Forgiveness can be a tough issue for a lot of people. There are a lot of times it can be hard to go to someone we have done wrong to and ask for their forgiveness. For a lot of people, this is one of the hardest things to do. But for many others, I think there is something even harder to do; give forgiveness.
How many time has there been someone who has done something to you that hurt or upset you, and when they came to you and asked for forgiveness, you really didn't want to hear it or give it to them. I know I have been there. It is hard when you've been hurt. We feel betrayed, vulnerable, and sometimes anger. But do you know what the bible says about this.
Matthew 6:15- "But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins."
Wow. If you can't forgive someone, God can't forgive you. Does that change your mind about forgiving someone? This just shows the importance of being able to give forgiveness.
We are suppose to be a representation of Christ to a world that doesn't know Him. What a way to show the love of Christ, by being able to forgive someone that others never would.
There is a part in a new song by TobyMac that spoke volumes to me and out the act of forgiveness in a different light for me.
"But those forgiven much , should be quicker to give it
And God forgave me for it all, Jesus bled forgiveness
So when the stones fly and they aimed at you
Just say forgive them, father, they know not that they do"
God, who didn't have to forgive us when we decided to sin against him, forgave us of our sins. Jesus died for us so we wouldn't have to pay for our sins. If God was able to forgive us completely, so we should be able to then give forgiveness to a person who has done wrong by us.
Being able to forgive someone is such a beautiful picture of the grace and mercy of Christ. Action speak louder than words. Sometimes we can preach the word over and over to someone and they won't get it, but a simple act, like forgiving someone, can paint the picture of salvation better than our words can.
Is there someone you need to give forgiveness to? Don't wait another day to accept it. Life is too short to carry the anger, the hurt, the bitterness in your heart. Give forgiveness, and show the love of Christ.
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Monday, September 17, 2012
Looking Forward
I love my two little girls...so so much...but there is something both of them do that drive me insane. I don't know why it bugs me so much, but it does. Both of my sweet little girls look everywhere else when they are walking, except in front of them. They will become so focused on something, and instead of just a quick glance, completely ignoring it, or stopping to look, they keep walking while looking at it. This usually results in me getting on them, or they run into something and end up hurting themselves. This just happened once again yesterday, and as I told my oldest to pay attention and look forward, I thought about how God tells us to look ahead and not focus on things behind us. Paul tells us this in Philippians 3:12-14.
"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."
I love the part in the passage where it says "forgetting what is behind". I think this is a struggle for a lot of Christians. We want to live for Christ, and focus on where we are going and what we are doing, but we get distracted by what is behind us...our past. For some of us, our past is pretty ugly and Satan loves to use that to take our focus of whats ahead. When we decided to look behind us, we can sometimes end up hurt, like how my daughters sometimes get hurt when they're not looking. Or sometimes we can hurt others. No matter what, when we look and focus on what is behind us, we lose focus on what our goal is.
Think about it; I'm sure there have been times you were walking towards something, another object caught your eye, and you continued walking even though we weren't looking in the direction you were going. When you finally do, were you still walking a straight line; still headed the same way? I know for me, a lot of times I see I'm walking a different way. Same thing with people who drive and start looking at other things or look out the window. A lot of times the car ends up swerving, or you cross the line, which could be detrimental.
As Christians we are to be focused on what is in front of us, the goal. And our goal is different from the worlds. Our goal has an eternal factor. An everlasting affect.
Now we of course aren't perfect; we are going to have times when we struggle and lose focus, but its how we handle those times that matters. My past still likes to taunt me, and there are times I end up looking at it. What matters is that I focus more on God and what He has for my life.
Its hard to keep pure if we continue to look behind, but if we keep focused on the goal and the road God has laid before us, a life of purity will be easier and you will find more satisfaction than the world could offer.
"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."
