I go to a men's bible study on Saturday mornings at a local coffee shop. I've known most of the guys that attend for years and love all of them. We have a great time discussing and studying biblical concepts. Lately we have been discussing foregiveness and it is fascinating to hear the different perspectives we all have on the subject. We all agree that Jesus was the first foregiver and because of His foregiveness of us, we are empowered to forgive.
We were reading the parable about the servant who owed an enormous amount of money to his master. The master forgave him of his debt however the servant went out and refused to forgive a fellow servant who owed him only a few dollars. When his master found out about it he called the servant before him and dispatched him to the jailers until he paid back the entire debt.
Jesus forgave us that debt we could not pay back so that we would in turn forgive others the small things they do to us. It's true in marriage isin't it that when we choose to forgive our spouse, the forgiveness we have received from Jesus empowers us to pass it on. Just a thought to keep in mind as we go through the day, to pass on the forgiveness we have received to others.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Family Reunion
I went to a big family reunion today. There I saw people that I hadn't seen in many years; in some cases, not since childhood. There were many more people there that I had never seen before. We were mingling with one another, trying to figure out who belonged to which family. There was one thing we all had in common, we were related.
Our heavenly Father says that we are all children of (God) His. He gives us all His incredible, perfect love that we are counted as His. The world, however does not recognize Him in you. When He comes and is manifested in you, you shall resemble and be like Him. Those that have this hope resting on them, purify themselves. (1John 3:1-3)
We who have fled to Him for refuge might have mighty indwelling strength and strong encouragement to grasp and hold fast the hope appointed and set before us. (Hebrews 6:18 b)
The mighty indwelling strenth and strong encouragement comes from the Holy Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit, we are hopeless. Invite Him into your life and be part of His family!
Our heavenly Father says that we are all children of (God) His. He gives us all His incredible, perfect love that we are counted as His. The world, however does not recognize Him in you. When He comes and is manifested in you, you shall resemble and be like Him. Those that have this hope resting on them, purify themselves. (1John 3:1-3)
We who have fled to Him for refuge might have mighty indwelling strength and strong encouragement to grasp and hold fast the hope appointed and set before us. (Hebrews 6:18 b)
The mighty indwelling strenth and strong encouragement comes from the Holy Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit, we are hopeless. Invite Him into your life and be part of His family!
Friday, May 1, 2009
Hope
It's a wonderful day to make a brand new start. In this time of hopelessness around the world their is one who we can truly place our hope in. He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. No one is like Him! Jamie and I have seen so many couples lost in their circumstances and without hope in the world.
But I am reminded of a couple we worked with just last year who had no hope, or so they thought. They were near divorce and at a loss as to what to do. In his desperation he turned to Jesus and the miracles began to happen. We watched as the love of Jesus Christ transformed this man into a completely different person. At one time a heavy drinker, he told me "you know I just don't think I want to drink anymore." Wow, what a work of the Holy Spirit in this man's life.
And then his wife began to change. What was once a relationship without love began to blossom into something new and different. It was wonderful to watch it happen. This couple that had no hope now had a new begining, something that was not there before as the Holy Spirit transformed their life.
We get to witness this more and more often now as times are hard and many couples are in crisis. One thing we have never been more sure of, the answer to their problems lies in inviting the Holy Spirit into their lives and allowing Him to transform their lives!
But I am reminded of a couple we worked with just last year who had no hope, or so they thought. They were near divorce and at a loss as to what to do. In his desperation he turned to Jesus and the miracles began to happen. We watched as the love of Jesus Christ transformed this man into a completely different person. At one time a heavy drinker, he told me "you know I just don't think I want to drink anymore." Wow, what a work of the Holy Spirit in this man's life.
And then his wife began to change. What was once a relationship without love began to blossom into something new and different. It was wonderful to watch it happen. This couple that had no hope now had a new begining, something that was not there before as the Holy Spirit transformed their life.
We get to witness this more and more often now as times are hard and many couples are in crisis. One thing we have never been more sure of, the answer to their problems lies in inviting the Holy Spirit into their lives and allowing Him to transform their lives!
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