Tag: forgiveness

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Hurt vs. Offense: Understanding the Difference and Moving Forward

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Photo by Ric Rodrigues on Pexels.com

As humans, we tend to get our feelings hurt. Sometimes we get offended. What’s the difference? Hurt is something we feel when when someone does something bad to us, i.e. talk smack or gossip harms us physically etc. Being offended is something we choose. For example, someone’s opinion, being offended is more of a reaction, that’s something we can control.

So often I hear of believers leaving churches and falling away from the faith because they have been hurt. I can totally understand. There have been times I have been hurt by churches. It happens for whatever reason. Long story short, my husband and I were snubbed by the lead pastor on on wedding day. He didn’t officiate weddings and the reason was because that would have been his weekend job, i get it. So we had the singles pastor (who was married, he was a great guy and I’m sure still is) perform the ceremony (side note he had been fired just before our wedding for ridiculous reasons $$$). Anyway there was also a mix up with the room we rented but it the pastor doing the ceremony straightened that out. Despite all that the day turned out great and been married 30 years : ) .

That wasn’t the only time, there have been other times in the past before that that churches got a little petty about things. I’m not going to go into detail, trust me it happens in churches and in other organizations. We are human. But I also want to be sensitive to the fact that there is some serious hurtful things that go on in some churches. Some things that hurtful physically and emotionally and should be dealt with.

Many people leave the church, not just the organization itself, they leave the faith. It’s really sad when they leave because they were offended. Even if you were harmed in some way doesn’t mean you leave the faith, your faith in God.

Look at it this way, you go to a restaurant and receive bad service. What do you do? You most likely don’t leave a tip and don’t go back. Done, easy. That doesn’t stop you from going to other restaurants or stop eating all together. You find other places to eat. The same with our faith and the church. My husband and I never went back to the church where got married but that didn’t change our faith in God. We eventually found another church. Hebrews 10:25 “And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.” (NLT)

We could have gone to the lead pastor at the church where we were married and told him how his behavior made us feel. But they fired the pastor who married us for ridiculous reasons and felt leaving, forgiving and moving on was best. Wait, what, forgive? Yes. Matthew 18:21-22 “Then Peter came to him and asked, ‘Sir, how often should I forgive a brother who sins against me? Seven times?’ ” ” ‘No!’ ” Jesus replied, “ ‘seventy times seven’ !”

 Though we never went back, we forgave in our hearts. (It may sound like we haven’t in this post but we never disparaged the church, we think about it sometimes, wonder where they are and yes even prayed for them. One day we all will account for it all.

So this post is to encourage those who have left their church or their faith because of something the church did or said or because of something someone in the church did or said. You have two choices; one, confront the person or person(s) or two, find another church. It’s so easy to do these days with social media. But even with social media, finding a church is like looking at a menu online, if you think you may like a church go and check it out in person, just try it. If the first one you try isn’t the one, keep searching. Jeremiah 29:13 “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Look for a church that is preaches God’s word, preaches the truth of God’s word. Many churches post this on their websites. It maybe under the “About’ tab or “Our Beliefs.” Ask friends or co-workers for recommendations, like you would for a restaurant and go.

If this has happened to you, share your experience in the comments. What was your journey finding the new church? What drew you or made you feel at home?

hope

Finding Forgiveness and Redemption Amidst the 33rd Olympic Games Controversy

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Image by Sr. Maria-Magdalena R. SMCB from Pixabay

The events that have taken place here in America and in France have me pondering, what is happening? I’m trying to process and make sense of it all as I am sure everyone has. At first, I wasn’t going to post anything, but I kept having a nagging feeling. But, let me preface this post with, we all have our own perspectives, this is mine and it’s what God has placed on my heart.

The events that I am talking about are the attempted assassination on President Trump and the opening Olympic ceremonies. This may be part one of two because there is just too much to write in one blog post. Today I just want to cover the Olympics.

My husband and I watched the opening ceremony of the 33rd Olympic Games and we kept asking ourselves, “what are we watching?” I saw some of the beginning before I dozed off and woke up to my husband describing to me what he saw. He began scrolling through social media feeds to show me what I missed. I was even more confused and bewildered at what I was seeing. We all know what I am talking about, the spectacle of what looked a lot like the Last Supper.

