Forgiveness releases us from prolonged anger, rage, and stress that can lead to all sorts of physical problems.
Colossians 3:13 Forbearing one another and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
God gives us grace to forgive if we ask. You see, when we've been hurt, we discover that forgiving isn't easy, and we need help.
After we forgive, there's a healing process that often takes time to complete. We may continue to have feelings of bitterness and anger now and then, but it doesn't mean we haven't forgiven. We have to remind ourselves of that and ask The Lord to release those thoughts and feelings. He will.
Someone has said, "Forgiveness means totally giving up the hope that the past will be different."
What matters most in the believer's life is not how smart, wealthy, popular, famous or well-liked you are; but how well you love.
1 Corinthians 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal.
What is real love? It suffers long, is kind, doesn't envy, and doesn't brag. Love is humble, treats others with compassion, consideration, and respect. Love is never selfish or self-centered.
How well do you love? Do you love God more than anything else in the world? Do you love others like God loves them?
WHAT IS LOVE? (anonymous)
It is silence--when your words would hurt
It is patience--when your neighbor's curt
It is deafness--when a scandal flows
It is thoughtfulness--for other's woes
It is promptness--when stern duty calls
It is courage--when misfortune falls
The Bible says that Jabez was "more honorable than his brethren".
1 Chronicles 4:10 And Jobez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.
God honors prayers that honor Him. We should sincerely pray the prayer of Jobez.
There's nothing wrong with praying for blessings and protection, but we should watch out when we pray to enlarge our coast. God will move us out of our comfort zones and expand our witness, worship, prayer life, and Bible study beyond our scope.
We should never be satisfied with our spiritual status. The Lord wants to grow us to be like Him.
Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
My oldest brother Wilford was in WWII when I was three years old. He came home from the war when I was five and I never saw him again until I was thirty. At that time his family resemblance, wit, and mannerisms mimicked the rest of us. He was definitely a Watson.
The pharisees proudly claimed to be the children of Abraham, but Jesus said they resembled their father the devil. They trusted in blood line and works and rituals. They hated Jesus and sought to kill him.
John 8:47 He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.
Jesus knows everyone's heart, whether they are in the Family of God or the Family of Satan. Those in the family of God bear the characteristics that come with the spiritual birth; those, who by faith in Jesus and His redemptive sacrifice for sin, are born again.
Do you resemble the righteousness of Jesus?
Psalm 103:1,2 Bless The Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me bless his holy name. Bless The Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits:
Lest we forget our spiritual benefits, I listed a few.
God forgives and forgets--not just our weaknesses and failures, but the gross, enormous, crimson red sins that we commit. He forgives them all.
The lovingkindness of our Lord gives grace for every step we take. God's grace encircles all of life. We need not fear.
Jesus is our peace, our Shepherd, our Healer, our Banner, and our righteousness.
Picture God as a Father tenderly caring for the needs of his children.
Luke 12:32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
The Father gives life and blessing. He satisfies the soul.
He gives us His strength to run the race, fight the fight, and live the life.
What do you do when you KNOW God wants you to do something and yet everything you do to make it happen fails?
When God promised Abraham a child, He didn't tell him the schedule. As he and Sarah lived past child-bearing age, they took matters in their own hands. Sarah offered her handmaiden to bear Abraham a son. They named him Ishmael. Ishmael became the father of the Ishmealites, and they became the Arabs, who have been the enemies of the people of promise even to this day.
We tend to mess things up when we use our own strength and knowledge to do God's will.
Do you manipulate God's plan for your life or do you wait and hope and pray and listen for His leadership? Keep trusting.
Proverbs 3:5,6 Trust in The Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Even before the King went away, there was the promise of His return.
John 14:1-3 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there ye may be also.
Paul talked about His coming again (1 Thes. 4;16-17). His coming shouldn't catch men off guard since it has been so well announced, but it will.
His coming will be in two distince stages: Rapture and glory! You need to be ready for the first part, because He won't send an announcement or warning. He will just come (Matt. 24:44).
Beulah Land, I'm longing for you
And some day on thee I'll stand
There my home shall be eternal
Beulah Land, Sweet Beulah Land.
Squire Parsons
