Driving out darkness with love

Today's reading and Journaling is: Luke 6:35-36

You can do this by writing the scripture, you can also join me in using art. Print the large or small version of our Lessons on Love, from Jesus lesson.

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We left yesterday with the assignment to ponder John 15:13 and ....

 Jesus gave up his life for _______. (Insert your name.)

Now for the rest of the story....

Today's verses take this a step further.

"But Love your enemies, do good to them .."Luke 6:35

The hard part for my fleshly, natural, sin-filled man, is what I'm getting ready to say.

Jesus gave up his life for your enemy, too.

Our enemies treat us horrible, that is why we consider them our enemy. But God's word reminds us that no matter what we should still treat them well, doing good to them.

No more back biting, gossiping, or showing our disapproval. No, strive to do good to them. Because as Martin Luther King Jr. said "Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.”

As you spend the weekend with those you love, look for ways you can show love to your enemy. Because that is what will make the difference.

***Side note, abuse is not what I am talking about here. Abusers are the enemy and do not understand love. In that situation, yes, please still love them, but love them from a distance, by praying for them. Make sure you get help from your abuse, which comes in many different ways. Ask God to send those who will stand with you and pour His love into you, helping you to see the truth. You are precious. ****

What Love and Selfless Sacrifice have in common?

Today's reading and Journaling is:  John 10:11-15; 17

You can do this by writing the scripture, you can also join me in using art. Print the large or small version of our Lessons on Love, from Jesus lesson.

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"Greater love has no one than this: to lay down their life for a friend."

Think about the sacrifice... the selflessness, the love!

I recently heard a story of a mom, who in the last moments of her child's life was asked. "Can your child be a donor?" Her response puts this love in plan view.

This mother, in pain, choose the selfless act and said yes. When asked why her response is pure love. She didn't want another parent to deal with the pain she was feeling. Pure and simple that is the type of love this verse is talking about.

"Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die." - Romans 5:7

We are reminded that for a righteous man, it is rare that someone would die, but for a good man, maybe...

Well if you are like me, my natural, flesh filled man is not even good. Yet... God sent Jesus, who while on the cross showed our love by selflessly giving up his life for us. 

Jesus gave up His life for Ona....

Jesus gave up His life for _______. (Insert your name)

Today, I want you to ponder this, and come back tomorrow for the rest of the story.

God's Love for the imperfect and flawed

Today's reading and Journal Entry is:  John 3:14-16

You can do this by writing the scripture, you can also join me in using art. Print the large or small version of our Lessons on Love, from Jesus lesson.

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For God so loved the world....

If you are imperfect, or flawed, it may be hard to believe that God loves you. Christian or not, these thoughts may surround you. Surely, I am not alone here.

But the truth is God loved you, because you were created by Him. He knitted you together in your mothers womb. He planned your days.

I don't know about you but when I make something I find pride in it. I may be disappointed that I that I thought in my head was bigger and my knitted hat came out longer than I needed, but I still love it. Have you ever knitted or crochet something, maybe you can relate?

God is the same way. He loved you, your friends, coworkers, and neighbors, so much he offered his son as a sacrifice for you to know Him. Not just for you to know Him, but for you to spend eternity with Him.

Soak it up....

I hope today's picture reminds you of how special you are. Of how much God loves you. When you are finished post this picture where you need it most. In the bathroom, on the fridge, on your door.

Where do you need this reminder the most? What part of this resonated with you the most?

Post a picture on facebook of your drawing and where you put it.

Don't forget to come back tomorrow for day 4.

The Tri-fold love for God

Today's reading and Journaling is:  Matthew 22:37-40

You can do this by writing the scripture, you can also join me in using art. Print the large or small version of our Lessons on Love, from Jesus lesson.

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Love God with all of your heart, soul, and m

ind. What could that mean?...

1. Your Heart

I think of our heart, as our emotion. Love God in the good. Love Him with your heart with your life. Love with your life and action.

2. Your Soul

Love God with all of your soul. Love God deep beyond. don't just love God but worship Him, commune with Him, Go deep with Him. That is what he wants.

