Tag Archives: scripture

Forgiveness – Part 3

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Forgiveness-Prt3_Micah_7_18-20What forgiveness is!

Forgiveness is returning to God the right to take care of justice.
By refusing to transfer the right to exact punishment or revenge, we are telling God we don’t trust him to take care of matters.
Forgiveness is a process, not an event.
It might take some time to work through our emotional problems before we can truly forgive. Forgiveness doesn’t happen overnight. However, as soon as we can, we should decide to forgive, but it probably is not going to happen right after a tragic situation. It’s okay.
We have to forgive every time.
If we find ourselves constantly forgiving, though, we might need to take a look at the dance we are doing with the other person that sets us up to be continually hurt, attacked, or abused.
If they don’t repent, we still have to forgive.
Even if they never ask, we still need to forgive. We should memorize and repeat over and over: Forgiveness is about our attitude, not their action.
We might forgive too quickly to avoid pain or to manipulate the situation.
Forgiveness releases pain and frees us from focusing on the other person. Too often when we’re in the midst of the turmoil after a tragedy, we desperately look for a quick fix to make it all go away. Some women want to “hurry up” and forgive so the pain will end, or so they can get along with the other person. We have to be careful not to simply cover our wounds and retard the healing process.
Forgiveness starts with a mental decision.
The emotional part of forgiveness is finally being able to let go of the resentment. Emotional healing may or may not follow quickly after we forgive. It takes time.

Forgiveness quotes:

“Always forgive your enemies – nothing annoys them so much.” – Oscar Wilde
“He who cannot forgive breaks the bridge over which he himself must pass.” – George Herbert

If Yahweh doesn’t hold onto sin and He throws them away why do we continue to hold onto them, being unforgiving?

There’s another quote that I like that goes like this:

“To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you.” – Lewis B. Smedes

Will you set yourself free, now?

Share your testimony and bless others.

Forgiveness – Part 2

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forgiveness part 2 imageWhat forgiveness is not.

Forgiveness is not allowing the offender/offense to be released.
We can and should still hold others accountable for their actions or lack thereof.
Forgiveness is not letting the offense continue over and over again.
We don’t have to tolerate, nor should we keep ourselves open to, lack of respect or any form of abuse.
Forgiveness does not mean we have to return to being the victim.
Forgiving is not saying, “What you did was okay, so go ahead and walk all over me.” Nor is it playing the martyr (a person who undergoes severe or constant suffering), because it perpetuates our victim role.
Forgiveness is not the same as reconciling (making peace).
We can forgive someone even if we are unable to get along with him/her again.
Forgiveness is not based on others’ actions but on our attitude.
People will continue to hurt us through life. We can either look away from them or stay stuck and angry, or we can begin to keep our minds on our loving relationship with God, knowing and trusting in what is good.
Forgiveness does not mean forgetting.
It’s normal for memories to be triggered in the future. When thoughts of past hurts occur, it’s what we do with them that counts. When we find ourselves focusing on a past offense, we can learn to say, “Thank you, Yahweh, for this reminder of how important forgiveness is.”

It’s important to forgive because Yahweh sees your heart and knows it. Sincerely forgiving allows Yahweh to forgive you.

In today’s scripture, verse 26 says that if we don’t forgive neither will Yahweh forgive us. What that’s saying is that unforgiveness eats away at your soul and will make it die and turning you into a bitter and angry person toward Yahweh and the world. 

The quote below says it very well:

One great errand to the throne of grace is to pray for the pardon of our sins; and care about this ought to be our daily concern. – Matthew Henry

Release your unforgiveness to Yahweh. Allow His peace to wash over you and allow yourself forgiveness as you forgive others too.

Share your testimony and bless others!

Forgiveness – Part 1

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Matthew 26:27-28 imageOur first step is learning what forgiveness is and is not.

What is forgiveness? There’s many definitions from different people. What is the dictionary’s definition?

The dictionary says it means: to pardon (excuse) an offense or an offender.

Forgiving an offense or offender is not an easy thing for most people to do. Why is that?

The one thing we need to keep in mind is that satan has a hand in helping us hold onto negativity. It gives him the upper hand in our emotional state. He likes to keep us down and out. I’m not immune. It’s happened to me and on occasion still happens.

What’s the big deal about forgiveness? Why is it so important? In this series I’ll do my best to break it down to help make it clearer to see.

One thing is for sure. The longer we hold onto unforgiveness the harder it is to let go. The more damage it will do. Why? That will be covered in this series as well.

“It’s one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself, to forgive. Forgive everybody.” Maya Angelou

We need healthy boundaries so we are able to learn to give ourselves permission to forgive.

