forgiven

Truly Forgiven {1John 1}

7:00 PM

1 John 1 

I'm writing today to the one who feels she never measures up! 
To the people-pleaser. To the one who is forever striving, but never achieving. The one who never feels that she has reached her goal; who forever falls short. I'm writing, but its The Lord's message that He longs for you to hear.



...God is Light [He is holy, His message is truthful], and in Him there is no darkness at all [no sin, no wickedness, no imperfection]. (1John 1:5)

…God is Love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent His only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him.  In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation [atoning sacrifice]for our sins.(1John 4:8-10)

Christ's death on the cross was not just a symbol of God's love for 'good people', but for ALL people! "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

A few months ago I was battling a persistent migraine that just would not go away! I’d been trying everything I could think of and nothing seemed to be working!! I even stated that fact to the Lord one morning when He woke at 2 am with the migraine still there!
It was then that He reminded me of 1Thesalonians 5:16-18, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you!”

So, I laid there and began praising Him; thinking of all the things I had to give thanks for and the next thing I knew it was morning! My migraine headache was still with me, but my whole countenance had changed! I was full of Joy and Jesus and I wasn’t going to allow that headache to keep me down any longer; so I dressed and went out to buy groceries for the pantry by then was pretty bare!

I was coming around the corner of an isle, when suddenly I spotted an older women looking intently at something. Her eyes never came up to meet mine, but suddenly for the briefest moment, it was as if the Lord parted a veil and I could see how intently, deeply, compassionately …(there just aren’t words adequate enough to describe) how desperately He LOVES US!! In that brief moment He absolutely TOOK MY BREATH AWAY! 

I honestly couldn’t breathe, but suddenly everything made sense!!

Of course:

  • He sent His Son to die in our place!! We were helpless to save ourselves!! His love is so intense that He would have died a thousands deaths had the Law required it!!  
  • He is faithful to forgive- “"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness." (1John 1:9) He is Light and wants us to fellowship in His light!
  • Your sins are removed from you as far as the east is from the west! "As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us." (Psalms 103:12,)
  • And toss them into the depths of the sea! "...He will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and You will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea."( Micah 7:19,)

Not only does God forgive our sins, but He FORGETS them! He chooses not to remember our sins for HIS own sake! Notice, "I, even I, am he that blots out your transgressions for mine own sake, and will remember them no longer." (Isaiah 43:25)

If He has forgotten them, why do we still hang onto them? He’s told us to stop looking at the past, but press forward towards the future in Philippians 3:13, "...this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching for those things which are before."

He calls us a new creation in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “… if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come!” Why is it we don’t often feel new? Why is it that each new day is a chance at a new beginning, but we seem to be stuck and unable to break free? Just imagine your life if you truly took God at His word! Just imagine the intimacy you two would share!

That sweet, sweet intimate communion is always just one step away!

 Remember:
If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just [true to His own nature and promises], and will forgive our sins and cleanse us continually from all unrighteousness [our wrongdoing, everything not in conformity with His will and purpose].(1John 1:9)
God wants us to be free and forgiven!! He longs for us to allow Jesus' blood to wash our consciences clean! (Hebrews 9:14)

Why has God chosen to make us new creations? Because He longs to walk with us; to fellowship with us just as He once did with Adam in the garden. How about you? Will you take that one step today, and tomorrow, and the next day... until you make it home? 

 This song from Lauren Daigle sort of speaks to all of this. Enjoy!



Forgiveness

Forgiveness {Daniel 9:1-19}

12:00 AM


Tuesday, February 12, 2019

Please Read Daniel 9:1-19

Last week we looked at being content in the Lord – nothing other than our relationship with God will satisfy us.

Contentment is difficult for many of us and following contentment with forgiveness just seems so appropriate.  You see, God did a number of things when He led me to Daniel 9.  First, He opened my eyes to see my own lack of praying for the forgiveness FOR others (not of others).  We sometimes get wrapped up in wondering how we can help other people, especially when they are stuck in sin. 

Two weeks ago I shared some prayers for when our loved ones are stuck in sin, and I had asked a few friends to pray with me.  Something amazing happened – God answered one of my prayers!

Daniel’s prayer is another fantastic prayer for when we (and others) are stuck in sin.  But for me, this prayer made me realize how I was not content in the Lord.  Not only was God using this prayer and these to open the eyes of some of my own loved ones, but on me.  Sometimes the truth hurts.  We would rather hear words that soothe, even if they are false.  And when God performs surgery on your own heart, you get to experience just how merciful and forgiving He is, despite our rebellion (v. 9).

Affliction is meant for us to turn to God.  When we face difficult circumstances, we should ask ourselves if God has reason to send judgment.  If we think so, we must urgently seek His forgiveness.  Then we can ask Him to help us through our troubles. 

“The LORD did not hesitate to bring the disaster on us, for the LORD our God is righteous in everything He does; yet we have not obeyed Him.”  (v.14)

Daniel spoke about how God continually tried to bring Israel back to Himself.  Yet even after disaster struck them, they refused to obey Him.  God still uses circumstances, other people, and most importantly, HIS WORD, to bring people back to Him.  What would it take for God to get your attention?  If you are unwilling to accept God’s message, maybe you are trying to avoid making a painful change.

Are you serious?  Is your heart really ready for a transformation?  Because if you truly are, these prayers will cut to the core and remove the stony parts of your own heart. 
God pointed out just how lukewarm I was.  And how I lacked a real desire to be transformed.  He showed me truly how weightless my words are and just how powerful His words are!

