But, if you don’t forgive…….

Ever hear of families where one person won’t speak to another because of something that happened long ago? I bet that they don’t even remember what started it but they are sure that – the other one is to blame! Sad but true. Sadder still in the light of what Jesus said when He taught us the Lords’ Prayer – “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Matthew 6:14-15 NKJV

Forgiveness isn’t an easy thing to do sometimes. Especially if we are sure that we are guiltless or wrongfully harmed by someones thoughtless actions. During a teaching Peter asked Jesus about forgiveness, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Matthew 18:21 NKJV Jesus illustrates the need for forgiveness after answering Peter like this – Jesus said to him,

  “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made.The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.“But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’ So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt.So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done.Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.  Matthew 18: 22-35 NKJV

“So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.”

    Unforgiveness hurts us as much as it hurts the object of our angry and all those around us. We are told that we should be angry but sin not Eph 4:26 NKJV. So its not the emotion of anger that’s harmful but rather what we do with the emotion. If we consider the debt we had, that Jesus wiped clean with His blood on the cross, it can not be so hard to forgive someone for whatever they may have done to us. Love keeps no record of wrongs and we are called to love one another. 1 Cor 13:5c HCSB and John 13:14 KJV

     I doubt that any of us knows anyone who we would need to forgive 490 times each day (70×7) but the point here is that we can and should have an inexhaustible wealth of forgiveness towards our fellow man in the light of the forgiveness shown towards us. God bless you as you let the light of Gods love shine threw you today!

Pray Without Ceasing – Myth Busters 2

My sister asked me a very good question the other day – ” If God knows how and when a person will die why should we pray for them to recover from an illness if they are going to die anyway?” The short answer I presented was that God commands us to pray for the sick. After all He may know when a person is going to die – we don’t! We went on to discuss if this situation was in contradiction to the argument outlined in the previous blog (see Myth Busters). If it’s Gods’ will that someone is going to die then our praying for their healing is useless. Isn’t it?

If only it was that easy a thing. God’s not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9b KJV and even though He clearly knows all and sees all it can not be assumed that every human death (or suffering for that matter) is ordained by Him. There are so many reasons we have trouble in this life. Sickness, disease, accidents, acts of violence are only a few things that happen all around us.Simply because we are powerless to stop something doesn’t mean it an “act of God!” Jesus warned us – “I have told you all this so that you will have peace of heart and mind. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows; but cheer up, for I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 Living Bible

So, what about praying for someone you love who is suffering with a terrible sickness? James gives an example of what to do – Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. James 5:14-15 KJV  Paul puts it very simply in his letter to the church – Pray without ceasing. 1Thess 5:17 KJV Jesus is our example Who we see praying always. 

I saw a sign years ago that read – Live each day as if it’s outcome depends on you and pray each day as if it all depends on God.  At face value this may seem contradictory and maybe somewhat egocentric. But we are expected to be a good steward of the gifts that God has given us, which I believe includes our bodies, mind and spirit as much as our gifts and possessions. Yet, Jesus told us that without Him we can do nothing. John 15:5 KJV So, we pray. Pray and then pray some more and afterwards, pray some more. We do not know what God will do with the prays that He hears from you. But I am sure of this  – He will hear you and He will be proud of you for bringing this situation to Him. The Bible is full of examples of how we are powerless without God as well as examples of how prayer has changed events. But if you do or do not get the answer or result you prayed for that does not mean God doesn’t hear you. We will live and die by the Faith we have (or lack thereof) in Him.

For God is not the author of confusion 1Cor 14:33 KJV This is why I steer clear of confusion caused by controversy and the landmines of arguments about God and Heaven and the Bible by asking myself one simple question. “Does my Salvation depend on this?” If the answer is a firm “NO!” i move on. Are my pets going to heaven? How old will I be in Heaven? Where will I live in Heaven? Will I need to sleep in Heaven? I do not know the answer to any of these questions and am not concerned with finding the answers either. Rather, I am more concerned with making sure I GET TO HEAVEN ! Once there all those questions will be answered. Now, if a controversy or the confusion about something in the Bible or my walk threatens my relationship with God and my possible goal of reaching heaven I need to keep it simple and decide if I am going to trust Jesus or turn away.

When faced with unanswered prayers and disappointment we are at a crossroad in our walk with Jesus – Trust in Him and live or doubt Him and die.

I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life  Deut 30:19KJV

Really? Seriously?!?

Just what are we becoming??

A man shoots another in a movie theater for texting during the previews! Another man kills his girlfriend during an argument over a TV show! Road rage incidents abound and young children are harming their parents! These aren’t television show story lines – they are news items. These are things which continual get broadcast at dinnertime each night and we say “Oh My!, pass the potatoes.” We live in a violent society. We accept it as entertainment in our television shows, music videos and movies. We are only slightly shocked when we hear about it on the evening news. And, we accept it because, well, these things happen. Really? Seriously?!

I can still remember my reaction to a gory scene in a movie even though I don’t remember the movie. I recall seeing a mangled mess of a person presented in a crime scene and how it made me feel sick in my stomach. I don’t get that feeling any more. Some would say I have grown up. Others might say I have become tougher, more manly, and thus able to see these things. I say that I have been desensitized. Brain-washed by our society to accept such unacceptable things as the norm. The truth is that the blatant disregard for human life and civility has caused us all to slide down a slippery slope of inhumanity.

In the late sixties and early seventies if I had a problem with another classmate we might get into a fist fight. If I had a problem with a teacher I would talk about it at home or maybe with the Principal. We all know too well how many of these scenarios play out today – with gun shots and bloodshed. Many times innocent bystanders are harmed as vengeance is being exacted. Driving on some roads becomes a completion with terrible outcomes. Unborn children are ripped from their mothers womb and discarded. Newborns are found in trash cans. Amber alerts are sounded when children are snatched from the safety of their own homes. Metal scanners attempt to keep our schools safe and millions of people get searched daily just to take a plane to work or vacation.  Technological and scientific advancements may give us many new and exciting things that previous generations did not enjoy but they haven’t halted the downward spiral that we as people are in. There really isn’t anything scared any longer. It’s truly all about – ME! Gimme, Gimme, Gimme!

The Apostle Paul tells us that in the last days –

 For people will love only themselves and their money; they will be proud and boastful, sneering at God, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful to them, and thoroughly bad. They will be hardheaded and never give in to others; they will be constant liars and troublemakers and will think nothing of immorality. They will be rough and cruel, and sneer at those who try to be good.They will betray their friends; they will be hotheaded, puffed up with pride, and prefer good times to worshiping God. They will go to church, yes, but they won’t really believe anything they hear. 2 Timothy 3:2-5 Living Bible

All I can say to that quote is – IF these aren’t the last days (considering what we are seeing done around us each day) then God help us as we go forward into the last days. Either way – all of us who believe in the Lord Jesus should pray daily that the love of God and the power of the Holy Spirit guide us and protect us while we walk in a world that is getting darker and more dangerous day by day. Amen? Amen.

ps – Jesus said I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. John 9:4 KJV

Happy New Year

Hey we’re back! Did you miss us?
Well, Dell stood by their product and sent out a new (refurbished) PC after several failed attempts to get the nearly 3 year old back up and running. Once all the old info is placed into the knew system and I become better acquainted with Windows 8, I can get back to the business of sharing with all of you. It is my hope that as we go forward with this blog, that others will join the conversation. I have asked some of my respected friends to contribute their thoughts and welcome all comments from any and all of you out there. Until then, our hopes and prayers go out to you all for a good new year in the Lord. Let 2014 be your best year yet!!