People were defending France’s performance and that it was a representation of bacchanalia and it has nothing to do with the Last Supper and had no intention of representing it. Bacchanalian is defined as “(especially of a party) involving a lot of drinking of alcohol, uncontrolled behaviour, and possibly sexual activity:” “The Bacchanalia were unofficial, privately funded popular Roman festivals of Bacchus, based on various ecstatic elements of the Greek Dionysia.” France is known for its for being showy, flamboyant, and well let’s face it lack modesty. I am not defending what we all witnessed, just sayin’. I don’t know what France’s intention was, I am not a mind reader. I was and still am taken aback by what I saw.

Trying to process all that I, we witnessed, I wasn’t sure what I was feeling. I really had to process. What I was feeling was grief. I am saddened by what I saw. It broke my heart. Let’s remove the whole Last Supper reference, to me it was just bad taste. Kids were watching this. This is the Olympics, it suppose to be family and kid friendly. Never would I imagine that the opening ceremony would need to be censored. Add in the Last Supper and that just took it to another level.

Some may be arguing that perhaps many of us aren’t educated enough to understand Bacchanalian, or it’s just Greek mythology, this is just French culture, and some will argue that DaVinci got it wrong with Jesus and the disciples sitting and not reclining at the table. While DaVinci may have not had the proper seating, it wasn’t perverted. So to the people who think Christians need more education about this, maybe those who don’t understand Christianity need to read the Bible and understand that we don’t take it or what God means to us lightly. And while perverting the Last Supper may not have been France’s intention, I don’t know. I do know WE ALL one day will have to give an account for our words and actions.

We are all sinners. We ALL fall short of the glory of God (Roman’s 3:23), we ALL need a Savior and that Person would be Jesus Christ. This isn’t the first time Jesus was mocked. And none of this has taken God by surprised. He knew before the foundation of the world, this would take place. God is a gracious God. Read Genesis 6:9-22 when God wiped out all of humanity except for Noah and his family. Read Genesis 19 about Sodem and Gomorrah and see how God dealt with that situation. Read Revelation and see how God will deal with sin in the future. Matthew 12:36 “and I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak” (NLT). Romans 14:12 “Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God” (NLT).

My heart has been hurt, I am grieving. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t mad, I am and hurt. I know many of us are feeling similar feelings if not the same. But can we forgive? Can we forgive as Jesus forgives us? Ephesians 4:32. Jesus was mocked when He hung on the cross and said “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” – Luke 23:34 (NKJV). “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.” – Galatians 6:7 (NIV).

We could use this opportunity to share the Gospel and help others understand why this grieves us and God. Perhaps we could use it as an opportunity to show forgiveness. Let keep fighting the good fight, let’s not grow weary of doing good, spreading the Gospel, “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.” – Galatians 6:9 (NLT).

hope

He Is Risen! – Free Coloring Page

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Happy Easter Sunday! Jesus is risen, He is alive!!!

March 30, 2024Download
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Judgement Day

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Photo by Ray Bilcliff on Pexels.com

“And on that day when we will pay for all the deeds we have done, Good and bad they’ll all be had to see by everyone” – Amy Grant, My Father’s Eyes.

There will come a day when we will stand before God, whether or not you believe in Him or not, we all will stand before Him and have to give an account for everything we have done, the good, the bad, the ugly, all of it.

Ecclesiastes 12:14 – “For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.” (NIV).

2 Corinthians 5:10 – “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”  This has to happen before God can create the new Heaven and new earth.

1 Corinthians 11:31-32 – “For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.”  

The Johnny Depp/Amber Heard trial brought this to mind. The entire world is hearing and seeing all the bad in their relationship. The accusations toward each other, the emotional and physical abuse, all the dirt is just out there for us all to see. I can’t imagine the stress and judgement of the world they must be feeling on just these chapters of their lives. Pray for all those involved. And one day that’s how it will be for us, standing before God and everyone to see the good and bad we have done. It won’t be just a few things, it will be everything!

But unlike what Johnny and Amber are experiencing, we have a God who has provided a way out of God’s judgment. (and if they are willing to repent and ask for God’s forgiveness, He will forgive them) When we stand before God on Judgement Day if we have Jesus in our hearts, as our Lord and Savior, His blood covering us, that’s all God will see, His Son’s blood and we will have eternity with Him. As we live our lives day to day we are writing the story of our lives. We all have the opportunity while we are living here today to repent an ask for God’s forgiveness. Then God will wipe out all the bad and only remember the good things we have done. Hebrews 10:17 – “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” 

It’ll be too late on judgement day to ask for forgiveness. The time is now, today is the day. Why wait? God isn’t trying to keep from having fun. He is offering you freedom and eternity now.

