We all get the messages about being thankful on Thanksgiving. I'm not saying we should ever get tired of remembering to be thankful, or even hearing about it, but does it get commonplace, or lose it's meaning at this time of year?
We spent a quiet Thanksgiving around the table, and those of us who were here wrote down, at Gram's request, four things we're thankful for. We shared with each other, and I thought it would be nice to keep what we wrote to reflect on through the year.
Gram used to tell us, "the most important thing about being thankful is to let thankfulness reign in our hearts and minds all the time". My associate pastor preached last Sunday with a message that said, "If you are constantly thankful, you have no time to complain"! Amen to that!
We always end the night with the reading of the Daily Light. Gram's last words before telling me good-night, were lifted in praise to the Lord. The theme of her prayer, as always, was, "May we be faithful, as He is faithful, and may we always be thankful for all He has provided." Gram always ends her prayer with thanksgiving. A life's theme of thankfulness doesn't need a special place on the calendar to express love and appreciation to such a gracious and loving God!
May we learn from the examples of others. Sleep well, little Gram, and Happy Thanksgiving!
Ephesians 5:19, 20 "Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ"
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Forgiveness Part Three
Gram quoted Ephesians 4:26 to me a few nights ago..."Be ye angry and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath".
I told her that people in Alaska have so much more time to be angry, due to the extended daylight hours. We both smiled at that, but I didn't want to lose the message that the Apostle Paul was giving to the Ephesians.
I spend a lot of time in my head being angry. I don't usually express this anger to anyone, but if I spill something on the floor, or get bent out of shape over something I remember someone saying to me - whether it be two minutes ago, or two years ago, a barrage of anger, frustration or bitterness begins attacking my mind. I also know I'm not alone when I confess that, when I lie on my pillow at night, there are times that I focus on something that made me angry during the day, and I just don't let it go.
Why would the Lord tell us to put our wrath to bed at night? Well, I looked up the definition of wrath. Wrath is a noun, which means...
Again, why would the Lord not want us to take THAT to bed with us? It sounds like one of those monsters that lurk under the bed at night, doesn't it? Common sense says that having wrath as a partner in our bed would be extremely unhealthy for us. It's also true that some of the things we mull over before we go to sleep begin to transfer over into our dreams, and we wake feeling exhausted after wrestling with all that bothers us.
Even though we feel like we are justified in our anger, and we can't seem to think about anything else, we are slowly being eaten alive by our anger if we do not learn to put it in it's place and allow the Lord to control it, and remove it by sundown.
Here's another thought. How many of us go to bed when the sun goes down? I know I don't. Just as many of us remember that the rainbow is a promise to us from God, it would be good to see a beautiful sunset, and remember that it's there to remind us to release our anger and wrath. What gentle and beautiful evenings (after sundown) we may be missing because we ignore the sunset!
Even though the Bible states that we are allowed to be angry, we need to remember that the only anger approved of by God is anger without sin. This anger is righteous and should be put away by sundown. God's direction and strict limits on anger is for our own spiritual safety, and also the safety of others. I know of no other emotion that can grow to such outrageous proportions when we nurture it in our hearts and souls. When anger matures, it cuts us off from peace, blessing, fellowship, and ultimately, from communion with the Father, Himself.
James 1:19,20 says, "Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God."
We have a little prayer box here that we read with different sayings. Today's says, "Give your troubles to God. He will be up all night, anyway."
"He will not allow your foot to slip; He who keeps you will not slumber." Psalm 121:3 NASB
Just the other day, a visiting nurse mentioned that Gram has the face of an angel. I have heard that over and over again as people remember her, or meet her for the first time. There is a noticeable absence of frown lines and wrinkles. Gram greets all with a smile and bright eyes. I wonder if, at 98 years old, she has consistently put her anger in it's place. The nurses are often amazed that Gram is in such good health, having hardly taken anything more than a vitamin and occasional Tylenol in her life. Could it be the absence of persistent anger or wrath? I wonder.