God sends help, not because we deserve it, but because He wants to show great mercy.  God could refuse to help us because of our sin and how could we complain?  But when He sends mercy when we deserve punishment, how can we withhold our praise and thanksgiving?

Image result for Daniel 9:9

17 “Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of your servant. For your sake, Lord, look with favor on your desolate sanctuary. 18 Give ear, our God, and hear; open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. 19 Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, hear and act! For your sake, my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name.”

Forgiveness

Love and Forgiveness {Luke 7:40-50}

11:00 PM


While in Galilee, Jesus accepted a dinner invitation from a Pharisee named Simon. As He was reclining at the table, the Lord was set upon by a woman who after crashing the party, fell on her knees before Him weeping. In humbleness, with her hair,  she wiped away her fallen tears on Jesus’ feet; kissing them, and anointing them with alabaster oil. Simon, appalled at this shameful display said to himself, “If this man were a prophet He would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching Him, that she is a sinner.” (vs. 7:39) Simon thought of himself as highly esteemed and religious. Yet when he witnesses this woman showing her love for Jesus, her thankfulness for His forgiveness, and her sorrow over her wicked past, his own heart isn’t moved. Instead, filled with self righteousness, he sees only her sin. Knowing the hypocrisy of Simon, Jesus shared with him a parable of two debtors and says, “For this reason I say to you, her sins which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.” (vs. 7:47) 

“The point Jesus is making is if we are not each aware of how great our own sin debt to God is in His eyes, we will not have a proper degree of love and gratitude to God for the mercy that He has shown us in making forgiveness of that debt possible for Jesus' sake. We will also not show the proper love and forgiveness toward our neighbors, because we will think of ourselves as being better than they are, rather than as being just as much in need of God's grace and mercy ourselves as they are.” (ebible.com) And I have to tell you, just like he did with Simon, Jesus drove that same point home to me these past few days.

Due to the recent ice storms in our area many lost their electricity, ourselves included. Being fortunate enough to have a generator, we were at least afforded heat and the ability to provide power to a few essential appliances. Family members, without power themselves, came to stay with us until their electricity was restored. This included my mother. Now it’s no secret that my mother and I have had a contentious relationship, so the thought of spending so much time together left me feeling a bit trepidatious. As day one turned into day two, I found the familiar feelings of resentment, anger, and hurt beginning to creep in. And after a discussion about Jesus, where it was clear that our beliefs differed greatly in certain areas, I decided it best to take some time out and work on my blog post that was about of all things, forgiveness. Little did I know that God was about to give me an eye opener I wouldn’t soon forget! 

As I read about Simon I immediately felt indignant at how he looked upon the woman at the feet of Jesus. I thought, “Typical Pharisee. Can’t see his own sins through his sanctimonious forest of the sins of others.” Right then and there, God laid a conviction on my heart. It turns out, Simon wasn’t so different from myself. The Lord revealed to me that all of this time, I have been looking at my Mother through the self righteous eyes of Simon.

Before if anyone had asked, I would have said that I had forgiven my Mother for hurts of the past. And it’s true, that many times I have prayed for a heart towards her that is free of bitterness and anger. But that night after some serious soul searching, I realized that although my lips said forgiveness, my heart did not. I still harbored hurt and records of every grievance against me she  committed. Like Simon, when I looked at her all I could see was her sins and need for forgiveness; conveniently overlooking my own sins and the great need for forgiveness that I too possessed. I was ashamed of my “holier than thou attitude” and prayed that God would truly open my eyes and allow me to see her as Jesus sees her, loved and forgiven.

The next morning over coffee, my Mother and I were watching the news of the day. This lead to her talking about things she experienced growing up and throughout her life; including hurts, disappointments, and sorrows of the past. The stories she told I had heard countless times before. And before when I heard them, I immediately would think, “Oh here we again. Trying to be the victim when we know I’m the real victim.” I must say I played the part of the martyr well. But unlike before, this time I actually listened to her with open ears and an open heart. And what I heard were the stories of a woman who like myself has experienced hurts and injustices. A woman who has been wounded and whose heart bears the scars. A woman who has made mistakes and experienced the consequences. And most of all, a woman who deserves my real and honest love and forgiveness. And not because I regard myself as greater or holier than her, but because my sins are just as grievous as hers, and yet God in His mercy so willingly forgave and continues to forgive mine.

Forgiving others although not easy, is possible. It’s possible through the strength of the Holy Spirit and with a full heart. Why? Because a heart filled with love and thankfulness for God’s mercy and forgiveness finds it impossible not to motivate us to forgive others. “Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in mercy. He will again have compassion on us, and will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.” (Micah 7:18-19) 

I just love how God works! Although the ice storm was responsible for frozen power lines, roads, and water pipes, it was also was responsible for the thawing of my frozen heart. By the time the power was restored and my Mother was ready to go home I had developed a new appreciation for her not only as my Mother, but as a fellow daughter of God. And although my forgiving heart is a work in progress, as is our mother/daughter relationship, I am forever grateful to the Lord for this break through.

We have another ice storm in the forecast for next week. And although I would never wish for a repeat of what our state just experienced, I can for the first time in a long time, say that if my Mother has to come and stay, I will honestly look forward to spending time with her! To God goes the glory!

To read more about forgiveness, follow the link

https://t2womenintheword.blogspot.com/2018/12/god-forgives-and-forgets-hebrews-71-928.html