In today’s scripture Jesus gives an example of himself forgiving us by us accepting his blood as the new agreement for forgiveness of sin.

In the next part I’ll share what that means and why it’s important.

In the meantime, give yourselves permission to forgive. Spend time in prayer with Yahweh and allow the Holy Spirit to wash over you and feel the gift of His forgiveness in your life.

Have you experienced forgiveness? If so, comment, and share with us and bless someone today.

Short Circuit

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Psalm 68:18 imageWe seem to get it in our heads that we can go on living however we wish. We want this and that. We sin. We get into trouble. We pray thinking it’s all good. We continue to live in the same sin.

If we don’t release our sin (iniquity) and stop sinning Yahweh doesn’t hear us.

“A relationship with God is too valuable to short-circuit on something that can only hurt you.”

Eternity is far too important to live in sin. Yahweh does answer our prayers in His own time. So, the sooner we release the sin the sooner Yahweh will answer our prayers. Thank about it. Why would a parent reward bad behavior? They wouldn’t! And neither does Yahweh.

Share your story of blessing from being obedient to Yahweh.

How can we pray for you? Contact us today with your request.

The Teacher

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Ecclesiastes 12:9,11,13 imageWe can all remember our favorite teacher(s) from school. Even I do. I had 3 favorite teachers. One in elementary/primary school, one in high school, and one in a training class for a job I had. I thought they were wise and great teachers.

Scripture speaks of “The Teacher”. He is the wisest teacher of all. He gives His final advice, in v. 13: Honor Yahweh and obey His commands, because this is all people must do. Honor and obey Yahweh! This is all we must do! In doing so, everything else falls into place.

Here’s a quote from the NIV 365-Day Devotional I read:

The ultimate source for finding meaning in life: knowing and living with God. God is the Locksmith who promises to help us find a way. Ultimately, true meaning in life can be found only in a relationship with God – a relationship that is the “duty of all mankind”.

Do you have a relationship with Yahweh? If not, what’s holding you back?

One great way to build that relationship is to get into His Word. Absorb it. Let it wash over you. Praise and worship Him. Give Him the glory for all things.

Share your testimony and bless others. Let them know they’re not alone in this thing called life. How has Yahweh blessed you? We’d love to read about it. Comment and share.

Do you need prayer? Contact us now with your request and the prayer warriors will lift you up in prayer now.

Eat, Drink, and Be Merry

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Ecclesiastes 8:;14-15 imageKing Solomon loved a good party! Who doesn’t enjoy fun times?

Solomon honored joy, and holy security of mind, occurring from confidence in God, because a man has no better thing under the sun, though a good man has much better things above the sun, than soberly and thankfully to use the things of this life according to his designation. -Matthew Henry

The thing we need to be careful of is becoming entitled. Saying things like “I deserve this or that”. To be honest, what we deserve is hell. But, because Yahweh wants a relationship with each of us he wishes no harm on us. He wishes us to experience joy in Him.

Job 8:21 says that:

God will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy.

Are you experiencing joy today? If not, why?

3 things to help you experience joy:

  1. Evaluate your environment, the people, the places, etc, you fill your life with.
    1. Hanging out with people to encourage and support you works well.
  2. Are you in The Word?
    1. Every mobile device has an “app store” where you can find a digital bible to install. That way you have The Word with you all the time.
  3. Are you experiencing depression and/or anxiety?
    1. We all find ourselves here occasionally. However, sometimes in life we hit a low spot and we end up unpacking and living in this depression and/or anxiety. You don’t have too. Seek help. It’s OK! No shame or judgment. If you do, find new people to replace in your life.
    2. Also, because satan likes to hold us in a mental prison, we find ourselves condemning ourselves and giving ourselves mental lashings. DO NOT believe the lies satan feeds you. He likes to raise up our past wrongs and hold those over us, essentially, blackmailing and emotionally manipulating us.

Yahweh is waiting for you to call on Him. He wants to bring you joy. Allow Him too.

How has Yahweh brought you joy?

Do you have a prayer request? Contact us now with it and our prayer warriors will lift your request up to Yahweh.

 

Wisdom Seekers

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Psalms 19:7 imagePeople travel the world over seeking wisdom. People who are teachers draw wisdom seekers in claiming to teach in gaining wisdom. Yet, right in Yahweh’s Word it tells how to gain wisdom.

In Proverbs 2:6 it tells us:

Only the Lord gives wisdom; he gives knowledge and understanding.

Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 2:4-12:

4 My teaching and preaching were not with words of human wisdom that persuade people but with proof of the power that the Spirit gives. 5 This was so that your faith would be in God’s power and not in human wisdom. 6 However, I speak a wisdom to those who are mature. But this wisdom is not from this world or from the rulers of this world, who are losing their power. 7 I speak God’s secret wisdom, which he has kept hidden. Before the world began, God planned this wisdom for our glory. 8 None of the rulers of this world understood it. If they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But as it is written in the Scriptures: “No one has ever seen this, and no one has ever heard about it. No one has ever imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” 10 But God has shown us these things through the Spirit. The Spirit searches out all things, even the deep secrets of God. 11 Who knows the thoughts that another person has? Only a person’s spirit that lives within him knows his thoughts. It is the same with God. No one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we did not receive the spirit of the world, but we received the Spirit that is from God so that we can know all that God has given us.

The Spirit of Yahweh. The Holy Spirit that is within us is where our wisdom comes from. That’s the secret to being wise.

Do you seek wisdom? Find it in His word and through the Holy Spirit.

Do you have a prayer request? Contact us and our prayer warriors will lift up your request.

Share your testimony with us. Bless others.

Faithful Promises

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Deut 7:9 imageImagine the story of the “Prodigal Son” here for a moment.

It doesn’t matter how bad you’ve been. When you turn to Yahweh, love and obey Him, He will lavish you with his unfailing love.

Yahweh is a faithful God. He keeps his sacred covenant. A sacred covenant is a sacred pledge, like a contract agreement.

How are you treating Yahweh’s sacred covenant? Are you loving and obeying Yahweh? Are you like the prodigal son returning to your Father in Heaven, Yahweh? He wants to lavish His unfailing love on you.

Comment and share how Yahweh is lavishing His love on you. Do you need prayer? Contact us now and our prayer army will lift your request up to Yahweh.

Awestruck

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Habakkuk 2:18 imageQuotes about idols:

“As long as you want anything very much, especially more than you want God, it is an idol.”
– A. B. Simpson

“If we exalt money, status, or sex above the Word of God, we are living in idolatry. Every time we inwardly submit to the strongholds of fear, bitterness, and pride, we are bowing to the rulers of darkness. Each of these idols must be smashed, splintered, and obliterated from the landscape of our hearts.” – Francis Frangipane

“An idol of the mind is as offensive to God as an idol of the hand.” – A. W. Tozer

We tend to grasp ahold of things and idolize them as if they are our God. The Israelites did it when Moses led them through the desert. In Exodus 32:4; 8 it tells us:

Then Aaron took the gold, melted it down, and molded it into the shape of a calf. When the people saw it, they exclaimed, “O Israel, these are the gods who brought you out of the land of Egypt!”

How quickly they have turned away from the way I commanded them to live! They have melted down gold and made a calf, and they have bowed down and sacrificed to it. They are saying, ‘These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you out of the land of Egypt.’”

It happens today. We look to ourselves, we carry on about our materials things, i.e., automobiles, clothing/shoes, hair/cosmetics/jewelry, our identity in our jobs and things, and the list can go on and on.

Here’s an excerpt from a devotion I read:

Idolatry may seem like a sin that modern people need not fear. But idolatry is not just bowing down to idols; it is trusting in what one has made, and therefore, in one’s own power as creator and sustainer. If we say we worship God but put our trust in bank accounts, homes, businesses, and organizations, then we are idolaters. Excerpted from Life Application Study Bible

Do you trust Yahweh more than you trust what you have? Surrender to Him. Be in awe of Yahweh, not things.

Listen to this music video. Allow the Holy Spirit to wash over you and be in awe of Yahweh.

Do you need prayer? Contact us now with your prayer request.

Slip of The Tongue

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Ecclesiastes 5:6 imageYou should never make a promise you’re not going to be able to keep. Also, you should never make a promise that will lead you to sin. Yahweh doesn’t like when we lie and sin. He will destroy everything we worked for when we lie and sin.

 

We all do it. Sometimes unknowingly at first. Once we’ve realized the lie and sin and what is going to happen we need to seek to correct it before it gets worse. Better yet, don’t make promises that will lead to sin. How? Here’s how:
  1. When asked to make a promise/vow we need to seek deep into our soul and looking at the long term big picture (not fooling ourselves with wishful thinking) asking ourselves:
    1. Where will this lead?
    2. What’s the end result?
  2. Once you see the end result and know it will lead to sin don’t make the promise/vow.

Problem solved before it ever happens.

Are you struggling with sin? Do you need prayer? Contact us now with prayer request.

Share how Yahweh has spared you from lies and sin.