The next time God shows you a sunset, lift up your heart, with all it's hurt, pain and frustration, and send it up to your merciful Father in heaven!! He will take your burdens and bear them for you as you obey His Word. Releasing the wrath is another form of forgiveness. Forgiveness for yourself and others. Release brings peace.
I would love to hear your comments if you are blessed by these posts. I, also, need to do these things that I write about, and would be so encouraged to hear from you. We are all in this together as we travel on our own unique paths to heaven!
I told her that people in Alaska have so much more time to be angry, due to the extended daylight hours. We both smiled at that, but I didn't want to lose the message that the Apostle Paul was giving to the Ephesians.
I spend a lot of time in my head being angry. I don't usually express this anger to anyone, but if I spill something on the floor, or get bent out of shape over something I remember someone saying to me - whether it be two minutes ago, or two years ago, a barrage of anger, frustration or bitterness begins attacking my mind. I also know I'm not alone when I confess that, when I lie on my pillow at night, there are times that I focus on something that made me angry during the day, and I just don't let it go.
Why would the Lord tell us to put our wrath to bed at night? Well, I looked up the definition of wrath. Wrath is a noun, which means...
| 1. | strong, stern, or fierce anger; deeply resentful indignation; ire. |
| 2. | vengeance or punishment as the consequence of anger |
Again, why would the Lord not want us to take THAT to bed with us? It sounds like one of those monsters that lurk under the bed at night, doesn't it? Common sense says that having wrath as a partner in our bed would be extremely unhealthy for us. It's also true that some of the things we mull over before we go to sleep begin to transfer over into our dreams, and we wake feeling exhausted after wrestling with all that bothers us.
Even though we feel like we are justified in our anger, and we can't seem to think about anything else, we are slowly being eaten alive by our anger if we do not learn to put it in it's place and allow the Lord to control it, and remove it by sundown.
Here's another thought. How many of us go to bed when the sun goes down? I know I don't. Just as many of us remember that the rainbow is a promise to us from God, it would be good to see a beautiful sunset, and remember that it's there to remind us to release our anger and wrath. What gentle and beautiful evenings (after sundown) we may be missing because we ignore the sunset!
Even though the Bible states that we are allowed to be angry, we need to remember that the only anger approved of by God is anger without sin. This anger is righteous and should be put away by sundown. God's direction and strict limits on anger is for our own spiritual safety, and also the safety of others. I know of no other emotion that can grow to such outrageous proportions when we nurture it in our hearts and souls. When anger matures, it cuts us off from peace, blessing, fellowship, and ultimately, from communion with the Father, Himself.
James 1:19,20 says, "Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God."
We have a little prayer box here that we read with different sayings. Today's says, "Give your troubles to God. He will be up all night, anyway."
"He will not allow your foot to slip; He who keeps you will not slumber." Psalm 121:3 NASB
Just the other day, a visiting nurse mentioned that Gram has the face of an angel. I have heard that over and over again as people remember her, or meet her for the first time. There is a noticeable absence of frown lines and wrinkles. Gram greets all with a smile and bright eyes. I wonder if, at 98 years old, she has consistently put her anger in it's place. The nurses are often amazed that Gram is in such good health, having hardly taken anything more than a vitamin and occasional Tylenol in her life. Could it be the absence of persistent anger or wrath? I wonder.
The next time God shows you a sunset, lift up your heart, with all it's hurt, pain and frustration, and send it up to your merciful Father in heaven!! He will take your burdens and bear them for you as you obey His Word. Releasing the wrath is another form of forgiveness. Forgiveness for yourself and others. Release brings peace.
I would love to hear your comments if you are blessed by these posts. I, also, need to do these things that I write about, and would be so encouraged to hear from you. We are all in this together as we travel on our own unique paths to heaven!
