in Kingwood, Texas, where they are active in their local parish and community. Their two sons, Ryan and Seth, provide them with endless joy and reason to continually count their blessings. For more information on the book and her ministry visit www.hopefulheartsministry.com
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