Is the unmistakeable "F" word (FORGIVENESS) knocking at your hearts door?

Forgiveness: to give up resentment against or the desire to punish, pardon
(an offense or offender).

Forgiveness seems to be a topic that I think all of us have, are or will deal with at some point in time in our lives.  It's an action that was done for each and everyone of us, yet for some reason the thing that saved us and freed us, is something that we ourselves are so resistant on giving to others.

"Our Lord bids us to forgive others, even as he asked his Father to forgive his executioners.  Sometimes that seems the most difficult thing in the world, but it's necessary if we're going to find true peace.  Anger and hatred hurt us, not the person we direct them at."  This is so true! 


When we have been hurt, and don't truly forgive, the end result is really only hurting and eating at us.  When we honestly and humbly come before our Father and lay that hurt and pain at his feet, it is no longer ours to carry.  Does that mean it just goes away, never to be heard of or seen again, NO.  What it means is that after you lay the burden down at His feet, the moment it comes back to your mind and begins to burden you again, you immediately place it back in His hands.  The problem is, we can be so quick to pick it back up, to continue to hold on to, something that wasn't meant for us.  Which then brings us back to the simple fact that if we would have forgiven and turned it over to God we wouldn't still be stumbling over all this hurt and resentment now.

There are times when we feel hurt by something someone has said or done, and whether or not they see it for what it is, what we can do and what we should do is offer forgiveness.  Instead I feel like too many of us hold on to it, maybe even stubborn you could say, not backing down, thinking they need to pay for what they have done, why doesn't anyone else see it......come on I know you have thought one of those at some point in time, we are human you know.


In fact, as some of you read this, a person is coming to mind that you have been hurt by.  Forgive, that's what you say I should do?  They haven't even apologized for hurting me, they haven't even made an attempt at making things better, and you want me to forgive them?  People need to know what they have done, people need to see them for who they are.  How come I'm the only one suffering from this, why do they seem to be able to continue on living a normal happy life?   They need to pay!

For ALL have sinned...He hates the sin but loves the sinner!  We are all guilty of sin.  At some point in time we have hurt someone, made a poor choice, etc.  No sin is greater then  another.  Sin is Sin.  Our Heavenly Father sent His son to come and die for our sins so that we might have life and have it more abundantly.  It's for all who receive Him.  It's for the old, young, not even born, the wife, husband, teacher, abuser, singer, murderer, movie star, molester, grocery store clerk, Dr, government officials, prisoner, the list goes.  We have all sinned, we have all fallen short.  Who are we to say that we are better then another or that their sin is greater then ours.  We are all His children, we are all offered the same love and forgiveness.  "Do not let evil defeat you, but defeat evil by doing good." Romans 12:21

Don't try to judge or place punishment upon those you think deserve it.  "Do not judge, or you too will be judged." Matthew 7:1  Let our Father who is in Heaven who knows everything, every hurt, pain, tear and scar, let Him carry that burden.  Love as He so loved us.  "But I say to you, love your enemies. Pray for those who hurt you." Matthew 5:44

"Do not do wrong to repay a wrong, and do not insult to repay an insult.  But repay with a blessing, because you yourselves were called to do this so that you might receive a blessing.  The scripture says, 'A person must do these things to enjoy life and have many happy days.  He must not say evil things, and he must not tell lies'."  1 Peter 3:9-10


Lord, I pray for all those who have been hurt or who have hurt someone.  Lord I pray for your forgiveness upon their heart and life.  I pray that they would give that pain over to you that so deeply consumes them. I pray that as the person who they feel they have been hurt by appears in their lives that you would give them a heart like yours.  That they would see that person as you see them.  For we are all sinners, we all fall short, but it was by your blood that we have been set free.  That are sins have been once scarlet, now they become white as snow as your forgiveness and love wash over them.  Let us pray for those who have hurt us.  Give us the strength and the peace that we will need to hand it completely over to you and to not pick up the burden another moment.  Amen!

Was your day a "REALLY" day?

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28

 

I read this on a friends Facebook page and just had to share...

 

Me: God, can I ask You a question?
God: Sure
Me: Promise You won't get mad
God: I promise
Me: Why did You let so much stuff happen to me today?
God: What do u mean?

 Me: Well, I woke up late
God: Yes
Me: My car took forever to start
God: Okay
Me: at lunch they made my sandwich wrong & I had to wait
God: Hmmmmm
Me: On the way home, my phone went DEAD, just as I picked up a call
God: All right
Me: And on top of it all off, when I got home ~I just want to soak my feet in my new foot massager & relax. BUT it wouldn't work!!! Nothing went right today! Why did You do that?
God: Let me see, the death angel was at your bed this morning & I had to send one
of My Angels to battle him for your life. I let you sleep through that
Me (humbled): OH
God: I didn't let your car start because there was a drunk driver on your route that would have hit you if you were on the road.
Me: (ashamed)
God: The first person who made your sandwich today was sick & I didn't want you to catch what they have, I knew you couldn't afford to miss work.
Me (embarrassed):Okay
God: Your phone went dead because the person that was calling was going to give false witness about what you said on that call, I didn't even let you talk to them so you would be covered.
Me (softly): I see God
God: Oh and that foot massager, it had a short that would knock out all of the power in your house tonight. I didn't think you wanted to be in the dark.
Me: I'm Sorry God
God: Don't be sorry, just learn to Trust Me.... in All things , the Good and the bad.
Me: I will trust You.
God: And don't doubt that My plan for your day is Always Better than your plan.
Me: I won't God. And let me just tell you God, Thank You for Everything today.
God: You're welcome child. It was just another day being your God and I Love looking after My Children...
 

I think more often then not, we are like the person in this scenario.  We look at our day and say "really God?".  The funny thing is, He's saying "Really!".  It wasn't a surprise to Him, it didn't throw Him off guard, in fact it all played out the way it was suppose to.  We may not see the reasoning behind it, we may not even agree with it,  or even like it for that matter.  But in the end, His ways are always best.  "And we know in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose."

 

So next time your day doesn't turn out how you expected and maybe frustration and disappointment occur, ask God to help you see the positive that took place, to see the many blessings He has bestowed upon your day.  Once you do I think these next two songs might come to mind.

 

God will make a way, when there seems to be no way...He works in ways, you can not see, He will make a way for me.

Count your blessings name them one by one, count your many blessings see what God has done. 

We serve a BIG God, a LOVING God, a FAITHFUL God, and God who is ALWAYS at work.