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Forgiveness, Part Two
How swiftly the "opportunity" to forgive came knocking at the door to my heart after I wrote the previous post! I would like to say that I ran to my "offender" with open arms and an open heart. I did forgive, but I thought of so many things I wanted to say about how wrong that person was, and why I just didn't want to deal with the whole situation anymore.
The offense came at me by of one of my children. This is far from the first time my (adult) child has "blown it". He tends to have a knee-jerk reaction to life, and he does get that from his mother, which makes it all the less attractive to see in action. My child has come to me each and every time over the years and has sincerely apologized for the same mistake over and over again.
Just as I wrote the last post with sincerity and the urgency to get the message out that we should forgive as we have been forgiven, I was doused with a cold bucket of reality within a day or two of writing my first forgiveness message to anyone who would listen. I resisted telling my son that all was forgiven. Looming in the back of my mind was, "How many times has this happened, and how many more times will he come back to me in sorrow for the damage that was done?" In essence, I was wondering just how much more of this I could really take.
I received texts from him, expressing his remorse. I received a contrite voice message on my cell phone. My fingers began texting back - lashing out, telling him I was finished with him. Before I could send my angry responses, a still, small voice (you know the one) urged me to "practice what I preached". Sometimes it is so much harder to forgive those closest to us. It's as though we don't care that they see our ugly side, because we don't put on any "airs" for family, as a rule.
So I texted, and erased. Texted more unforgiving messages, and erased. I prayed and asked God to forgive me for the struggle I was having in forgiving my own son - especially after I challenged others to actively show love and forgiveness just hours before! Something changed in me as I prayed for the Lord's forgiveness. I felt the Father once again reach down to my bitter heart and heal it, even as He forgave me! The Father showed me, by His own example, what I needed to do.
I contacted my son, and said, "I love you and I forgive you". Plain and simple. The peace in my heart was immense, and he came back to a place of restoration with peace in his heart, as well.
The forgiveness was complete, and expressed in a way he could grasp and accept. It was just the way Gram had spoken to me about earlier in the week. Later, as we talked, I did have to tell him that things would need to change, and I am here to help him grow and learn how to respond in a positive way to the situations that cause him to stumble. If, and when, he stumbles again, I will be there to take him back in love. I just pray that there will not be such a battle of my own stubborn will against what I know to be true and right!
Little did I know what the topic would be of "Forgiveness, Part Two", as I was happily typing out my thoughts on "Part One". Now if anyone knows the antidote for a Scottish/Sicilian temper, my son and I could sure use the recipe!
The offense came at me by of one of my children. This is far from the first time my (adult) child has "blown it". He tends to have a knee-jerk reaction to life, and he does get that from his mother, which makes it all the less attractive to see in action. My child has come to me each and every time over the years and has sincerely apologized for the same mistake over and over again.
Just as I wrote the last post with sincerity and the urgency to get the message out that we should forgive as we have been forgiven, I was doused with a cold bucket of reality within a day or two of writing my first forgiveness message to anyone who would listen. I resisted telling my son that all was forgiven. Looming in the back of my mind was, "How many times has this happened, and how many more times will he come back to me in sorrow for the damage that was done?" In essence, I was wondering just how much more of this I could really take.
I received texts from him, expressing his remorse. I received a contrite voice message on my cell phone. My fingers began texting back - lashing out, telling him I was finished with him. Before I could send my angry responses, a still, small voice (you know the one) urged me to "practice what I preached". Sometimes it is so much harder to forgive those closest to us. It's as though we don't care that they see our ugly side, because we don't put on any "airs" for family, as a rule.
So I texted, and erased. Texted more unforgiving messages, and erased. I prayed and asked God to forgive me for the struggle I was having in forgiving my own son - especially after I challenged others to actively show love and forgiveness just hours before! Something changed in me as I prayed for the Lord's forgiveness. I felt the Father once again reach down to my bitter heart and heal it, even as He forgave me! The Father showed me, by His own example, what I needed to do.