If God doesn’t love us, why would He provide a way out for us. It’s God’s desire that all come to Him, 1 Timothy 2:3-4 – “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people,  for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and pleases God our Savior,  who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” (emphasis mine).

Where do you want to be on that day? The time is now to ask for forgiveness.

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February 21, 2022 – Matthew 5:44

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Love your enemies. I didn’t say it, Jesus says to love those who persecute us. He gives us the free will to do that. He never said it was easy. He never said the we would feel like it. So you can choose to love your enemies even though you don’t feel like it. It’s humbling to love someone who has hurt you. We are no better than anyone else. Think, if you have hurt someone, how would you want to be treated? If you are sorry for what you did, you’d want to be forgiven. Jesus forgives and loves unconditionally.

feb-21-22Download

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Forgiveness – It’s Not About a Number

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Photo by Lena Khrupina on Pexels.com

Often when we hear about forgiving, the number seventy times seven, or 77 comes to mind. Matthew 18:22 says; “Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times” But what does that mean, seventy times seven?” “( NIV). The King James version says, “… but up to seventy times seven.” That’s 490 times. So after 490 times of forgiving someone, that’s it, we’re done? Hardly. Jesus wasn’t just using a number to illustrate how often we should forgive. Jesus was using a technique often used by Jewish teachers called REMEZ (רמז – pronounced rehm-ezz) which means hint or clue.

It’s kinda like filling in the blank. If you remember some tests in school where you had to fill in the blank (if it was multiple choice fill in the blank I was a happy camper : ) ) Rabbis used to quote a passage of scripture and the students would fill in the blanks, this is known as deductive teaching and this is what Jesus was doing. Jesus wasn’t teaching a math class and just throwing out numbers. His followers knew the number 77 only appeared in scripture only once – Genesis 4: 23– “If Cain is avenged seven times then Lamech seventy-seven times”(NIV). Lamech was a vengeful man and returned offenses 77 times over. That’s a lot of passion in vengeance!!! Jesus was trying to tell His followers to forgive with as much passion as Lamech was in being vengeful. Like the photo above, what if we were to seek opportunities to forgive with as much power behind that wave crashing down on the lighthouse? What if we had that much passion in forgiving others?

There’s also something interesting about the number 7. Seven is the number of completeness and perfection (both physical and spiritual). Much of it’s meaning is correlates to God’s creation.

When Jesus died on the cross His forgiveness for us was complete – “It’s is finished”, John 19:30. He completed His mission here on earth. His plan for salvation was completed. His sacrifice for us on the cross was complete and perfect love, He was the perfect sacrifice.

Is there someone you need to forgive? You don’t need to wait for someone to ask for forgiveness. You can forgive in your heart. It’s much more than words, saying “You’re forgiven” it’s a heart attitude as well. Your words need to be backed up with action. When the offense or offender comes to mind what do experience, what emotions arise? Sometimes I feel anger creeping in or I start to feel hatred. That’s when I have to forgive, again. I am human. God may forget our sins, but we are not God, we from time to time may remember. Sometimes I actually do feel sorry for those who have offended me and pray that God will be merciful to them. After all I know I have offended others and I want them to forgive me the way God has forgiven me. “… bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do” – Colossians 3:13. Are you willing to show your forgiveness by being friendly and showing kindness toward your offender? Are you able to go as far as showing love? It’s not easy. But it can be done with God’s help “

Is there someone you need to forgive? You don’t need to wait for someone to ask for forgiveness. You can forgive in your heart. It’s much more than words, saying “You’re forgiven” it’s a heart attitude as well. Your words need to be backed up with action. When the offense comes to mind what do experience, what emotions arise? Sometimes I feel anger creeping in or I start to feel hatred. That’s when I have to forgive, again. I am human. God may forget our sins, (Hebrews 8:12) but we are not God, we from time to time may remember. Sometimes I actually do feel sorry for those who have offended me and pray that God will be merciful to them. After all I know I have offended others and I want them to forgive me the way God has forgiven me. “… bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do” – Colossians 3:13. Are you willing to show your forgiveness by being friendly and showing kindness toward your offender? Are you able to go as far as showing love? It’s not easy. But it can be done with God’s help ” But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible” – Matthew 19:26. (KJV).

This blog post inspired by: Dave Adamson / @aussiedave