I love the part in the passage where it says "forgetting what is behind". I think this is a struggle for a lot of Christians. We want to live for Christ, and focus on where we are going and what we are doing, but we get distracted by what is behind us...our past. For some of us, our past is pretty ugly and Satan loves to use that to take our focus of whats ahead. When we decided to look behind us, we can sometimes end up hurt, like how my daughters sometimes get hurt when they're not looking. Or sometimes we can hurt others. No matter what, when we look and focus on what is behind us, we lose focus on what our goal is.
Think about it; I'm sure there have been times you were walking towards something, another object caught your eye, and you continued walking even though we weren't looking in the direction you were going. When you finally do, were you still walking a straight line; still headed the same way? I know for me, a lot of times I see I'm walking a different way. Same thing with people who drive and start looking at other things or look out the window. A lot of times the car ends up swerving, or you cross the line, which could be detrimental.
As Christians we are to be focused on what is in front of us, the goal. And our goal is different from the worlds. Our goal has an eternal factor. An everlasting affect.
Now we of course aren't perfect; we are going to have times when we struggle and lose focus, but its how we handle those times that matters. My past still likes to taunt me, and there are times I end up looking at it. What matters is that I focus more on God and what He has for my life.
Its hard to keep pure if we continue to look behind, but if we keep focused on the goal and the road God has laid before us, a life of purity will be easier and you will find more satisfaction than the world could offer.
Saturday, September 8, 2012
Speak Life
Us girls love to talk don't we. Whether its among a big group of people, to only a close group of friends, or in a general...we love to talk. Sometimes its good words...other times its bad. Maybe you are thinking, "My words don't hold much merit." Maybe you believe the saying "Sticks and stones may break my bones...but words will never hurt." Yeah, please excuse my language but that's a load of baloney!!! Words hurt! Whether they come from a stranger or someone close to you, they hurt. Do you know what the bible says about our words?
James 3:3-10 "If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. ..."
If that verse doesn't convince you about the power are words hold...how about this one
Proverbs 18:21 "The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit."
Did you know that the words we speak will either breath life or death into someone. Think about the words you have spoken today. Did they give someone hope? Did they give love? Encouragement...life? Or were your words creating chaos, confusion...death?
The world tells us not to allow the words of others to influence us, just like that sticks and stones quote. But once again we see it goes completely against the words of the bible. As Christians, our words should be speaking life into ALL of those around us; the ones we like, the ones we know, the ones we don't like, and the ones we don't know. There might be someone who is in a really bad place in life, and maybe by just some simple words spoken by you bring hope into their life. I do my best to remembered that when I may get annoyed by someone or want to roll my eyes. I have no clue where someone may be in their life, but I should be encouraged and challenged to show the love of Christ to people each day by my words. That may be the only way someone comes to know Jesus.
So, are your words bringing life or death? Are they rebuilding or breaking. As you speak each day, think about your words and what they are creating. Lets be girls of life and not death!
James 3:3-10 "If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. ..."
If that verse doesn't convince you about the power are words hold...how about this one
Proverbs 18:21 "The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit."
Did you know that the words we speak will either breath life or death into someone. Think about the words you have spoken today. Did they give someone hope? Did they give love? Encouragement...life? Or were your words creating chaos, confusion...death?
The world tells us not to allow the words of others to influence us, just like that sticks and stones quote. But once again we see it goes completely against the words of the bible. As Christians, our words should be speaking life into ALL of those around us; the ones we like, the ones we know, the ones we don't like, and the ones we don't know. There might be someone who is in a really bad place in life, and maybe by just some simple words spoken by you bring hope into their life. I do my best to remembered that when I may get annoyed by someone or want to roll my eyes. I have no clue where someone may be in their life, but I should be encouraged and challenged to show the love of Christ to people each day by my words. That may be the only way someone comes to know Jesus.
So, are your words bringing life or death? Are they rebuilding or breaking. As you speak each day, think about your words and what they are creating. Lets be girls of life and not death!
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