Forgiveness is hard. Forgive anyway.
Forgiveness is Divine. Forgive the Jesus Way.
Forgiveness is Easy. Forgive as Jesus did, it is the ONLY WAY.
Forgiveness is because of His LOVE, Hooray!
LOVE is the WAY. Forgive today!
Forgive because LOVE never fails. No way!
Forgive because Jesus is THE WAY!
BE JESUS TODAY!
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Forgiveness is HARD.
We still have to forgive.
To not forgive makes it harder.
Let the Lord do His work.
We have to “Be Still” to watch Jesus ask the Father to forgive someone over our grudges and anger. Jesus asks forgiveness for us too. Likewise for others, we must watch Jesus at work, we must be like Jesus in our efforts to forgive… if we know this truth and still we don’t forgive, He won’t forgive us. But “He knows our frame, He remembers we are dust.” Don’t harden your hearts to His Love.
Forgiveness is hard. Forgiveness is Divine. Forgiveness is the only way. Jesus is the Way.
Is forgiveness easy for Jesus? No, He died for our forgiveness, died for multitudes who didn’t and don’t even know their sin. And Jesus puts in the time to walk us thru our transgressions, to walk with those who realize sin but only a fraction. Jesus chooses to also walk with those who don’t even know that they are sinful. Then Jesus stands by, probably in tears, when their distance from Him grows, so many don’t know how to reach to Him. Oh, can you even begin to feel His Joy when we do realize and reach?
Jesus is working thru us RIGHT NOW, we are called to actively forgive others with His Spirit and reduce the distance between them and LOVE – between us and LOVE. Is it easy? No, but it IS Divine – FROM GOD. His Joy grows when we apply what we are taught – when we forgive others. (When we forgive ourselves too)…
Is forgiveness easy for God? No, in human terms it seems not, God sacrifice of His Son. God did NOT take an easy road to forgive – He took the long road, took the high road of forgiveness in order to recover all of His scattered children. God is still looking for so many of us who don’t know to Be Still and realize this greatest opportunity to accept forgiveness…
God knows that great pain of loss. God knows that great JOY of regaining His children’s LOVE. God will keep working on us. His LOVE is patient, kind, protecting, trusting, hopeful, persevering…
God knows to send the Shepard to call His sheep. God’s Love never fails.
Forgiveness is a command.
Forgive those who knew what they did.
Forgive those who have no clue.
Forgive yourself too.
Amen
Bible verses on forgiveness (thank you Google)
Luke 6:35-36 – But LOVE your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
Proverbs 10:12 – Hatred stirs old quarrels, but LOVE overlooks insults.
Psalm 103:10-14 – He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.
Psalm 103: 1-5 – Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits— who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
1 Timothy 1:15-16 – Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.
Luke 23:34 – As he hung on the cross – “And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
Ephesians 4:31-32 – Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another as God in Christ forgave you.
Mark 11:25 – And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”
Colossians 3:13 – Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
Romans 12:18-21 – If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave I to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord. To the contrary, if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Matthew 5:39-41 – But I tell you not to resist an evil person. If someone slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also; if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well, and if someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two.
Proverbs 17:9 – Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends.
Luke 6:35-36 -But LOVE your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
Proverbs 10:12 – Hatred stirs old quarrels, but LOVE overlooks insults.
Proverbs 3:5-6 – Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.
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If truck drivers can drive for a living, Surely I can live to drive where the Lord takes me.
If people can sing for their supper, Surely I can hunger to sing for Jesus.
If I can eat my fill, Surely I can be fed by the Spirit.
If I can show up like a bad penny, Surely God can make me useful.
If I can be served, Surely I can serve.
If I can be idle, Surely I can be NOT.
If I can be forgetful, Surely I can be forgiven.
If I can be forgiven, Surely I can forgive.
If I can be lost, Surely I can be FOUND.
If I can be led astray, Surely I can be led back by Jesus.
If I can be human (and I am), Surely I can be saved by Jesus (and WE are!).
If I can love, Surely I can BE LOVED.
If I can be LOVED, Surely I can LOVE.
Surely I can BE STILL, and Still Be Me.
Surely I can.