3. Your Mind

Love God with all of your mind. Make the decision to love God no matter what. Good, bad, and ugly. Emotions come and go, but the decision to love God no matter what is important. Make that head decision to love and trust Him.

How do you love God in the good? Bad? How do you spend time with God?

Don't forget to join us tomorrow for more lessons on Love from Jesus.

Jesus Said: Love your Enemies & Pray

Today's reading and Journaling is:  Matthew 5:43-47

You can do this by writing the scripture, you can also join me in using art. Print the large or small version of our Lessons on Love, from Jesus lesson.

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But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you - Matthew 5:44

Dear Lord, forgive me...

As we look at what Jesus taught about love the first set of verses brought about convictions. Conviction to change. I prayed for forgiveness, peace, and strength to battle my enemies on my knees.

1. Forgiveness

Forgiveness because when people mistreat me my natural instinct is to fight back. If I stick with this, then I'll be like Romeo and Juliet's family. Feeding the anger and not even remembering what started it. I don't want that. So I also pray for the ability to forgive those who have hurt me. 

2. Peace

I prayed for peace. Peace in my own heart and peace in the situation. God doesn't want me to live in bitterness. He came to offer peace. When I live in bitterness, then I can't live in His peace. I'm losing out and I want all He has to offer me. 

3.  Strength to battle on my knees

I also prayed for strength to battle my enemies on my knees instead of with my words and actions. Jesus showed us this way, and as His follower, I want to follow His lead.

I would love to hear what you got out of today's verses? Let me know in the comments below. 

Don't forget to join us tomorrow for more lessons on Love from Jesus.  

What is Love; according to Jesus

The week of Valentines Day is here, which means this week everybody is going to be thinking about love. Between watching love stories on Hallmark, or buying chocolates and roses, it is safe to say love is in the air.

With all of this talk, the big question is what is love? Jesus gives us some great perspective. So this week I invite you to join me in a scripture journaling of what Jesus said about love. 

Things you are going to need. 

1. Your Bible

If you want to learn what Jesus says about love, you are going to need the Bible, because that is where his words can be found. 

2. A notebook or sketchbook.

We want to be able to come back to what we are learning, to be able to pass along what we are learning, to be able to reflect on it at times, we may be struggling. So grab a notebook. I will be using a sketchbook, but you can use what you want to use.

3. Pens, crayons, colored pencils.

This time things around I am hoping to do things a little different. Ultimately this is your journal, so you will decide the method you will use. So you can decide exactly what you will need. 

4. Creativity

God is a creative God, why else would we have so much beauty around us? Well I want you to reach down into all of your creativity and dream to do more.

5. Printables 

Depending on how you decide to proceed you will need one of these books of printables.

The first printable will work with a sketchbook, it has a stencil set for you to print and then put behind your page. Then you can trace these sketches into your sketch book. 

The second printable is identical to the first, except it is on a smaller scale. I know that if you are using a notebook, you may need smaller pictures. So you can use this printable in your notebook. 

The third printable, is for those who plan to only write the scripture. This will be a list of scripture for you to write. 

No matter which technique and printable you decide to use, I hope you will join me this week as I blog through the lessons I learned from these verses.  

Love or Noise? What is coming from you?

I have been looking around me and see all these people who are in love, but sometimes I wonder if they are really in love, or if it is lust, loneliness or something else. So I felt I needed to answer the question what is love?

Love or Noise?

We read in the Bible about love in 1 Corinthians 13.  So let's dive in.

If I speak in the tongues^[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,^[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing. - 1 Corinthians 13:1-3

 Without love there is just noise, without love we are nothing and we gain nothing. If love is the greatest gift how can we gain it? 

I don't want to just be noise, and I know from personal experience that without love if I say something that others may take as a judgement, it becomes just noise and that noise keeps people from being able to hear anything else I'm saying. We are called to love, we don't want our lack of love to be noise that keeps others from being able to hear about God's love.

