Forgive

I do not believe that the ability to forgive is natural to a human. The flesh seeks justice and vengeance. But to forgive is to be Christ-like.

Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Colossians 3:13 NIV

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:31-32 NIV

It’s a choice and a process. Often we want instant forgiveness from others. But only Jesus forgives in an instant. We, as humans must PRACTICE it, choose the forgiving attitude daily. We have to begin thinking of our offender as they ARE, not as they WERE.

How can a man change if he is constantly treated like a sinner or labeled by his sin?

Forgiveness means
Seeing some as
Thinking of someone as
Treating someone like
The person they ARE…not the one they WERE.

It is only the Holy Spirit that enables us to do that.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 1 Corinthians 13:4 – 6 NIV

Recall that 1 John 4:8 tells us that God IS Love. These attributes are HIM.

Offering forgiveness will heal your own soul:

For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. Matthew 6:14-15 NIV

Forgiveness is an act of mercy:

While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep. Acts 7:59-60 NIV

When they came to a place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals – one on his right, the other on his left, Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Luke 23:33-34 NIV

Make the choice daily to “forget the former things, do not dwell on the past” because He is always doing something new and beautiful in us all (Isaiah 43:18). Choose to see that in those around you.

Forgiveness means
Seeing some as
Thinking of someone as
Treating someone like
The person they ARE…not the one they WERE.

How God Speaks

So, Johnny Derouen, professor and youth pastor, said that if you choose any devotion–any Bible study–Jesus will bless you by arranging your circumstances so you learn from those words.

I see how God does that. When I check my favorite blogs, Jesus Calling, and My Utmost For His Highest, it ALWAYS applies.

Last night I cleared out my Notes on my phone and iPad. I kept the scriptures I had written down. Every verse I read applied to me now, TODAY. I’d been noting them for years–I had notes from 2009. But each verse told me today what God needs me to know.

It is sad to me that I’ve walked around in my sin and sadness when the answer to my worries was in my pocket the whole time. But I’m glad The Lord reminded me last night that He’s been with me the whole time, like a verse in my pocket, like a whisper in my ear, He’s never left my side.

Help me, Jesus, to hear You, feel You, trust You, need You more. Amen.

His Bride

Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. 

Ephesians 5:22

I am a dutiful daughter, loving the advice and encouragement of my father and mother.

I teach adolescents to think, plan, and focus.  I am adept at admonishing and correcting.  My students admire me and seek my approval.

I am entrenched in my role as mother. I have raised babies, primary school children, and teenagers.  My children make me proud; they have learned to watch their words, apologize, show respect.

As a teacher, mother, daughter, I flourish.  But in my role as wife, I flounder.

I have treated my husband as a child—admonishing and correcting, expecting remorse and forgiveness as I would from my children.  I distrust and question and prod.  I have made my love conditional: when he listens, when he acts as I expect, I am gracious, but when he fails, I pout.  When he disappoints, I force apologies.

I am totally comfortable taking instruction from a parent and I feel purpose in directing children in the Way.  But as a lover, I have fallen short.

I have not accepted my husband as he is, but tried to change him.  I have not LOVED him as he is, but reprimanded him.  I have not respected him and followed him with complete trust.

Not a dutiful bride.

If I have failed at being an earthly bride…how could I have success as the Bride of Christ?

I have taken His advice as my Father.  I have learned from Him as my Teacher.  But have I let Him be the Lover of my Soul?  Have I rejoiced in Him, enjoyed Him, lavished in His Love?

I have tried to change You, too, Lord.  I ask, “Are You sure?”  “Isn’t there another way?”  I doubt, I nag, and I second-guess.

I have forgotten two first loves.  The One who loved me first and the one He gave me.

And, yes, Lord, I see that he is a gift you gave me.  He is not perfect.  I am not either.  I owe my own set of apologies.  I need to be the change in our house.

Jesus, teach me to languish in Your Love, his love.  Show me how to stop being that dripping faucet but instead a quiet and gentle spirit.  Help me respect and honor him without the questioning and doubt.  If I can be his bride, I can be Your Bride.

Jesus, I lay down my pride for it has hindered me.

BUILDING THE HABIT OF THANKFULNESS: Hard Times

Click here to read how we began our study on BUILDING THE HABIT OF THANKFULNESS.

My babies, you know I’ve been having a hard time lately. I want this year to be easier than last year. I want to be home more with you and at work less. And then I got some news that made me upset.

But God is in control. Always. So, that means He knew what classes I would teach this year. He planned it.

For I know the plans I have for you” —this is the Lord’s declaration—“plans for your welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. — Jeremiah 29:11

But sometimes the path He leads us down is hard. We must learn to thank God even when things do not go our way.

Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. –Philippians 4:6

and…

[Give] thanks always for everything
to God the Father
in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ….–Ephesians 5:20

When I said that I was “not satisfied” with my job, CSM said, “Maybe you need to decide to be satisfied FIRST, and then God will change the situation.”

You’re right, my girl. I need to be THANKFUL for even the hard times. Jesus still might not change the hard times, but maybe I will truly feel JOY and true THANKFULNESS if I bow at the feet of Jesus and thank Him even for the hard times. Even if my situation doesn’t change, perhaps my heart will.

YOUR ASSIGNMENT: Thank Jesus for 3 things that you really don’t feel thankful for–things you actually wish He would change for you. In THANKING God for them, perhaps we will feel REAL JOY.

Mine are:

1. Thank you, Jesus, for allowing me to teach at the same school again.
2. Thank you, Jesus, for giving me something new to teach.
3. Thank you, Jesus, for sending each of us to a different building during the school day.

Maybe I will really begin to feel better if I try to BE THANKFUL for all of that. It is good to have a job. It can be fun to teach something new. And with all of us in a different building this year, we can shine the light of Jesus in many corners of this city.

….How about you?? Can you think of 3 things to thank God for that are actually hard times or things you wish He would change??