If God can make me into me, Surely I can remember to be that, to be me…
Surely I can be His, because I am, I am His.
Surely, I can ANYTHING, because of HIM, the great “I AM”.
Amen
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It is fabulous to see the smiles of Joy on our friends…
I wrote about having Jesus and a Smile for one of my smiley-est friends and former Pastor when he moved to another blessed church family! Borrowing from the slogan of one of his favorite beverages, Coca-cola.
“Coke adds Life. Have a Coke and a Smile!”, reworked slogan:
“Jesus adds Life! Have Jesus and a Smile!
Joy adds life! Have Joy and a Smile!”
Yes Joy. Jesus Joy.
Fruit of the Spirit flowing Joy.
Jesus Joy with extra to spare.
We should all be singing a new song: “I’d like to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony. I’d like to share the WORD of GOD, He’s perfect company.”
“Jesus: the Real Thing…”
Keep smiling! Keep sharing, share JOY and JOY will share with you…
Thank God from whom all blessings flow…
——————
“Coca-Cola ‘Smile’ Commercial (Bob Hope, 1979)” on YouTube:
Classic Coca-Cola song”
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POP, that’s what often happens in my brain when a writing revelation comes to me, it’s just “POPS”. This one sounds familiar – all love IS from God. It reveals itself in a new deeper way. (My job is to get my head out of the way.)
Sounds familiar, but I DON’T always acknowledge that God is the source -completely – without boasting about my own love. Love does not boast. No. I love to share love, but we are to remember all aspects of Love are not from me sharing my own love, love IS from God. Our job is be reflective of HIS Love.
Love is not for me to direct where I decide where my love should go, because I can suffer from favoritism and sentimentality. Our job is to see LOVE at work and join in.
I am called to witness Love. And I need to NOT mess up the flow. We are to participate in His Love.
LOVE
Is patient
Is kind
Does not envy
Does not boast
Is not easily angered
Always protects
Always trusts
Always hopes
Always perseveres
LOVE NEVER FAILS
1 Corinthians 13
LOVE NEVER FAILS.
I can think of many ways that I thought that I was in charge of His love for aspects of my life, NO, I am NOT.
I am the participant, not even the co-pilot, I am along for the ride. I am to share His love unconditionally as He shares with me. I thought I was protecting, but He is doing that. I thought I was trusting, but He is showing me opportunities to comply. I hope and I persevere but actually I am to realize His strength, not mine. I pray to NOT mess up His Love, but actually LOVE NEVER FAILS.
I love to feel God’s LOVE and I love to LOVE God. I realize this too is under His direction. I am simply a bead on His Heartstrings woven into His net. If I can be still, I can witness more. I am in awe of how God loves us, I am in tears for when He shares glimpses of this plan, His Love, His Forever and His Now.
I have to remember to give credit where credit is due. God want ALL the credit.
God longs for us to LIVE in His LOVE.
GOD IS LOVE !
LOVE IS FROM GOD !!
LOVE DOES NOT FAIL !!!
Amen
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Of all the amazing things I believe about our Lord, what amazes me is where I still have doubts.
Jesus likes it when He Himself is amazed in our faith (Luke 7)…
I would like to be amazed at my faith too!
But… I have a long way to go…
“Lord, I believe, help me in my unbelief.” Mark 9:23-24
The devil of doubt, dissuasion, distance, denial, distraction does me no good.
The Messiah of Mercy, makes me want to know more, understand until I see…
The Messiah of Motivation motivates me to move forward taking steps of Faith…
I want to believe in all I don’t know.
I want to know that I could believe.
I want to want less knowledge – and accept more faith.
I want to get there even if I don’t know how.
In Faith, I do know who can and does help: Jesus.
Jesus, no doubt, He’s our SAVING GRACE.
Have Faith in Faith.
Know His Saving Grace.
Amen
Psalm 139 (KJV)
O lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.
2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.
3 Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.
4 For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether.
5 Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.
7 Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.
11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.
12 Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.
13 For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.
14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
15 My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.
17 How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!
18 If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.
19 Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men.
20 For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain.
21 Do not I hate them, O Lord, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?
22 I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Debbie Upper 