Love is not an emotion - it is a choice.  If love was an emotion it would come and go, but as a choice we make it is an action. - God is love, but we sometimes treat him badly, but he always chooses to love us.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.- 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8a

 When I was studying this I was using my Life Application Bible and it had a note for 13:4: We need to love Him & our fellow Christians, Not the visions we have for perfection here on earth. This is hard for me. I want to be treated better by people around me. I envision a day when that will happen, but when they say or do something that hurts me I fall back into my unloving attitude toward them. This is why love is not an emotion it is a choice, because Love is not easily angered, nor is it self-seeking, but most of all Love never fails.

Love Vs. Lust

My Life Application Bible had another note for 13:4-7: Our society confuses love with lust.  Unlike lust, God's kind of love is directed outward toward others, not inward toward ourselves.  It is utterly unselfish. This kind of love goes against our natural indications. It is possible to practice this love only if God helps us set aside our own desires and instincts, so that we can give love while expecting nothing in return. Thus the more we become like Christ, the more love we will show to others.

Love is...A choice, action, gift

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. - 1 Corinthians 13:13

Life Application note for 13:13: Love will endure forever.
Faith =  foundation and content of God's message
Hope = attitude and focus
Love = Action

When faith and hope are in line, you are free to love completely because you understand how God loves.

Now that we better understand love join me Friday as I challenge me and you to love someone else.

What's love got to do with life? How many times have you been told to follow your heart, but your heart is full of emotions and emotions change. If you're like me they can change almost daily. This post helps you to define Love and see how love affects your life, friends and how you treat others.

Burned out




Photo by The Ewan

God warned me as I gradually got worse. He warned me that the path and the rate I was taking the path weren't healthy. Yet something inside told me that this was the life God had for me. I started to believe that I was put on this earth to be over used and abused (lie).

 

I sat across from my mom at my kitchen table almost in tears as I finally let those words I had been holding escape. It was terrible, yet liberating all at the same time. I had started believing that I was all used up, of no use to anyone, even God. (Lie)

 

What a terrible place to be, but finally speaking my mom almost in tears because she is tired too. Gave me some much needed truth. God loves us, both of us. He came to give us rest, yes he wants us to do work for him but not at the cost of relationships. The most important relationship being with him.

Photo by The Ewan

 That is exactly what God warned me of, I can't lead or even teach without him. Without spending time with him, I am forgetting love and grace. Without love and grace the words I say are nothing but noise. 

 

Now for a little bit of truth; if Satan can pull us from God long enough we forget love and grace; then he steals our purpose. Our purpose of giving grace and love to others while pointing to the author of it all.

 

So I am trying to rekindle my relationship with God. Seeking him knowing he has promised to be found. I was reminded of where I was while reading another blog called The Good Life.  This blog reminded me that God didn't put me on this earth to be over used and abused. No that is a lie, God went through great efforts to show his love.

While I feel like I have been used up to the point of being useless. That is a lie, God always uses the least expected and most unqualified people. Think about it, God uses Moses who had a speech impediment, and Paul who persecuted his followers. Yet these are just a few examples of people God used that didn't fit the mold. So know I just need to rest, and be ready for God to use me.

As long as I don't allow Satan to take my voice, and I seek God with all of my heart, I am useful; and so are you.

Dear Lord,

I praise you for your wisdom. I thank you for the opportunity to get closer to you. Please continue to draw me toward you. Help me to find you, where I can understand and share your love and grace.

In Jesus name,

Amen

The perfect man and bff...

Jesus is the perfect man. I know what your thinking; Jesus was sinless. Yes that is true but not what I said. I said he was the perfect man and the best friend you could ever want.

When Jesus asked a question he listened for the answer. Not like we do. Speed listen if we can call it that. We listen for key words that help us to respond in an appropriate way.

I admit I do this so many times. When I am talking to someone I glean what I need from the conversation and move on. Luckily for me God blessed me with being an audible learner. So I can take a few notes and remember the basis of the conversation. Works like a charm in school but totally stinks when trying to build relationships.

