Seems that last week was all about forgiveness...I talked several people about forgiveness issues...
This week more specifically, it seems that God is Resurfacing some things in people I know, including myself...The emphasis is on REsurfacing is because chances are at one point or another that which is underneath the surface was on the surface or shallowly under the surface...and unfortunately, was either never dealt with, ignored, or neglected or all the above...
From a biblical perspective, there was a point when God did not want ANY co-mingling or any hint of a pagan nation in relation to Israel. I personally don't think it was necessarily the physical proximity as much as it was the spirit and/or attitudinal proximity...
I think that we must be aware and alert of things that bubble out of us...I believe they "manifest" for a reason and we need to pay it the proper attention.
Man, God loves us so much that He's committed to our deliverance, He's committed to us more then we could imagine and some ways more then we are to ourselves...I'm thinking about the scripture in Malachi...the refiner's fire comes to mind...the precious metal is boiled under hot hot pressure so that the impurities that were in the gold would surface or rise to the top...the impurities were scraped off and the process was repeated again and again until the reflection of the refiner was seen in the metal...my God...
This whole REsurfacing thing is quite humbling, yet necessary...take an introspective look at yourself this week...True changes starts with repentance...Let the Lord continue to REsurface some unresolved issues...Love you all...
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Monday, July 13, 2009
Forgiveness...take two...
Forgiveness...boy oh boy...what a loaded topic...some believe that the offender has to ask the offended for forgiveness b4 the offended can forgive...man what a loaded topic...I'm convinced that the offended should forgive mainly for their sake...shucks how often have we done something that has offended someone else and don't even know about it???
I guess that's why it is a biblical principle that if someone has offended you to go to that person...Matt. 18...Unforgiveness is a burden...it's a responsibility to bear (think about it)...just think, how much energy is it stay emotionally engaged in negative feelings??? Avoiding talking to your spouse...seething in "self justification"...etc...someone said we all put on our pants the same way, mine "waste" don't smell any better then your's...
I've had to do some forgiving in my life and I think the most powerful lesson, or one of the most powerful lessons is that forgiveness is NOT a feeling, but a choice...I think and I could be wrong, but a lot of us wait for some magic, mystical moment when we quiver with warm, gooey sensations of forgiveness until we actually decide to forgive someone for their sin against us...Why?? Again, I submit to you, it's FOR YOU when you forgive. I don't have to wait for some euphoric moment in time to randomly hit me for me to decide if I'll do something good for myself...
Don't get me wrong, I know a lot of us have had some very deeply challenging situations and I'm not simply saying a mere casual, nonchalant "get over it", but their isn't anyone who has lived a perfect life and who hasn't had to forgive someone for their wrong(s) and chances are there is someone out there that may have a "worse grievance" (if I can say it like that) and then on the other hand...I think comparing offenses for the sake of who endured more or who hurt the most is somewhat juvenile (I'm guilty of this) because everyone deals with things differently in there own process, but I submit to you, that we have a larger stake in that process time then what some of us think...how?? by a making a decision to forgive and move on...this by no means condones the offender, again it's about your future, your peace your life more then anything...I've been in situations where I was the offended and allowed the offender to become apart of my unforgiveness and oddly enough it seemed as though approaching the offender and forgiving them was a like a load lifted off of them as well...I don't know about you, but I realize and continue to realize that my life does not belong to me, it belongs to my King and others...the scripture instructs us to pray for those who persecute you and spitefully use you and it's hard to remain upset with someone if you're genuinely praying for them...the scripture also says to Blessed are ye, when [men] shall revile you, and persecute [you], and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Matt. 5:11...instead of getting bitter, get better, don't be a victim, be a victor...in the words of my brother, "The Ryan", ahh that feels better...just something to think about...
I guess that's why it is a biblical principle that if someone has offended you to go to that person...Matt. 18...Unforgiveness is a burden...it's a responsibility to bear (think about it)...just think, how much energy is it stay emotionally engaged in negative feelings??? Avoiding talking to your spouse...seething in "self justification"...etc...someone said we all put on our pants the same way, mine "waste" don't smell any better then your's...
I've had to do some forgiving in my life and I think the most powerful lesson, or one of the most powerful lessons is that forgiveness is NOT a feeling, but a choice...I think and I could be wrong, but a lot of us wait for some magic, mystical moment when we quiver with warm, gooey sensations of forgiveness until we actually decide to forgive someone for their sin against us...Why?? Again, I submit to you, it's FOR YOU when you forgive. I don't have to wait for some euphoric moment in time to randomly hit me for me to decide if I'll do something good for myself...
Don't get me wrong, I know a lot of us have had some very deeply challenging situations and I'm not simply saying a mere casual, nonchalant "get over it", but their isn't anyone who has lived a perfect life and who hasn't had to forgive someone for their wrong(s) and chances are there is someone out there that may have a "worse grievance" (if I can say it like that) and then on the other hand...I think comparing offenses for the sake of who endured more or who hurt the most is somewhat juvenile (I'm guilty of this) because everyone deals with things differently in there own process, but I submit to you, that we have a larger stake in that process time then what some of us think...how?? by a making a decision to forgive and move on...this by no means condones the offender, again it's about your future, your peace your life more then anything...I've been in situations where I was the offended and allowed the offender to become apart of my unforgiveness and oddly enough it seemed as though approaching the offender and forgiving them was a like a load lifted off of them as well...I don't know about you, but I realize and continue to realize that my life does not belong to me, it belongs to my King and others...the scripture instructs us to pray for those who persecute you and spitefully use you and it's hard to remain upset with someone if you're genuinely praying for them...the scripture also says to Blessed are ye, when [men] shall revile you, and persecute [you], and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Matt. 5:11...instead of getting bitter, get better, don't be a victim, be a victor...in the words of my brother, "The Ryan", ahh that feels better...just something to think about...
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Forgiveness...
I wonder...how do you feel when you've wronged someone or they perceived that you've wronged them and you go back to apologize or get it right and now they don't want to hear you or accept your apology...does that continue the cycle of "offense"??
Interesting isn't it?? Biblically speaking, the whole forgive and offense thing is compared to owing someone a debt..."forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors against us..." Even the word, FORGIVE- has money connotations to it, "for" meaning beforehand, or prior to and "give" meaning give...lol...seems to me that if someone owes me a "debt", money or otherwise, regardless of how I feel, I'll accept anything they give me...if you owe me $20 and all you have to give me is $12, I'll take the $12 as opposed to $0...just something to think about...
Interesting isn't it?? Biblically speaking, the whole forgive and offense thing is compared to owing someone a debt..."forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors against us..." Even the word, FORGIVE- has money connotations to it, "for" meaning beforehand, or prior to and "give" meaning give...lol...seems to me that if someone owes me a "debt", money or otherwise, regardless of how I feel, I'll accept anything they give me...if you owe me $20 and all you have to give me is $12, I'll take the $12 as opposed to $0...just something to think about...
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Welcome!!
My First Post!...In this blog I will express my opinion on various topics, both personal, ministrial etc...I hope that from my perspective(s) on things you will be able to glean something that equips or empowers you in your day to day life...maybe spark a thought, give you comfort, answer a question, give you a fresh perspective or simply entertain you...Seems all my life and more and more I felt and feel comfortable challenging the status quo and asking questions that may seem to some to be "unpopular" or down right uncomfortable...anyway...enjoy!!!
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