Forgiveness •

  I know that by the look of the tittle of this post many of you probably had a reaction. And that’s ok because we all have differ reactions to the simple word that holds a lot of power FORGIVENESS. 

  So today I want to talk about a word that has changed my life forever. 

  To start off I want to honest with you and say that forgiveness is not easy. It’s a daily process. And not an easy journey. It reminds me of a hike that me and some friends went on once, it was not an easy climb up that mountain but when we got to the top, the view was so amazing it made you feel like you were free. And when we went down the hill ready to leave I felt a since of accomplishment and gratefulness that I did it. This remind me of my journey of forgiveness the journey was not easy and there was times that I wanted to give up but I had someone there telling me to keep going, and when I reached the point that I was ready to forgive it felt freeing and beautiful. There were a lot of times that I felt like I was running back into the Valley by reliving that pain but at the end I was grateful that I could look back and see where I had come from. 

  I have a friend who asked me why? Why should I forgive? And that is a good question and I have asked God that same question many late nights but I am going to telling you what God showed me. Why should I forgive you? For everyone that you win, walk away from me, choose something over me, and you constantly put me last. So if God can forgive us everyday for every mistake that we make, why can’t we forgive others? I know that it’s not easy and that it hurts but think about the pain that Christ went through on the cross that we can be forgiven. Our pain and hurt is temporary so why sit in it so long. The Bible tells us that we need to forgive like Jesus forgave. And as Christian we are called to be more like Christ. So my question back to you is Why not forgive? Why live in hurt longer than you have you. The Bible also tells us that we should forgive seventy-seven times and no that is not a literal number, Hod tells us to forgive not just once or twice but to forgive every day. 

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4:32‬ ‭NIV‬

“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.Colossians‬ ‭3:13‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.”‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6:14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”‭‭Matthew‬ ‭18:22‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”‭‭Matthew‬ ‭26:28‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.”‭‭Luke‬ ‭6:37‬ ‭NIV‬‬

  One thing that read in the book Forgiving What You Can’t Forget by Lysa Terkeurst is that forgiveness is not letting go but placing the person in Gods hands. There is also a song that just came out called “What you can’t forget” by Leanna Crawford and she says that wounds become scars when placed in Gods hands. So place your hurt and your wounds in Gods hands. Give that person who hurt you to God. Lysa also says that the person who hurt you, has hurt to. Look past your own hurt and see where they are coming from. Who hurt them and maybe seeing that person through a new pair of eyes can help you understand, and to help you forgive. 

    One last thing that I want to say is that I am sorry that you have been hurt. And I want you all to know that your hurt matters. Your feelings matter. You matter. God lives you and you matter to him. 

    I hope that all of you have a different reaction to FORGIVENESS. If not that is ok because it take more than a few minutes to grasp everything. Forgiveness is a daily process and remember that God is right there with you every step of the way.

   I love you all and most importantly God loves you all!  

Refuge •

     Have you ever felt like you are under attack? Almost as if you are walking through a battle field, and everyone is lined up to take a shot at you. If you make one wrong move it's all over. 

     I can relate to this feeling so much. I feel like as long as I follow God and the paths that he has laid before me that everything will be ok.  But I also thought that there will be no one lined up to take that shot at me. But I was wrong, I feel like there will always be someone or something that the devil will try to put in my way, a distraction, or maybe even someone to hurt me or stop me.Then I came to the realization that no matter who is lined up on that battle field as a child of God I will always have protection and security.

    In psalms chapter thirty six verse seven, it shows us how unfailing God's love is. How there is refuge found in the shadow of God's wings. 

7 

"How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings". Psalm 36:7 NIV

     There is a song "Safe in your arms", by Josh Baldwin and in the song he says, "And the only shadow I see, is the shadow of your wings. And the only shadow of your wings,"  This song has so much power behind it. There has never been a time that I can remember that God has not embraced me with the comfort and protection of his wings. This shows Gods unfailing love. 

    In Psalm chapter seventy-one verse three, it tells us that God is our constant refuge. A refuge and safe place in which we can always go. 

"Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go; give the command to save me , for you're my rock and my fortress'. Psalm71:3 NIV 

     Again in Psalm ninety-one verse four,God will cover us with his feathers. And under his wings we can refuge and security. Because Gods faithfulness will be our shield. God is my shield. I have confidence in knowing that I am embraced and protected. 

"He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart". Psalm 91:4 NIV

    Sometimes when you are running through the battle field we get lost in what is happening, it becomes hard to see that God is right there with us. 

    For me personally I run and I am too focused on what others are doing to me and what I am going through that I tend to ignore what my loving and unfailing father is doing for me. I shift my focus to self during the war instead of focusing on God. But still through it all God remains my constant protection and refuge on the battle field. 

    It's time to shift my focus off of myself and back on to God. Because through the battle I was not alone there were others who needed to know who was protecting me. Who's wings I was taking refuge under. There were casualties that I did not see because I was so focused on myself, and not trusting in and focused on God. Ask yourself today what are you focused on and who are you trusting in  through your battle field. 