So I need to take a lesson from Jesus, the perfect friend. Jesus didn't see somebody and pull out his God power and know what they needed and give it to them. No, Jesus asked questions. One of these questions seemed odd to me but it was simple. "What do you want". We see this in John 1:38

It wasn't that Jesus didn't know the answer, he wanted to hear the answer, no he wanted to be present for the people to make their own decision. With Jesus we always have to make our own decision. Do we accept his love and grace or do we try to be good and earn it? 

I am glad that  Jesus didn't always answer yes. In Mark 10:35-38, Jesus shoes that sometimes what we adj for isn't something we can handle or even what is best for us. John and James asked to be on Jesus right and left side in Heaven. Instead of telling them no, they had the privilege of another question. Can you drink the same cup as me?

When faced with the same question I may long to say yes, but God knows my heart and he knows what is best for me. So when I am tired of fighting I may pray take this cup from me but Good had said time and time again it will better you. So I continue to fight the lies and pain in hope to see a better me. 

I know that I have the perfect friend to give me strength, love and grace. Praise God. 

Dear Lord,

Thank you for knowing what is best. Thank you for listening to me, and pushing me toward better things and complete truth in you. 

In Jesus name,

Amen

  

November 23 - 27

November 23 - I am thankful for rest. I spent the entire day sleeping. I slept in, got up and watched tv, only to fall asleep yet again. I basically did nothing and it felt good.

November 24 - My pew buddy. Okay I don't sit with many people but every since this lady and her husband started coming I feel so connected to her. She is God given to our church. She truly has a heart full of God's love and she gives it freely. I only hope I can learn from her.

November 25 - A youth group that likes each other and is willing to help others out. We spent the afternoon together and delivered Thanksgiving baskets. It was a good day.

November 26 - A good oulook and attitude at work. My positive outlook and attitude help me push on while I am at work. This is God given, and without him I wouldn't be able to do what I do, or deal with what I deal with. Praise God for always being with me.

November 27 - My desire to learn new things. Today I take on apple pie, and I think I'm ready for the challenge.

Dear Lord,

I praise you for being with me, and giving me people who care for me.

In Jesus Name,
Amen

The Early Church & today

In the church adult bible study we are working through the book of Acts. This is very interesting because we are learning about the early church. I have found a band or experiment that embodies the ideas of the early church. Remember everything I tell is from an out outside / hearsay position, but everything I have heard about this band just screams early church.

Why, because they aren’t just friends. They have decided to live their faith together. Together they rely on God, write songs, and just live life. One of their songs in particular has really struck me, because of our study through Acts. The song "Build Your Kingdom Here" is almost a prayer. A prayer asking God to inspire and light the church on fire, much like what happened in Acts.

Miracles were happening, people were sharing their faith, and people were following God in droves. This is something that we want. I know I want to see people saved, I want to see revival in me, my church, and this nation I live in. Wow, could you imagine if we came back to God. Loving each other so much that no one had a need. The widows and orphans would be taken care of not forgotten, and we would see lives changed.

Add to that the idea of learning with new ears, and actively searching God while working with our fellow Christians. Sadly, this is not what we see today. We see parents and children being pulled apart and worshiping in different areas of the church. Disagreements in churches over color of the carpet, or music being played. We see children coming to church without their parents and then when they are older not coming at all. God please strengthen us. Revive our land, our churches, and our families. Bring us together for your glory with a vision of what the church should be. We praise you.

Come set Your rule and reign In our hearts again Increase in us we pray Unveil why we're made Come set our hearts ablaze with hope Like wildfire in our very souls Holy Spirit come invade us now We are Your Church We need Your power In us

 

We seek Your kingdom first We hunger and we thirst Refuse to waste our lives For You're our joy and prize To see the captive hearts released The hurt, the sick, the poor at peace We lay down our lives for heaven's cause We are Your church We pray revive This earth

 

Build Your kingdom here Let the darkness fear Show Your mighty hand Heal our streets and land Set Your church on fire Win this nation back Change the atmosphere Build Your kingdom here We pray

 

