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Wednesday, 14 October 2009
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Forgiving happens only when we first admit our hurt and acknowledge our hatred. Those are hard words, but they are true. Unforgiveness is a cold prison, and only truth will set us free (John 8:33-36).
This was taken from a college course book entitled "Relationships and Ethics in Ministry" by T. Ray Rachels. He is the Superintendent of the Southern California District Council of the Assemblies of God. Rachels is a bridge-builder to church boards and laity. His ministerial experience includes being Pastor; Associate Pastor; Director of Youth and Christian Education; and Director of Youth Ministries. He is also Chairman of the Board of Directors for Vanguard University of Southern California; American Indian College; and Church Extension Plan.
Please read on, this was so good I'm sure you will be glad you took the extra two minutes
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People Forgive As They Are Forgiven.
When it comes down to it, anyone who forgives can hardly tell the difference between feeling forgiven and doing the forgiving. We cannot forgive people who offend us without feeling that we are being set free ourselves.
I have not found a better example of this truth than Corrie Ten Boom. She was trapped for the war years in a concentration camp, humiliated and degraded, especially in the delousing shower where the women were ogled by the leering guards. But she made it through that hell. And eventually she felt she had, by grace, forgiven even those fiends who guarded the shower stalls.
One Sunday, in Munich, she saw a man come toward her, hand outstretched: “Ja, Fräulein, it is wonderful that Jesus forgives us all our sins, just as you say” (Ten Boom, as quoted in James 1997). She remembered his face; it was the leering, lecherous, mocking face of an SS guard of the shower stall.
Her hand froze at her side. She could not forgive. She thought she had forgiven all. But she could not forgive when she met a guard, standing in the solid flesh in front of her. Ashamed, horrified at herself, she prayed: “Lord, forgive me, I cannot forgive.” And as she prayed she felt forgiven, accepted, in spite of her shabby performance as a famous forgiver. Her hand was suddenly unfrozen. The ice of hate melted. Her hand went out. She forgave as she felt forgiven.
To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you. To forgive is to reach back into your hurting past and recreate it in your memory so that you can begin again. To forgive is to dance to the beat of God’s forgiving heart. It is to ride the crest of love’s strongest wave. Our only escape from history’s cruel unfairness, our only passage to the future’s creative possibilities, is the miracle of forgiving (Smedes 2002).
Nothing you can do will change the past. Unforgiveness takes you away from giving your energy to the present and future. It makes you responsible at this point for jeopardizing relationships. Even if you have been severely offended, by dwelling on the offense you place a continuing burden on the relationship.
Unforgiveness denies the other person the opportunity to change for the better. It does little to elevate you in the eyes of others. Building bridges to connect ourselves to others in hope and peace is far more enduring than blowing up relationships through childish behavior. It takes patience and work, but in the end, it is worth whatever price is spent.
Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything” (Matthew 5:13). We have the privilege to penetrate our neighborhood with grace-filled living and be good for something and someone.
T. Ray Rachels
Friday, 05 June 2009
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Will You Spend Time With Me?
When so soft My voice in your ear, when so gentle My tug upon your heart, will you steal away to that quiet place where you and I meet together? Will you steady your gaze upon Me for just a little while? My heart is longing for you, to hear you, to speak to you, to infuse you with My love and strength. Will you come away and meet with Me?
Are you weary? I will strengthen you. Are you disquieted? My peace will soothe your troubled soul. Are you overcome with the worries of the day? I will melt them away as you rest in the folds of My embrace. Is your heart breaking within you? My oil is a balm that flows freely from My eternal depths. I will soothe your deepest hurt. Will you come?
Are you hungry? Come and dine at My table. Do you thirst? Drink deep and be filled with My love that is overflowing. Do you hear the song I sing over you? Come and dance with Me behind the veil. Come, I say, enter in with Me so I can commune with you and you can commune with Me. Don’t you know how I desire your love and devotion? I want all of you heart, mind and soul, and all of Me, I desire to give you. Will you come away to My inner chamber that I have prepared for you?
I have anointed you with costly perfume, I have adorned you with the rarest of silk, I have crowned your head with gold and placed My ring upon your hand. I have given you My name and lavished you with gifts, yes, even My life given for your life. Will you spare Me this moment so I can be with you, speak with you, breathe in you? My spirit is calling, My arms are wide open. Will you steal your heart away and spend time with Me?
Wednesday, 03 June 2009
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I went to orientation at Fresno State with Sarah... then shopping and dinner at the Cheese Cake Factory. I ordered the eggplant burger. Very yummy! Next time however, I will ask them to leave off the cheese and mayo. They weren't necessary. The roasted eggplant onions and peppers was the bomb! I passed up the cheese cake though. Boo me! I just didn't need all of those calories. Good Times!
Friday, 22 May 2009
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Sarah graduated from COS tonight with a 4.0. She now has her Associates Degree in accounting. She will be going to Fresno State this fall. She's going to become a CPA. We're so excited for her. She has already been working full time in a large CPA firm in Visalia. She has all of her required hours in. She will continue to work there while she finishes up at Fresno State. God has been opening so many doors for her and continues to advance her. God is so good! YAY SARAH!!!! This mamma is so proud of you!!!
Ken received high marks in his electrical class. He's going for his electrical tech license. He's really good at it... It's something he loves doing. He'll probably be done in a couple of years. YAY Ken!!!! You go son!!! Keep up the good work. You are AWESOME and we are so proud of you as well!!!!!
Thursday, 07 May 2009
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I was able to study for two hours today. Progress. I worked in my garden and got some laundry done, dishes washed, kitchen cleaned and dinner fixed. More Progress! Yay!
my_other_self
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- Member Since: 6/18/2003
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