Priorities•

     Today I am going to be obedient and I am going to start this off differently. I am going to pray for everyone who is reading this, because God lead you here today for a reason. 

    Father God I want to pray for each reader today. I ask that as they continue on you would speak to them personally. That you would help them to listen to you and to walk faithfully. That you would give them a peace in their lives like no other. That you would clam the storm in the hearts that have felt overwhelmed and broken for so long. I pray today that every person would show kindness as you show them and embrace them with your unconditional love. 

    As I was in my personal journaling time this morning I began to recall a conversation that I had yesterday with my best friend, and I began to really think about it. And some of the things that God placed on my heart I think so many people need to hear today and not just a pice of paper. The conversation was about how we try so hard as children to be the perfect child. To please our parent. But at the end of the day we still never feel like we are a good enough child. Like we never find satisfaction in what we do. I really began to think about this and how true it is. But then God spoke to me, he said what about me child. What about the way we seek after my approval or the way that you seek after me. So today I want you to truly stop and ask yourself do we do the same for our heavenly Father.

    If we really sit back and look at it, It's almost as if we chase after the approval of the world and others to find our self worth before we go to God. And when we look at this it brings us back to getting our priorities straight. When going to God and seeking after him has come to be our last resort is when we all need to step back and reexamine what our priorities are. 

Gods word tells us,   

"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Matthew 6:33 NIV 

"But Jehoshaphat also said to the king of Israel, “First seek the counsel of the Lord.”" 1 Kings 22:5 NIV

    Here are a few pieces of scripture that show us to seek God and to seek his counsel FIRST. To seek God first above everything. when we do choose to take a step back and examine your priorities we need to make sure that God and his work and will are number one on our list. Because I want you to remember that God is not second place. God is the beginning and the end, he was one who formed you and gave you life. The one who gives you breath in your lungs each second of everyday, The one who makes your heart beat. He is the one who game his son to die for you so that you could be free and have eternal life with him. And we are giving him second place. Today I want to challenge you to give God First place in your life. Seek him first today.

    Thank you all so much for joining me on this journey today. I hope you all have a blessed day!

 

 

Control •

         What do you let control your life? Do you let God control your life or do you let fear? Whatever you give control over your life is what will have the most power in your life. So really sit back and think what has control over your life?

        My challenge today for everyone is to be 100% honest with yourself. I am going to get real with all of you, and be 100% honest. Most of the time, and here lately especially, I have given fear control over my life. I will be the first to admit that it is not fun and it is not safe. When fear has control it's like a virus it spreads until every part of you and your life is consumed by it. Your relationships, the decisions that you make, and even your witness to others will fade, everything will be controlled by fear. I don't know about you but I want to change this. I want to stop giving fear control and give God control. But how?

        One way that we can start is to be rooted in Christ. So, are you rooted in Christ? When we are not rooted in Christ, we are rooted in the world and fear is of the world. The bible tells us that part from Christ we can do nothing. Which if we sit back and think about it, it is so true. When we let fear control us how far in life do we get? Do our relationships grow, or do they suffer? Do we go out and witness to the people that we love the most and the people that we don't even know, or do we stand back and let someone else take care of that because we are to consumed with fear. Believe me when I say that I am speaking to myself here as well. But lets see what the bible has to say, 

"I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing." John 15:5

This verse shows us that when we are living in and with Christ is when we will produce the fruit of Christ, and apart from him we can do nothing. So right now before you move on if your really mean it, I want you to stop and pray. Ask god to help get rid of the fear that is controlling you, ask him to take control of your life, and truly surrender and give God your everything. Become apart of God begin to plant your roots so that you will bear his fruit. 

        Now some of you including myself at one point have probably said that living our life in fear is better, because when we are fearful we become cautious and when we are cautious we won't get hurt again. This seems like the easiest way. But let me tell you that its not. Believe it or not living a cautious life means holding back, whether that be from friends or family but in the end this can damage a relationship. But if you live your life through God he will give you peace and he will protect you. This may not be the easiest but it is the best way. Living a fearful life is not what God tells us to do, he tells us that we are to be strong and too have courage in all that we do. So if  fear is not from God then it is a way of living by men. And Gods word tells us that when we live in a way that seems right to man it will lead to death and destruction. 

"There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death." Proverbs 14:12

 "Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6

        The last thing that I want to leave you with is be strong. Do not fear for God is with and not matter what, he is not going to leave you or forsake you. He has you in his hand. So from Here on out lets give God control and try and live a life  full of peace instead of fear. The other day my best friend told me that you can't let me down when your not the one holding me up. So starting today lets let God hold us up and keep us safe and protected in his hands. 

"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10

    Thank you all for reading and I hope that his message reached those who needed to read it the most.  