Unleash Your kingdoms power Reaching the near and far No force of hell can stop Your beauty changing hearts You made us for much more than this Awake the kingdom seed in us Fill us with the strength and love of Christ We are Your church We are the hope On earth - Build Your Kingdom Here by Rend Collective Experiment

 My favorite part is "We seek your kingdom first, we hunger and we thirst, refuse to waste our lives ...
Why is this my favorite part. Because if we seek God he promises he will be found, and if we hunger and thirst he promises we will be filled. I'm not talking about earthly hunger, I am talking spiritual hunger and thirst. So search for God, and his will in our life. Refuse to waste your live, your breath and give God your all.

Dear Lord, please help me and others to seek you. Bring Revival to our spirit, our churches, families, and most of all to our nations. Fill us up. Draw them closer to you. In Jesus Name, Amen

Opposing opinions:

As a human I often find times where my views don't sink up with my friends, family, or even my neighbor. As a christian, I find my views different then my brothers and sisters in Christ.
Because of my leadership role in my church, I make excuses.What excuse do I make? The excuse that I don't want to bring judgement on my family, my teaching style, but most of all I don't want to bring judgement on myself. I fear my views will be seen in a negative light, by people with closed minds judging me. (The thing we aren't supposed to do).

So I don't post links to amazing blogs because they have different opinions of those around me.  I don't know if I can handle my friends opinions about me. I fear being told I can't teach, or lead in my church because my opinions are different. My role is a role I take very serious. Something I have done so long that the work I do for the Lord has taken up my identity. Almost my entire identity.

So I sit quietly, not sharing where God is ever changing my perspective. Where God is pushing me to love others as he first loved me. Where love is seen as a verb. Love is to serve others, no matter who they are, what they do or believe, just love them.  Unconditional love doesn't look at picking right and wrong out of that person, it looks at showing them love because they were created by God for a purpose, because they too are human, and loved by an almighty God.

I do believe in repentence and that through that repentence we are made whole. I also believe that there are clear lines of right and wrong, but I see so many people who just up and leave people who are doing wrong because of their behavior, or who they are.

I thank God my perspective has changed, and may people see this change in me. May he take away my fear and give me boldness to say what I feel. May love shine around me, love that comes from the Father God and his Son.

When in doubt follow Jesus' example...

At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.
But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.
At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”
“No one, sir,” she said.
“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.” - John 8:2-11

 Jesus didn't come to condemn us...

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. - John 3:17-18

So, go now and condemn no one. Don't say that because someone sins in a way that is blatant and disrespectful they don't deserve love. Love them. Never abandon someone you disagree with, because they may be the loneliest out there, and never quarrel over matters of convictions.

Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters. One person’s faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them. Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand. - Romans 14:1-4

Now if they are asking you to partake in the sin, then by all means run. Run fast and far away. Always ask God to help you discern what is around you, and to give you wisdom when you shouldn't be somewhere or do something.

Dear Heavenly Father,

We praise you for your love for us. That you don't condemn us for our shortcomings. Please give us the grace and wisdom to do the same.

 In Jesus' Name,
Amen.

Good Samaritan

I never wanted to be the good Samaritan, because in reality I am very weak. I never wanted to get stuck having to help others when I really am not qualified, or even able, or I am just to tired from my other duties to help this person. When we hear the story of the good Samaritan we praise him for all he did.

 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. ³⁵ The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ - Luke 10:30-35

Have you ever noticed that while the good Samaritan helped the hurt man, he also handed the hurt man over to someone else. The good Samaritan couldn't do everything the man needed. Let that sink in. The good Samaritan for reasons not explained in the Bible has to leave the man in another person's hands.
Let us play the maybe game. The good Samaritan had to leave because...

... of previous commitments.

...of work.

...needed to attend to his family.

All noble reasons to have to walk away, but in reality did the good Samaritan really walk away completely. No, he promised to check in. Even though he was no longer there, he didn't put the hurt man out of his mind. No, he paid for the innkeeper to be taken care of  the man. He left the man in capable hands.