I contacted my son, and said, "I love you and I forgive you". Plain and simple. The peace in my heart was immense, and he came back to a place of restoration with peace in his heart, as well.
The forgiveness was complete, and expressed in a way he could grasp and accept. It was just the way Gram had spoken to me about earlier in the week. Later, as we talked, I did have to tell him that things would need to change, and I am here to help him grow and learn how to respond in a positive way to the situations that cause him to stumble. If, and when, he stumbles again, I will be there to take him back in love. I just pray that there will not be such a battle of my own stubborn will against what I know to be true and right!
Little did I know what the topic would be of "Forgiveness, Part Two", as I was happily typing out my thoughts on "Part One". Now if anyone knows the antidote for a Scottish/Sicilian temper, my son and I could sure use the recipe!
Monday, November 2, 2009
Forgiveness, Part One
The past two weeks have been hectic and full of activity! Gram had many visitors come to wish her a happy birthday. Thank you to everyone for your birthday wishes!
In the quietness of the evening last night, Gram began talking to me about forgiveness. She said we should never assume that someone would automatically know we have forgiven them for an offense. Even though we know we have forgiven them, we should be like the father in the parable of Luke 15, who throws a celebration for his son, when he comes home after spending all of his inheritance. In a nutshell, the son was prepared to come back as a servant, but was greeted by his dad with kisses, new clothes and a feast.
Once again, Gram has shown me a viewpoint I never really thought about. I know I have been on both sides of forgiveness. There are times when I never knew (and still don't) whether I had been forgiven or not. The sour taste of what we have done wrong can linger in our throat for years, even after we have apologized to another person, because we are still unsure of our standing with them.
The parable about the Prodigal Son that Jesus talks about in the book of Luke is a story of forgiveness from God to us, his own children.
"A certain man had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give to me the portion of goods that falleth to me' (his ineritance). And his father divided unto them his living. And not many days after, the son took his journey into a far country, and there, wasted his substance with riotous living" (Luke 15:11-13)
Not righteous living, but riotous living. He went away and spent all of his inhertance, doing whatever he felt like doing. The purpose of an inheritance is for the children, after the parents die. This son said, in essence, "Dad, I wish you were dead so I could do what I want with your money." After he left, the family stayed at home and continued to work while this kid was having the time of his life doing all of the wrong things. Until...
The money ran out, and the son found himself penniless, sitting in a pigpen feeding the pigs, wishing he could eat their food because he was starving.
The Bible says in verse 17 that the son "came to himself" and realized even the servants in his fathers house have more than enough to eat. He came up with a plan to go back to his father and offer to be a servant, if his father would only let him come back. He rehearsed in his mind what he would say, and got up and began the long journey back home. He was so broke, he didn't even have shoes on his feet!
As I read this passage it occured to me that the son probably wouldn't have gone home if he had still been able to buy his own food and do his own thing. Verse 16 says that no man gave unto him. His last resort and only hope was his dad - the same person he had offended. So he decided to go home, hoping he could be a servant in exchange for food in his stomach and a roof over his head.
His dad must have been waiting for him for a long time. He saw his son when he was still far off, even though it must have been months, maybe even years for his son to travel to a far country, blow his whole inheritance, go through a "mighty" famine, find a local man who would hire him to feed his pigs, then make the long journey back home.
The Bible doesn't say when the son saw the father. He was trudging home mulling his rehearsed speech in his mind over and over again. His dad saw him from far away and ran to this dirty, smelly infidel and fell on his neck, kissing him. As the son began to give his speech about not being worthy enough to be called his father's son, he took a breath to say part two of his plea..."make me as one of thy hired servants". The word servant was also in his dad's vocabulary, as he cut off his son in mid sentence. He called his servants to come serve his son! He told them to bring the best robe to dress, put a ring on his son's finger, to signify that the son was an esteemed member of the family, put shoes on his feet and prepare a feast to celebrate his return. The father tells the entire plantation, including the older son, to celebrate because the child who was lost, is now found!