 

The race •

    Do you ever feel like you are being weighed down, or held back? Maybe you feel like your sin is weighing you down to where you feel like you can’t even walk. Or maybe it’s a burden that has been laid on you that is to heavy to bear. Well one question that I want you to ask yourself is, is this affecting how you’re running your race? Is it slowing you down or holding you back from truly seeking God wholeheartedly.
    Sometimes in life we have to tell our burdens to other people have an accountability partner who’s there to listen when we just need to get something off of our chest. Whether it be a best friend or even a parent someone you can talk to who can help you carry that burden so you’re not alone. Someone who will help you get through your hard times the right way. Someone who can Help take some of the burden so it’s not so hard on you.The Bible tells us that we were supposed to take one another’s burdens.

“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”‭‭Galatians‬ ‭6:2‬ ‭

    Not only can we talk to others who we trust but there’s someone who will always be there to take our burdens away from us. That’s God. He tells us in the Bible that we can cast all of our worries, our cares, our burdens, and all of our anxieties on him because he cares for us. He died for us so that we wouldn’t have to carry all that he wants us to give our burdens to him so we don’t have to carry them. God died for us because he cares for us he chose us so let’s choose to put all of our worries in our burdens behind us and give them to God.

“casting all your anxiety upon him, because he careth for you.”1 Peter‬ ‭5:7‬ 

    So I’m gonna go back to the first question that I asked you how are you running your race. Are you walking, are you jogging, are you running your race with endurance full speed on fire for God. My challenge for everyone today is if you have sin in your life that is holding you back or holding you down give it to God. Go to God and lay your sin down before him. Give God your everything. Because he gave everything for you. Run your race with endurance seek God with all you have.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.” Hebrews‬ ‭12:1‬ ‭

Valleys •

    Have you ever been in a valley before or maybe you are in one now. Well my best friend told me that all Christians go through valleys. Here recently I myself was in  a valley but I began to climb.

    I won't lie to you and tell you that there was not a moment when I thought that nothing good was going to come out of the situation that I was in. Or that I didn't question Why God was making me go through this. But then I realized that God does not give us anything that we can't handle.

    The bible tells us that God has plans to prosper us and not to harm us. From this we can take away that no matter what we go through God has plans to make it work for good.

     "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  Jeremiah 29:11

    When you are in a valley you don't have to fear because you are not alone. No matter how deep or dark the valley may feel or seem you have to remember that God is right there with you through every step.

"Even though I walk

   through the darkest valley,

I will fear no evil,

    for you are with me;

your rod and your staff,

    they comfort me." Psalm 23:4 

     God will give us the strength to get through every obstetrical that he places in our lives. he is not going to leave us alone and let us struggle. He is our heavenly father he will be our shelter and our home when we have none. He will be the strength that we need when we are at our weakest.

"So do not fear, for I am with you;

    do not be dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and help you;

    I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10

    No matter how deep your valley may be one thing we can always cling to is knowing that Gods love for you is deeper. And sometimes we have to walk by faith. Trusting God that he will take care of us, and that he will be our light when we are in the dark.
 
   So today I challenge you if you are in a valley to start climbing. That you would start to seek God with every thing that you got. And My prayer for you is that you would have faith like you have never had before. That in the middle of the storm you would lift your hands to God and praise him. And that one day as you are standing at the top of the mountain praising God, that you would remember how you praised him in the valley.

Find the good •

    During this time of panic and negativity we have to choose to find the good. We have to learn to see each and every situation that happens in a different way. Try looking at it like what good can come out of this situation. Think about it...

   Sometimes in life we jump to the worst scenario. I know that I do. For example when a family member gets sick we hope that they will be OK, but at the same time in our minds we think they won't get better they will only get worse. Wheres the faith? Where is the trust that we have in Christ? We have to learn to find the good in all situations.We need to learn to trust God and have faith in him through the good and the bad times. We have to realize that just because things do not go according to our plans dose not mean that they are not going according to Gods plan. Sometime in life we won't understand why things happen, but one day it will be made clear and we will understand.

    Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” John 13:7 

    There are many things that we can find the good in. Maybe our past, story, or hard times that went through. I know that all of us at one point in our lives have asked God why we had to go through a certain time or situation. Why did it happen? Why me? Why then? One thing that we know is that God works everything for the good of those who love him. We do not go through everything for no reason, God has a greater purpose that we may not see. We have to see that Gods plan has a greater purpose. God can do more and greater things with our lives that we could ever imagine. God has known the plan for each and everyone of our lives from the very beginning and everything that we have went through was for a purpose and to give us a hope for a future that God has planed for us. Have you ever thought that God may have put you through the trials so that you can also reach others that have been through similar experiences to tell them that God is good and that he is a God that saves that they are not alone. This is just a another way of finding the good in our lives trials.

     "Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think" Ephesians 3:20 

    "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" Jeremiah 29:11

"When you pass through the waters,
    I will be with you" Isaiah 43:2

    Next time that you think that you can't find the good in the situation I want you to think about everything that God has got you through. How you have had someone all along who loved you and walked every trial with you and felt all the pain that you felt. A God who saw your future when you could barley see your tomorrow. God Finds the good in you and in me and every situation. God is the Good.