We can't save the world and this parable points to the need to help others, but also to know our limitations. When we have to walk away, we can still show concern and check up on the person. This is no excuse to hand off everybody who needs help. If that person needs help and you have the knowledge, talent, and ability then you are the person to help them. By helping them you will reap the blessings, even if you don't see the blessings until you are in Heaven.

So now I understand the good Samaritan knew his limitations and kept with them. He didn't try to force himself to do anything he wasn't capable of doing. Yet he made sure the injured man was taken care of. So remember to love God with everything you have and love your neighbor as yourself. As Jesus says this is the way of life.

He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.” - Luke 10:27-28

Needing grace and prayers

I really needed grace today so I borrowed a Tenth Avenue North CD from my sister. I knew a post would come out of it, but one song in particular gave me a strong desire to pray. Not for myself but for a old youth member from my church. He was one of the first students I helped lead, so I have a general attachment to him and his family. Add that his sister was my first and since she graduated a friendship has really taken off with her.

Well once becoming a teenager, he hit a stage where I didn't know where he stood, and neither did he. He believed in God but he wanted to rule his own life. I really thought that had changed as he accepted Christ this past year, but I wonder if he felt pushed into it because once again he has decided to rule over his own life.

“I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything. --1 Corinthians 6:12

 
In reality by ruling his own life he is actually becoming a slave to his own wants and desires. He is not allowing God to help him make important decisions. He is jumping the gun and searching for freedom in a world that wants to make him a slave.

I pray for him, I also pray for his parents. I fear he will end up in chains, chains that are so comfortable. In fact with given the opportunity to take communion recently he rain away. Ran from God's grace. How very sad, I have been there. I didn't want to face God because of the things I had done. So I pray for him...

Dear Lord, free him and me. While our chains are different the freedom we both want is the same. Free us from the chains that hold us.Show us your grace and give us courage not to run from your love.Draw him close to you, and remind him of the lessons he has learned. In Jesus' Holy Name. Amen.

Now I must have faith that God who loves and cares for him much more than I do. Much more than his parents, God will keep him safe and draw him back to him

A New Testament Parable and a modern story

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, 'Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?^' Jesus answered, 'I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times." - Matthew 18:21-22

I have heard these verses hundred times. Forgive because your hurting yourself more than the other person. Well I have been hurt, by someone who is hurt. Let's back up a bit.

About a month ago I watched an interaction between 2 cousins who had been hurt by each other take their pain to facebook in very inappropriate ways. Oh my poor grandma. She has facebook, she can see this as well as the entire family. My aunt stepped in and told them that. She gave them the lecture they needed because guess what, it stopped.

Fast forward to today...

Someone who I love dearly has been hurt by me. This person was raised to get revenge and boy oh boy do they like to continually get revenge. What they do is not just seek revenge to make up for the hurt they feel they like to continually get revenge. They like to push everyone involved away so they don't ever get hurt again.

So yesterday was the last straw. I broke I didn't even react like a "good christian girl". I reacted like the people of this world. I reacted in anger toward someone else who is highly involved and will always choose this persons side. Someone close to me. I knew I would forgive him, but I didn't want to at that moment. I wanted to be right in my anger, but I knew that if I told anyone they would point me back to the Bible and tell me to forgive him. I wasn't ready to do that. At least not on my own.

He knew I was upset, I mean anyone in the vehicle with us new I was upset. So he sent me a message asking if everything was okay. I let some of my anger out, because well he will never now how much he has truly hurt me. Why, because I love him and love keeps no record of wrong.

The rest of that parable says ...

“Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.  As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him. Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. “At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go. “But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded. “His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’ “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened. “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.” - Matthew 18:23-35

Well if God can forgive me much, and I can't forgive those around me why should he forgive me. I mean He wants my life to mirror what He has down for me. So I ask God to help me forgive. Telling him what was bothering me at the moment helped me. Praying, and asking others to pray for me helped. I feel better. May you seek God when forgiving feels unfair. He truly does love you, and sometimes seeking God is the only way to forgive them.