S2 | Ep.5 // If You Forgive (ft. Jenny Fogarty)
Reagan and Jenny talk about forgiveness. Why it is so hard to do, why it is so freeing and why the enemy wants us to stay in unforgiveness.
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Watch this episode on YouTube below.
This podcast is sponsored by Advanced Medicine Alternatives
The enemy always tempts us toward fear, anger, and rage toward one another — even our spouses. The sin of unforgiveness brings resentment and bitterness to marriages and families, especially the children. Forgiveness is a hard choice. It is a decision and commandment we must follow.
Jesus wants us to love one another as He has loved us. He commands us to forgive those who sinned against us, not only seven but 77 times.
In this episode of Revelations Podcast, Jenny Fogarty joins Reagan to share her inspiring story of forgiveness. She describes how she accepted her husband, Greg, and broke generational curses for their children. Jenny and Greg's testimony shows us the power of surrendering our resentment and forgiving as God has commanded us.
If you want to let go of your baggage and embrace God’s gift of forgiveness, this episode is for you!
Here are three reasons why you should listen to this episode:
Be inspired by Jenny and Greg’s marriage redemption story.
Learn how to let go of the baggage of resentment.
Discover the power of forgiveness.
Resources
This podcast is sponsored by Advanced Medicine Alternatives
Listen to Greg Fogarty’s Testimony on the Optive Theology Podcast.
Episode Highlights
[02:21] ‘Whirlwind’ of a Childhood
Jenny’s first core memory is watching her father leave following their parents' divorce when she was two years old.
She grew up with her mother and never had a relationship with her father.
Jenny’s mother remarried, and her stepdad was both an alcoholic and drug user.
Jenny's family never talked about Jesus. She knew of a "god," but Jenny did not have faith.
Jenny felt she needed a man to make her feel loved and wanted because she didn't have a father figure in her life.
[07:18] Experiencing God & Forgiveness
Jenny believes everything she experienced has given her a greater capacity for empathy and the ability to relate to others.
She did not know God until she was in her 30s.
She felt God's presence and protection. Jenny did not see it back then, but looking back she knew God was with him all along.
After accepting Jesus, forgiveness takes on a different meaning.
Forgiveness is freeing.
[14:42] Biggest Wedding Mistake
Jenny met her husband, Greg, when he was trying to be sober. Unfortunately, it did not work out immediately.
They reconnected years later and started dating again. Greg proposed six months later.
Jenny shares that her biggest mistake at our wedding was not inviting the Lord into the marriage.
They decided to get married in church after a year. They believed that they needed the Lord to help save their marriage.
[22:13] First Year of Marriage
Jenny was halfway through her first pregnancy when they got married.
It was during this time that Greg relapsed into alcoholism. They were in and out of treatment centers.
She was on the verge of divorcing Greg, but then she got pregnant.
Jenny did not leave because she felt that Greg was her responsibility, which consumed her life.
As she looks back, Jenny believes God was with her the entire time.
[31:03] Redeeming the Marriage
The enemy tempts us to feel fear, anger, and rage toward one another, making us believe we no longer love our spouses.
Emotional, physical, spiritual, or any kind of abuse is not okay. If you are in an abusive situation, get help.
The turning point in Jenny and Greg’s marriage is getting baptized together.
Jenny: "It was a turning point in our marriage and our faith where we said, 'We cannot do this without God. We are going to truly give our lives to God,' and I felt like at that point I knew I wasn't going to get a divorce."
They started going to church, and blessings began coming in.
[35:05] The Baggages of Resentment and Unforgiveness
Resentment and unforgiveness are heavy baggage.
Jenny carried this baggage with her. She did ‘evil’ things that could potentially destroy the marriage.
However, the baggage kept attacking her through body aches. She was even diagnosed with degenerative disc disease.
Jenny learned forgiveness came in a camp where she had a major migraine. She and her roommate prayed for three hours, and her roommate told Jenny to forgive Greg.
At that moment, Jenny was able to forgive her husband.
[37:04] Forgiveness as a Gift
Unforgiveness is a sin that causes bitterness in our lives. We become defiled when we let the root of bitterness spring up on us.
Jenny: “I was just attacked physically, I think by the unforgiveness and the resentment was attacking my body — headaches, backaches. Since I forgave Greg and just had this forgiveness in me that the Lord gave me, I feel free of pain.”
Forgiveness comes from God.
After forgiving her husband, Jenny felt physically, emotionally, and spiritually free.
She could do more and serve more people after experiencing the power of forgiveness.
[49:25] The Power of Forgiveness in Marriage
People have strongholds in their past that become blinders to forgiveness.
God breaks these barriers down as He did in Jenny and Greg’s marriage.
Their love and connection deepened. They both feel loved.
Jenny: “Don’t withhold forgiveness. It will set you free — fully.”
Forgive people who sin against you as God has forgiven your sins.
About Jenny
Jenny Fogarty is a wife and mom to three homeschooled kids. She is also a businesswoman who recently opened a local chicken egg-laying business in Sunny Hill Farm.
She grew up in a household with no father figure, which led her to seek love and attention from the wrong people. Jenny accepted Jesus in her 30s through a mission camp with friends. Since then, she has shared testimonies of faith and served in different ministries to share God’s word.
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