That is a very short version of a profound story of forgiveness, and how the Father in Heaven receives us all with a celebration when we repent. I remember something my pastor's wife said in the '90's at our Ladies Fellowship meeting. She told us that there will always be someone to forgive. I never forgot her words.
As Gram said, we need to let people know we have forgiven them. It's not enough for us to know in our hearts that we forgive them, if they have no knowledge of it. I'm not writing today to impress on anyone the need to forgive others. God is very clear in His Word that we need to forgive others in the same manner in which He forgives us. The "ah-ha moment" for me, leading to the topic of this post was when Gram said we need to express our forgiveness in a way that the offender understands. When we truly forgive, we need to go above and beyond, putting that forgiveness into action! The parable of Jesus shows us that forgiveness is a verb. What a lovely world it would be if the "forgiver" accepted the added requirement of running to the "forgiven", hugging, celebrating and esteeming the very person who sinned against them!
My pastor in Florida leads a vibrant prison minstry. There are so many souls who come to Christ because Pastor Jay tells them of a forgiving, holy Father. So many have lived for years in the prisons of their own guilt and worthlessness. Many people in jail have already been incarcerated in an unforgiven state long before they ever became punished criminals. Would some of these men be in jail now if they had been freely forgiven and reconciled in love by others throughout their lives? I wonder.
As I've already said, I have been at both ends of forgiveness. There are people who have done devastating things to me, and forgiving them has allowed me to have a better understanding of my own relationship with my Heavenly Father. I have actually found that my walk with the Lord was opened up to higher levels when I truly forgave. I have also done some pretty terrible things in my life, and I still don't know if I have been forgiven by others. It's a horrible feeling, isn't it?
If there's anyone you need to express your forgiveness to - do it, even as you lay your own tresspasses at the Lord's feet and find your relationship with Him mended and repaired. You don't have to kiss your offender and give them clothes and a feast, but wouldn't they be surprised if you asked them out to lunch, or over for dinner! Celebrate your reconciliation in a way they can understand! It can mean the difference of an entire future, in some cases. The power of forgiveness is immeasurable, and it's in our hands, if we will only put it into practice. Remember the feeling you had when you came to Christ, knowing that all of your sins were gone, and heaven was celebrating YOU! What power! Take that same power and use it - practice it - as the Lord requires. Not only will it bring your offender peace and comfort, it will also release you from resentment and pain.
Go and do it today!!!
In the quietness of the evening last night, Gram began talking to me about forgiveness. She said we should never assume that someone would automatically know we have forgiven them for an offense. Even though we know we have forgiven them, we should be like the father in the parable of Luke 15, who throws a celebration for his son, when he comes home after spending all of his inheritance. In a nutshell, the son was prepared to come back as a servant, but was greeted by his dad with kisses, new clothes and a feast.
Once again, Gram has shown me a viewpoint I never really thought about. I know I have been on both sides of forgiveness. There are times when I never knew (and still don't) whether I had been forgiven or not. The sour taste of what we have done wrong can linger in our throat for years, even after we have apologized to another person, because we are still unsure of our standing with them.
The parable about the Prodigal Son that Jesus talks about in the book of Luke is a story of forgiveness from God to us, his own children.
"A certain man had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give to me the portion of goods that falleth to me' (his ineritance). And his father divided unto them his living. And not many days after, the son took his journey into a far country, and there, wasted his substance with riotous living" (Luke 15:11-13)
Not righteous living, but riotous living. He went away and spent all of his inhertance, doing whatever he felt like doing. The purpose of an inheritance is for the children, after the parents die. This son said, in essence, "Dad, I wish you were dead so I could do what I want with your money." After he left, the family stayed at home and continued to work while this kid was having the time of his life doing all of the wrong things. Until...
The money ran out, and the son found himself penniless, sitting in a pigpen feeding the pigs, wishing he could eat their food because he was starving.
The Bible says in verse 17 that the son "came to himself" and realized even the servants in his fathers house have more than enough to eat. He came up with a plan to go back to his father and offer to be a servant, if his father would only let him come back. He rehearsed in his mind what he would say, and got up and began the long journey back home. He was so broke, he didn't even have shoes on his feet!
As I read this passage it occured to me that the son probably wouldn't have gone home if he had still been able to buy his own food and do his own thing. Verse 16 says that no man gave unto him. His last resort and only hope was his dad - the same person he had offended. So he decided to go home, hoping he could be a servant in exchange for food in his stomach and a roof over his head.
His dad must have been waiting for him for a long time. He saw his son when he was still far off, even though it must have been months, maybe even years for his son to travel to a far country, blow his whole inheritance, go through a "mighty" famine, find a local man who would hire him to feed his pigs, then make the long journey back home.
The Bible doesn't say when the son saw the father. He was trudging home mulling his rehearsed speech in his mind over and over again. His dad saw him from far away and ran to this dirty, smelly infidel and fell on his neck, kissing him. As the son began to give his speech about not being worthy enough to be called his father's son, he took a breath to say part two of his plea..."make me as one of thy hired servants". The word servant was also in his dad's vocabulary, as he cut off his son in mid sentence. He called his servants to come serve his son! He told them to bring the best robe to dress, put a ring on his son's finger, to signify that the son was an esteemed member of the family, put shoes on his feet and prepare a feast to celebrate his return. The father tells the entire plantation, including the older son, to celebrate because the child who was lost, is now found!
That is a very short version of a profound story of forgiveness, and how the Father in Heaven receives us all with a celebration when we repent. I remember something my pastor's wife said in the '90's at our Ladies Fellowship meeting. She told us that there will always be someone to forgive. I never forgot her words.
As Gram said, we need to let people know we have forgiven them. It's not enough for us to know in our hearts that we forgive them, if they have no knowledge of it. I'm not writing today to impress on anyone the need to forgive others. God is very clear in His Word that we need to forgive others in the same manner in which He forgives us. The "ah-ha moment" for me, leading to the topic of this post was when Gram said we need to express our forgiveness in a way that the offender understands. When we truly forgive, we need to go above and beyond, putting that forgiveness into action! The parable of Jesus shows us that forgiveness is a verb. What a lovely world it would be if the "forgiver" accepted the added requirement of running to the "forgiven", hugging, celebrating and esteeming the very person who sinned against them!
My pastor in Florida leads a vibrant prison minstry. There are so many souls who come to Christ because Pastor Jay tells them of a forgiving, holy Father. So many have lived for years in the prisons of their own guilt and worthlessness. Many people in jail have already been incarcerated in an unforgiven state long before they ever became punished criminals. Would some of these men be in jail now if they had been freely forgiven and reconciled in love by others throughout their lives? I wonder.
As I've already said, I have been at both ends of forgiveness. There are people who have done devastating things to me, and forgiving them has allowed me to have a better understanding of my own relationship with my Heavenly Father. I have actually found that my walk with the Lord was opened up to higher levels when I truly forgave. I have also done some pretty terrible things in my life, and I still don't know if I have been forgiven by others. It's a horrible feeling, isn't it?
If there's anyone you need to express your forgiveness to - do it, even as you lay your own tresspasses at the Lord's feet and find your relationship with Him mended and repaired. You don't have to kiss your offender and give them clothes and a feast, but wouldn't they be surprised if you asked them out to lunch, or over for dinner! Celebrate your reconciliation in a way they can understand! It can mean the difference of an entire future, in some cases. The power of forgiveness is immeasurable, and it's in our hands, if we will only put it into practice. Remember the feeling you had when you came to Christ, knowing that all of your sins were gone, and heaven was celebrating YOU! What power! Take that same power and use it - practice it - as the Lord requires. Not only will it bring your offender peace and comfort, it will also release you from resentment and pain.
Go and do it today!!!
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